Other Birds

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness or death and emotional abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you respond to the magical realism elements in Other Birds, such as Mac’s cornmeal manifestations, Frasier’s ability to see ghosts, and Zoey’s invisible bird Pigeon? Did these supernatural elements enhance your understanding of the characters’ emotional journeys, or did they distract from the story?

2. Sarah Addison Allen explores food as an expression of love in both Other Birds and her novel Garden Spells. How does the connection between food and emotional bonds differ in these works, and which presentation resonated more deeply with you?

3. The novel features multiple characters who hide secrets or false identities. Which character’s journey toward authenticity did you find most compelling, and why did their transformation affect you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, characters create meaningful connections with people who aren’t blood relatives. How has the theme of Blood Family Versus Found Family played out in your life? Have you experienced bonds with people who aren’t relatives that rival or surpass traditional family ties?

2. Charlotte/Pepper assumes her best friend’s identity as a way to honor her memory while fleeing her past. Have you ever adopted aspects of someone else’s identity or persona, whether as a tribute or as self-protection? What were the benefits and costs of this choice?

3. Mac expresses love through his cooking, just as Camille did for him through her cornbread. What role does food play in how you express care for others or how others have shown love to you?

4. Grief holds back several of the novel’s characters—Mac with Camille, Charlotte with the real Charlotte, and Lizbeth with her desire for recognition. Reflect on a time when grief prevented you from moving forward. What ultimately helped you re-embrace life?

5. Zoey moves to Mallow Island seeking connection to her mother but instead finds a community that helps her grow into adulthood. What places have unexpectedly become significant in your life journey, and how did they transform your expectations like Mallow Island did for Zoey?

6. Pigeon/Paloma serves as an invisible support for Zoey until she’s ready to stand on her own. Who has played this guiding role in your life, and how did you navigate the transition to independence?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Paloma tells the story of her Cuban grandfather, who believed that birds embodied the spirits of deceased family members. How does this cultural belief about birds as messengers of the dead compare to traditions you’re familiar with? What purpose might these beliefs serve in helping people process loss?

2. Charlotte/Pepper escapes from a cultlike camp that exploited vulnerable individuals. What does the novel suggest about why people remain in such environments, and how does this portrayal relate to contemporary discussions about coercive groups?

3. The community at the Dellawisp forms a nontraditional family structure wherein support and belonging transcend biological ties. How does this representation challenge or affirm society’s evolving understanding of what constitutes a family?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel’s title, Other Birds, carries multiple meanings related to the dellawisp birds, Pigeon/Paloma, and the characters themselves. How does this title encapsulate the novel’s central themes and motifs?

2. Allen uses “Ghost Story” interludes to give voice to deceased characters. How do these sections affect the novel’s pacing and perspective? What do they reveal that the main narrative couldn’t convey?

3. Charlotte’s witch balls serve as both literal objects and symbols representing protection and fragility. How does their presence—and eventual shattering—reflect Charlotte’s emotional journey?

4. Food appears constantly throughout the novel, from Mac’s cornmeal manifestations to Zoey’s potato chip sandwiches. How does Allen use specific food references to reveal character traits, build relationships, and advance the plot?

5. The fictional book Sweet Mallow within the novel tells a story of assumed identity that parallels Charlotte’s life. How does this story-within-a-story technique enhance the novel’s themes?

6. How do the novel’s magical realism elements function as metaphors for the characters’ internal struggles? Which supernatural manifestation did you find most effective in representing emotional or psychological states?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The novel ends with Zoey leaving for college and Paloma setting off with the dellawisps on new adventures. What story would you tell about these characters five years into their future?

2. Mac’s restaurant, Popcorn, tells his personal story through food. Design a restaurant for another character from the novel. What would you name it, and what signature dish would represent their journey?

3. Imagine that you’re hosting a dinner party for the residents of the Dellawisp. What meal would you prepare, and how would each component honor their individual stories?

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