#ownvoices for autism. ( )

I listened to the audiobook of [b:The Goldfish Boy|26891408|The Goldfish Boy|Lisa Thompson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469730951s/26891408.jpg|46942352] at the same time I was reading this. I prefer Goldfish Boy by a lot. So it's hard for me to say how I'd feel about Someday Birds if Goldfish Boy wasn't so similar and, in my opinion, superior. Both books are about 12-year-old boys who wash their hands compulsively. And both of the boys are kind of desperate to meet a goal (to find a missing boy / to find a bunch of birds). Both books have first-person narration. They are both thematically about the boy being brave in the face of tremendous (though irrational) fear.

Some stray criticisms:
- I thought Charlie finding Tiberius Shaw's personal journal was a bit too magical for an otherwise realistic book.

-Ludmila's story felt a bit shoehorned in - as if the author really wanted her readers to know about Sarajevo, rather than it serving the story.

Some stray appreciations:
-Charlie is a likable character and his love of chicken nuggets is endearing. Readers will root for him.

-I always love a sweet dog sidekick.

-The Tiberius Shaw quotes at the beginning of each chapter were beautifully written and relevant to the action. ( )

Poignant, informative, moving. The language is engaging and flows ( )

Thoughtful, bittersweet, humorous, full of nature's beauty and humanity. I love Charlie's neurodiverse voice and his annoying, quirky, loving family, both biological and found. ( )

Heartwarming, poignant coming-of-age story of a 12 year old boy named Charlie, who is autistic and has OCD. Bird-loving Charlie, along with his siblings and their babysitter, road trip across the country to visit his hospitalized dad. This appealing story includes themes such as adventure, family, acceptance, and personal growth. Excellent characterization.