Chouette by Claire Oshetsky

After years of trying Tiny and her husband are having a baby and Tiny is not ready to give up her music career. Tiny knows this baby was conceived by her owl lover and is convinced that she is having an owl baby. Chouette is born early in trauma and is seen by doctors and others to be imperfect and in need care for her whole life. Tiny doesn't understand their confusion or her husband's desire to fix Chouette and make her less owl baby and more human baby. Mother and child bond by night hunting small critters and Chouette screeches and squawks like a bird as well as behaving raptor- like to those she feels threatened by. For every one of her father's crazy remedies, Tiny and Chouette fight back. This is one weird journey into motherhood and psychosis. It is also a testament to a mother's love above all else. Not for the squeamish this will appeal to other strange books of motherhood like SORROWLAND and NIGHTBITCH.  4 stars