Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets

James Whitman likes to start his day with a giant YAWP ala Walt Whitman. Partly to piss off his dad and partly to convince himself that he is okay. His sister has been kicked out of the house and he is guilt ridden knowing he did nothing to help her. He is depressed, lonely and living in an abusive household. He talks to a made up counselor named Dr. Bird who is a pigeon he has created in his mind. He somehow keeps screwing up his only friend, Derek's, life and has fallen for a girl with a boyfriend. He spends each day trying not to commit suicide and writing poetry to impress Beth. He finds himself on a quest to get his sister back into the high school she was expelled from so his parents will let her come home. Little does he know that her problems are far greater than graduating from high school. James is a unique individual who hugs trees to make himself feel better. He gets a job so he can make enough money to pay an actual therapist. This is a book about a young man trying to figure out how to cope with all life has dealt him. He is such a likeable character who is going through what most people go through at some point in their lives. Trying to discover who he is and then being okay with it. There are many good messages in this book and it is filled with Walt Whitman poetry to boot. I enjoyed this quick read- no supernatural elements unless you count the imaginary Dr. Bird- who's advice is right on the money most of the time. Happy reading my friends!