A review by book_concierge
Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler

3.0

It is painful to read because of the subject matter, but there are some bits of excellent description. It is a somewhat autobiographical work. The ending is somewhat abrupt. This writer shows promise.

Bird is the youngest child of Billy and Glory Jackson - two alcoholic, abusive parents. She daydreams she is Jesus' girlfriend and tries to make sense of her world - why she is "so bad" and gets beaten so often.

Spoiler

When her father commits suicide her mother moves the family to Tampa, where she "does her best" but sinks into an alcoholic depression and strikes out at her children. Bird, however, befriends Miss Zora, an elderly black woman some say is a witch. But Zora's main "spell" is her love and calmness - she gives Bird a sense of confidence and ultimately Glory agrees to send Bird and Phoebe with Miss Zora.