Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen

Other birds are those that don’t flock together and there are plenty of those at Dellawisp, a block of five small apartments on Mallow Island, South Carolina, named for the strange little avians that live in the ground of the former stables. Zoey has inherited the studio apartment from her mother and plans to spend the summer there before starting college in Charleston. One of the residents dies at the start, which, along with Zoey’s advent, sparks major changes for the lives of the others. One or more of poverty, neglect, abuse, mental illness, addiction and violence dogged all their childhoods and have indelibly affected their adulthoods. But hope and kindness, as well as a connection to the spirit world, offer the chance of a better future. Allen’s trademark blend of whimsy and darkness applied to human relationships, provides a tale of depth and wisdom filled with both sadness and delight. Although in familiar territory, emotionally, geographically and culinarily, this novel stands alone from her previous works. It creates a whole new world in which it is possible to imagine further linked stories and characters. Here’s hoping.