I often find treasures while perusing our library’s new book shelf. Last week, I discovered Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s We Never Asked for Wings. I love how Diffenbaugh weaves together themes of motherhood, undocumented immigration, and second-chances. And, as a bonus, she draws a plot parallel with birds and their flight patterns (and I have just gotten into birds!). Her sentences are well-crafted, and her content is vivid and believable; I miss the characters now that I’m finished.

Several disclaimers: I really, really did not like Letty (the mother) as I was just starting out. “Who is this woman?!!” But I stuck with it, and I’m glad I did. Also, if you’re sensitive to language or sexuality, there are a couple instances where the author uses profanity to express a point & a scene or two with some teenage romance (nothing explicit). For me personally, I still loved the book and found it a worthwhile read, but I know that there are a whole range of sensitivities to these sorts of things.