The Star Side of Bird Hill

The Star Side of Bird Hill (2015), by Brooklyn writer Naomi Jackson, is a coming of age story about two sisters in Brooklyn who are sent to live with their grandmother in Barbados.

In the summer of 1989, sisters Dionne and Phaedra are sent from their home in Brooklyn to the small community of Bird Hill on the island of Barbados. Aged sixteen and ten respectively, the sisters are forced to live with their grandmother, Hyacinth, after their mother, Avril, can no longer care for them. Meanwhile, the girls' father, Errol, has been out of the picture for many years.

Life moves much more slowly in Bird Hill than in Brooklyn, and the two girls adjust to their new living conditions in wildly different ways. For example, Dionne feels boxed in by her new comparatively conservative, religious community. She feels she has lost control and direction of her own life, relegated to the role of a child once again. The younger sister, Phaedra, has an easier time adjusting. She loves spending time with her grandmother and is deeply interested in her practice of obeah, an ancient form of Caribbean dark magic.



The two have a bit more freedom when they are sent away to Vacation Bible School for the summer. Dionne thrives in the new environment, catching the attention of the other girls who go to her for advice on makeup and clothes. Meanwhile, Phaedra is much less happy than she was in her grandmother's quiet Bird Hill home. The other girls, with the exception of Donna who becomes her only friend, regularly terrorize her.

The narrative flashes back to the girls' time in Brooklyn, focusing in particular on the events that led to their mother giving them up. Avril was a lot like Dionne when she was young, seeking the excitement of the city and eager to leave Bird Hill behind forever. After her marriage to Errol falls apart, however, she loses herself in her work as a nurse to AIDS patients. Being surrounded by constant death takes its toll on Avril, however, and she sinks into a deep depression, leading to a full mental break.

After the girls return from Vacation Bible School, Dionne befriends Saranne, a Trinidadian girl her age who will further lead Dionne down a road of acting out and destructive behavior. This behavior worsens when the family discovers that Avril has committed suicide. During this trying time, the benefit of a tight-knit community like Bird Hill comes into focus as it rallies around Hyacinth and the girls.



In the wake of Avril's suicide, Errol decides to reconnect with his daughters. He arrives in Bird Hill announcing his intentions to take Dionne and Phaedra back with him to Miami where he lives. Hyacinth is adamantly opposed to this idea, while Dionne is excited about the idea of once again living in a big, exciting city. After much arguing, Hyacinth convinces Errol that instead of taking the girls, he will stay with them for a few days in Bird Hill.

During his stay, Errol takes the family to a big party on the island known as the Crop Over Festival. During the festival, Errol and Dionne escape to Errol's hotel. The following day, Sarane's conservative cousin Jean confronts Errol, accusing him of trying to ruin Dionne and Phaedra's lives. They fight, and Jean becomes badly hurt in the commotion. Errol leaves, and the incident seems to have a calming effect on Dionne as if she has learned that the wild life she seeks will only lead to pain and hurt. This feeling is further emphasized when they hear a news report about Errol from Miami. Apparently, he had been wanted for corrupting a group of minors, after which he drove his own car off a cliff, killing himself. In the wake of the parade incident and this piece of disturbing news, the girls relish the quiet communal life offered to them in Bird Hill.

NPR writes that Naomi Jackson "makes Barbados come to life, and she's comfortable with both humor and pathos. It's not a perfect book, but it's a lovely one, and Jackson seems likely to have a distinguished career ahead of her."