At times life can be difficult. This is something we can all relate to. Family troubles, friendship dilemmas, and loss of loved ones is something we all have to unfortunately experience in this cruel world. Of all people, Birdie Briggs would know. Twelve-year-old Birdie Briggs loves birds, so much so that she prefers to be called Birdie above her real name, Roberta and plans to legally change her name to Birdie when she turns 18. Her firefighter father died in the line of duty a couple of years ago and her beloved birds, are the only things in this world that bring her comfort and hope. Well, she also has her family and friends: her Mom and grandmother, Maymee, and her friends Nina and Martin are still always there for her. However, her Maymee soon gets a boyfriend, and without Birdie's knowledge, Nina and Martin start dating, and Birdie’s mom starts "seeing" a police officer. Suddenly not even her beloved birds can lift her spirits. Her world is changing drastically as if she didn't have enough to cope with already. All she could wish for now is for thing to go back to the way they were before. Before they got confusing. Before everyone started dating. But most importantly, she wanted things to go back to the way thing were when she still had her father with her. She wanted thing to go back to the way they were and the way everything should have stayed before she started losing everyone. But maybe change, painful as it is, can be beautiful too. This realistic-fiction book, Birdie by author, Eileen Spinelli deserves praise beyond words but I'll try my best. In order to read this book you need no prior knowledge of any other book as it does not come in a series. All you have to do is sit back, flip through pages, get lost in the story line, and enjoy. The formatting of this books was quaint as it was written as every one of Birdie's journal entries in verse form. It includes an abundance of subject matter about life, friendship, hurt, loss and eventually happiness, thus, something everyone can relate to and love. I would recommend this book to everyone, young or old. This book is a definite tear jerkier that has everything everyone would look for in a book, it is simple yet meaningful and keeps you intrigued every page yearning for more. ( )