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Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite
Birdsong by Belle Mills is a remarkable memoir. Belle was born to a mother who battled overwhelming grief, health issues, and addiction. Throughout her life, Belle struggled to adapt, to relate to others, to mask her overwhelming anxiety, and not to feel like a burden. She also struggled with selective mutism in social settings to escape bullying at school or criticism from her mother at home, and to overcome the plethora of intrusive thoughts that often led her to give in to unhealthy behaviors. In this memoir, Belle discusses her complicated relationship with her mother and her supportive relationship with her brother. She shares not only her negative past experiences and the emotional agony of being at war with her mind but also what worked and what didn't as she built practical toolboxes of coping strategies that helped her daily, hoping to help those in similar situations.
Birdsong is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and candid memoir. I was deeply moved by Belle Mills's courage to share her isolating and devastating journey through grief, trauma, and mental health issues with the world. I believe that the greatest strength is found in those who, though life dealt them a cruel hand none of us would want, fight to find a purpose to keep going, to be a generational curse breaker, develop coping mechanisms through trial and error, and ultimately build the courage to no longer care how they are perceived or suppress their own feelings and emotions to make others comfortable. This book is a testament to that. It explores the importance of nurturing your inner child, alchemizing your pain, forgiving, rediscovering your identity, and having support on your healing journey.
