The Spirited Review - Grandmother's Pigeon

Grandmother's Pigeon by Louise Erdrich, ill. by Jim LaMarche

A year after Grandmother catches a ride to Greenland on the back of a porpoise, the family opens the door to her room and to a piece of mystery within. Though the windows are tightly shut, Mother finds three eggs, eggs that begin to hatch as she lifts their nest into her hands. Up on the shelf, Grandmother's stuffed pigeon seems to wear a more pleased expression than is her usual. Later, when Mother calls in an ornithologist to consult, she confirms Mother's suspicion that the newborns are in fact passenger pigeons, three members of an extinct species. Scientists and reporters descend on the house, until the children free the pigeons in the night.

Erdrich does a masterful job of posing difficult questions in a manner comprehensible to children. How and to what extent should science be "served"? When do the needs of individuals -- human and not -- supersede scientific pursuit? And, how should we revere a miracle? Her characterization is excellent; although each member of the family is presented as unique, and with individual responses to the situation, none are demonized as they wrestle with the issue, and the family works together as a functional unit. Those who are familiar with Erdrich's The Birchbark House will recognize her deft skill at drawing out the dynamics of a healthy, interactive family. LaMarche's illustrations run in a nice tandem; the facial expressions and body language are vivid and engaging, and the surroundings, while realistic, seem appropriately to luminesce a little.

Grandmother's Pigeon has a gentle touch as it sheds a light on deep matters, and encourages compassion, thoughtfulness in choosing priorities, and faith in the lasting mysteriousness of Mother Earth.

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