Kathy Wilson Florence

Jaybird's Song Kathy Wilson Florence

Affectionately called "Jaybird" by the father she adores, Josie Flint's idyllic childhood in 1960s Atlanta is defined by her role as the oldest of the three Flint sisters and crowned with the presence of her grandmother, Annie Jo- the maypole that centers the Flint family. Surrounding their world, however, is the turbulent South. As Josie's school desegregates and the country meanders through new ideas, a personal tragedy breaches Josie's world and shatters that perfect childhood. Josie's story is told from her early teenage years and 35 years later when her beloved grandmother dies. And when a long-kept secret unfolds for the Flint family, a new kind of heartache begins. REVIEWS: Florence's skillful portrayal of '60s Atlanta elevates this novel to striking historical fiction. An absorbing family saga provides a first-person account of Atlanta during the crucial civil rights era while also covering the early 21st century. - Kirkus Reviews Impressively entertaining while at the same time thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Jaybird's Song" is a consistently absorbing read from beginning to end. Exceptional and with admirable attention to historical detail. - Midwest Book Review