Word: wharton
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...WHARTON'S WRITING quietly expresses the ultimate humanity of the two boys. Wharton writes cleanly, simply. His words let Birdy fly. Wharton's writing is fun and inventive. For example, about canaries: "They were put in cages because they sang and now they sing because they're in cages." Or, on feeding birds: "I try to think what it would be like to have some gigantic bird come and stick his claws into the window of my room with some potato chips or a hoagie...
...Wharton waxes brilliant when writing about Birdy's dreams. In his dreams, Birdy conquers his fear of being caged by the wire mesh and two-by-four boards of his own aviary. Birdy lives for the night when he can dream. Eventually, life imitates dreams and Birdy gains an easy, prophet-like sense. He even comes to dream within his dreams...
Birdy could serve as a manual for bird watchers and bird breeders. Wharton knows his pigeons and canaries. We learn about feathers and feet, eating and droppings, breeding and dying...
...William Wharton is a pseudonym for the wordly, remarkable artist who wrote Birdy. Presumably, he uses a pseudonym to protect his painting career. He is old enough to be a grandfather, but Birdy is his first novel...
...people are so old when they get to be grandparents," laments Birdy. If Birdy is Wharton's grandchild, it was worth waiting for. Wharton has taught it to fly as well as any canary could teach its young...