Rating: 
Summary: This book will stick with you.
Review: An easy-to-read novel about unforgettable characters. I read the book about 2 years ago and I still remember the characters. My 13-year old daughter read it also, and loved it. It's not the kind of book that after reading it you think "Wow, that was a great book!" It is a more subtle kind of greatness.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome characterization
Review: Bird is so alive and real that a reader wants to take her home and mother her. This is a book that I read years ago and this is a character who still haunts me when I read yet another local news story about child abuse. Connie May Fowler really has captured the scenery of Florida and weaved in some of its darker side into a compelling tale.
Rating:
Summary: Connie May teaches us to fly
Review: Connie May Fowler introduces us to a six year old girl, known as Bird because most people refused to believe someone was really called Avocet. Although Bird knows no other life, we readers immediately realise she's trapped in a dreadful existence - alcoholic, emotionally and physically abusive and desperately poor. Not a new story, but certainly not derivitive.We see the cycle of family dysfunction, brought on by lost dreams, violence, poverty, hopelessness and alcoholism from Bird's perspective as she desperately tries to make sense of it all. Adding to her confusion, she tries to find hope in religion, where even that is the cause of a family rift - the children are divided between the Baptist father and Catholic mother, and Bird is devastated when she finds she will never be a Bride of Christ, like her sister. Except for the extremes, Bird's childhood is not that different from many of ours. I'm sure I wasn't the only reader remembering the confusion of childhood, trying to make sense of adults' behaviour, the strange religious stories, and the weird stuff taught at school, wondering why everything that goes wrong is our fault, enduring the cruelty inflicted by other children, desperately longing to be loved and safe. But if we were lucky, we had a warm bed, food on the table, arms that hugged us and told us we were loved. Among the not so fortunate, Bird could take none these for granted. Although there are countless stories of difficult childhoods, deprived by abuse, alcoholism, poverty and endless other dysfunctions, there was something about Bird's voice that rang clear and true - perhaps because it was written from the perspective of a child, rather than an adult's recollection, perhaps because she never asked for pity, perhaps because you always knew someone so gutsy would survive. They say you don't need to have murdered to write of a murder, but as I was reading, I found it impossible to believe this story could be written without experiencing that childhood, and having read your interview with the author, I understand it is at least partially autobiographical. I also thought it would be an excellent choice for Oprah's Book Club, and now realise it was, obviously before I started watching Oprah. I picked up this book while browsing through the library in the (increasingly difficult) search for something I want to read and added it to my stack of books after flicking through and reading a few random paragraphs. What a wonderful accident! Now I've added a new author to my list.
Rating: 
Summary: ...took a while to take off
Review: Emotions. Emotions. Emotions.
The author jam-packed this book with emotion -- and little storyline.
Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books I've read in some time.
Review: I heard about the book when news of the movie came to my attention. I was determined to read the book before seeing the movie and I'm glad that I did. Connie May Fowler is an excellent author who uses wonderful techniques that not only describe but give you a feeling that you are the character. Bird is a wonderful young girl who throughout the book you grow to love and sympathize and Mrs. Zora gives the book a wonderful touch and leaves hope of happiness and survival. I recommend this to everyone interested in a loving and touching story about survival and forgivness. It was wonderful reading.
Rating:
Summary: An emotional and inspirational story that I'll never forget!
Review: Ms. Fowler does an excellent job in her character detail. I felt that I knew the entire family through the imagery that she created. Bird truly captured my heart and made me love her. I was torn between wanting to rescue, hold and protect her or encourage her through her struggles. She was so strong and wise beyond her years. I love the perspective that children have on the world and this book genuinely captured a childlike outlook at a very terrible situation. I also think the author did an outstanding job by describing the pain that the girls went through in dealing with the fact that they loved their mother despite her abuse. I think this was very realistic - and although I kept thinking "get out of there", in reality a child will still love its parent despite the treatment they receive. Bird's humorous view of the world reminded me of Scout in Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Her strength was similar to Ellen in Gibbons' "Ellen Foster." I would recommend all 3 of these to anyone that wants a book that sticks with your psyche for a while.
Rating: 
Summary: A novel full of pain
Review: Other reviewers do a good job of summing up what the book is about, so I won't try to do that. But I will point out that it is almost unremittingly harsh and violent. The book and the main character do, as the title suggest, soar beyond that, but this material can be hard to read. For those for whom this hits too close to home, every insult and slap will sting. For those who don't already have this kind of violence in their lives, you may not wish to bring it in. It's definitely something to consider before you jump in.
Rating:
Summary: A story that tugs at the heart strings
Review: Perhaps one of the most difficult stories to write is a story about children and/or abuse. Interjecting just the right amount of sentimentality is often times too difficult of a task for even the most talented writers, but Connie May Fowler tackles both topics with a level of sensitivity and finesse that makes this book a "must read." BEFORE WOMEN HAD WINGS tells the story of Avocet "Bird" Jackson, a world-weary child in search of love among the people whose love should be a given but who are sometimes the most stingy with their affections. Bird tells the story of many young women who have either witnessed or experienced abuse in a matter-of-fact, no-holds bar fashion. The complexity of the relationship between she and her parents and she and her sister and brother provides readers with a wide-open look into a tragic life that eventually makes a transcendent jump into a path of redemption. This is a book well worth reading again and again.
Rating:
Summary: A story that tugs at the heart strings
Review: Perhaps one of the most difficult stories to write is a story about children and/or abuse. Interjecting just the right amount of sentimentality is often times too difficult of a task for even the most talented writers, but Connie May Fowler tackles both topics with a level of sensitivity and finesse that makes this book a "must read." BEFORE WOMEN HAD WINGS tells the story of Avocet "Bird" Jackson, a world-weary child in search of love among the people whose love should be a given but who are sometimes the most stingy with their affections. Bird tells the story of many young women who have either witnessed or experienced abuse in a matter-of-fact, no-holds bar fashion. The complexity of the relationship between she and her parents and she and her sister and brother provides readers with a wide-open look into a tragic life that eventually makes a transcendent jump into a path of redemption. This is a book well worth reading again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Good reviews well deserved...
Review: The book entitled,"Before Women Had Wings," is a very wonderful book. There is a wonderful variety of interesting topics, which happen throughout this book; and throughout Bird's life. Bird is a girl featured throughout this book, which her real name Advocet Jackson. Advocet was raised within a poor family with a sister named Phoebe, her mother and father were both alcoholics. Bird and Phoebe both throughout the book recieved critical physical, emotional, and mental abuse. Not only that, but as Bird was younger, her father ended up comitting suicide. Advocet throughout the book states a lot of varities, like I said, which happened throughout her life. As I read this book, it made me cry, have joy; and learn how to cooperate with my life, since I'm 15 years old; and also live with an alcoholic. Advocet, I'd just like to say if you get my message, to never give up;"Have faith!" You do well, "Keep up the good writings!" When I read Advocet's book, it really touched me; and how to change my life; and what to do with it. I bet you, that if you read this book today, you won't every second of your time. Also, I bet if you read the whole book, it will somehow change your life. I hope you enjoy the book,"Before Women Had Wings!"
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