Chasing Redbird

Chasing Redbird
Author(s)	Sharon Creech
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Children's novel
Publisher	HarperTrophy - An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
Publication date	1997
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	261- Paperback

Chasing Redbird is a book by Sharon Creech published in 1997, which is somewhat of a companion to the 1995 Newbery Medal-winning Walk Two Moons. The book centres around Zinnia Taylor, a character who is quiet, as well as outrageous. Zinny sometimes mentions her friend Sal, which may be a reference to Salamanca Hiddle, the protagonist of Walk Two Moons. Not much is revealed about their supposed friendship.

Plot summary

Zinnia "Zinny" Taylor is a thirteen year old girl whose parents, having many other children to take care of, have left her in the care of her aunt and uncle, Jessie and Nate. Jessie and Nate once had a daughter around Zinny's age, Rose, who died of whooping cough. Because Rose caught the cough from Zinny, she has always, in some way, blamed herself for Rose's death.

Years later, Zinny accidentally rediscovers a large overgrown trail that is over two hundred years old. When her aunt unexpectedly dies, Zinny blames herself. Soon afterwards she begins to try to clear the trail. In her grief, the trail becomes an obsession, as she decides to clear and travel the entire length of it. She feels she must clear the trail before the summer ends, as it is the only way she thinks she can be forgiven by God. At the same time Zinny learns to cope with her grief, her guilt, and a boy named Jake Boone, who she eventually learns to like, and even starts to love.

Throughout the story she must attempt to get over the death of Rose and Aunt Jessie, figure out whether Jake loves her, or is just using her to get to her sister, and cope with her family never paying any real attention to her. She finally finds something to call her very own, which is the trail that she cleared.

Throughout the story Creech uses flashbacks as a literary device, showing snippets of what Zinny's life was like before her aunt's death.

Characters

• Zinnia "Zinny" Taylor
• Gretchen Taylor
• May Taylor
• Bonnie Taylor
• Will Taylor
• Sam Taylor
• Ben Taylor
• Jake Boone
• Aunt Jessie
• Uncle Nate
• Cousin Rose
• Mrs. Boone
• Mrs. Flint
• Mom
• Dad
• Mrs.Butler
• Mr. Butler
• Mrs.Butler
• Fat pack
• Bingo
• Mr. Boone