- Publisher: NeWest Press
- Available in: Paperback, ebook, audiobook
- Published: May 1, 2018
Exceptionally readable… This novel should be devoured in a single sitting.
— Megan Kuklis, The Fiddlehead
This witty coming-of-age story touches on friendship, geek culture, romance and modern families.
Accustomed to being an only child, adoptee Brian “Gumbo” Guillemot’s teenage hobby was searching for his birth parents. After years without a lead, when he finally finds his birth mother, Kim, he’s unprepared for the boisterous instant family that comes with her.
No one, besides Kim, knows anything about Gumbo’s birth father. With Kim refusing to answer any questions, Gumbo must choose whether to continue the search, even if it means alienating his few friends and both his families. And the more he learns, the more he wonders whether some things are better left unknown.
Captivating and playful, The Home For Wayward Parrots explores friendship, romance, modern families and geek pop culture with wit, compassion and extremely foul-mouthed birds.
“A love song to late bloomers, eclectic families, and all the assorted weirdos, hang-ups, and half-understood stories that make up a life. And a poignant reminder that even in all our messy, neurotic, parrot-brained glory, we are also capable of beauty, grace, and love.”
—Greg Bechtel, author of Boundary Problems
This coming-of-age story is light-years away from precious and is refreshingly absent of prom crises and football stars. It starts with Brian, age 30, sitting on the toilet when he receives his first email from his birth mother-although much of the book takes place in his younger life. Brian’s search for his parents is about keeping himself busy; there’s no identity crisis or longing at play. Darusha Wehm portrays nerd life extremely well and hilariously brings the titular parrots to life: Brian’s birth mom provides refuge to several foulmouthed birds.
— iBooks “Three We Love”
– found family, both biological and of choice
– a bit of a dudebro protagonist
– who gets better!
– sweary-assed motherfucking birds 🦜