Caught, by Jane Schwartz

Caught by Jane Schwartz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are times when I just want to read (or reread) a book that's interesting and a quick read. Caught by Jane Schwartz is one book that does it for me.

On the surface, Caught deals with the world of pigeon chasers in Brooklyn during the 1950s. Louie is a young girl who is introduced to pigeons on roof-tops through her brother and brother's friend. When the group is found stealing birds from a man who stole from them, Louie is the only one officially caught, then dragged to the local pigeon store. After this trip, Louie meets up with Casey, who owns a large flock in the neighborhood. Casey, who is in his late-30s, needs a chaser, and hires Louie on.

The surface story deals strictly with the birds, Louie and Casey's relationship on the roof, and Louie's family's concern about Louie's time on the roof. As with any decent story, though, there are various layers to sift through.

At the end, though, Louie's mom and step-father decide to move, taking Louie and her brother with them. While Casey promises to come visit, the reader knows that this will never happen, that their relationship is over, and that Louie's chasing days are over.

While the ending may be inevitable, the events leading up to the last page will stick with the reader, making this a book to read, set aside, and read again at a later time.

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