When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky
Books | Fiction / Historical / General
3.8
(69)
Margaret Verble
Louise Erdrich meets Karen Russell in this deliciously strange and daringly original novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble: set in 1926 Nashville, it follows a death-defying young Cherokee horse-diver who, with her companions from the Glendale Park Zoo, must get to the bottom of a mystery that spans centuries. Two Feathers, a young Cherokee horse-diver on loan to Glendale Park Zoo from a Wild West show, is determined to find her own way in the world. Two's closest friend at Glendale is Hank Crawford, who loves horses almost as much as she does. He is part of a high-achieving, land-owning Black family. Neither Two nor Hank fit easily into the highly segregated society of 1920s Nashville. When disaster strikes during one of Two's shows, strange things start to happen at the park. Vestiges of the ancient past begin to surface, apparitions appear, and then the hippo falls mysteriously ill. At the same time, Two dodges her unsettling, lurking admirer and bonds with Clive, Glendale's zookeeper and a World War I veteran, who is haunted--literally--by horrific memories of war. To get to the bottom of it, an eclectic cast of park performers, employees, and even the wealthy stakeholders must come together, making When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky an unforgettable and irresistible tale of exotic animals, lingering spirits, and unexpected friendship.
Historical Fiction
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More Details:
Author
Margaret Verble
Pages
365
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published Date
2021
ISBN
0358554837 9780358554837
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky is a mystery, a historical novel, and, above all, an educational narrative that will stick with you long after the last page. The characters and situations will draw you in, but the haunting story and the lessons available to those open to learning will keep you.<br/><br/>Two Feathers, our eponymous main character, is a horse diver (and I highly recommend you research that to get a full appreciation for the job title), who is working in the now defunct Nashville Glendale Zoo in 1926. After a series of strange happenings, Two becomes embroiled in a mystery regarding the park’s animals and whether there are supernatural elements at play. It’s magical realism at its finest, but I found the story extremely believable despite this.<br/><br/>But what I found most compelling in the book was the storytelling. This expertly weaved in historical facts while maintaining a sense of the unknown, honoring those who have gone before, with an understanding that history repeats itself. Our job is to listen and learn, and to be better. It’s masterful writing and an engaging story that you won’t want to miss!"
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Allie Peduto