I’m considering life and how vibrant it is even in a novel filled with death. A literary fiction weaved in a tale of magic realism—an ambitious combination that excels in driving the message home. Its only fault is perhaps its slow build to a climax may prohibit some readers from reaching a beautiful end to a story full of color. When We Were Birds is not meant to be rushed, but you have to trust Banwo as she paints this canvas. A canvas that when it dries, depicts the colors of life, love, the legacy of the dead, and the women keeping them alive.