How to knock a bravebird from her perch : the first novel in the Morrow girls series

A poignant addition to literary and African American fiction, this award winning novel explores the choices that contemporary women must face and the consequences of domestic abuse. If you love dynamic female leads and succinct yet poetic storytelling, this novel is for you. Poignantly exploring the choices that contemporary women must face and the consequences of domestic abuse, this family saga opens as Belinda Pecan Morrow begins to suspect that getting married before the conclusion of her senior year in high school--and after her father's sudden death--was a huge mistake. With her baby girl, she packs up her few belongings and attempts to leave her husband, Ricky, the up-and-coming boxing sensation from Mississippi. But when Ricky catches up to her, she learns that he has no qualms about using his fists outside of the ring. As years rolls by, Pecan does her best to protect herself and her four daughters physically and emotionally from the tornado that is Ricky, but the marriage comes to a dramatic end when his violent focus turns to the girls. She quickly finds out that leaving Ricky is only the beginning; he doesn't need to live under the same roof to wreak havoc in her life THE MORROW FAMILY SAGA BEGINS ... At just seventeen years old, Belinda finds herself orphaned and alone. When the handsome, self-assured Ricky Morrow proposes marriage she agrees without a second thought. A decision she will soon come to regret ... Belinda gives birth to their first child--a baby girl. Ricky makes good on his promise to provide for her and she rewards him with another baby girl, then a third and fourth. Still, life as Mrs. Ricky Morrow is not without its sacrifices. Her body, pride, and even her sanity are at the mercy of a husband who would rather see her dead and broken than happy and free. To survive, Belinda must be as cold and vicious as Ricky. But will she lose her girls in the process?Notes of Distinction: 2014 IPPY Book Award Gold Medal (Multicultural Fiction) 2015 Readers' Favorite Book Award Gold Medal (Fiction--Social Issues) THE MORROW FAMILY SAGA BEGINS... At just seventeen years old, Belinda finds herself orphaned and alone. When the handsome, self-assured Ricky Morrow proposes marriage she agrees without a second thought. A decision she will soon come to regret... Belinda gives birth to their first child— a baby girl. Ricky makes good on his promise to provide for her and she rewards him with another baby girl, then a third and fourth. Still, life as Mrs. Ricky Morrow is not without its sacrifices. Her body, pride, and even her sanity are at the mercy of a husband who would rather see her dead and broken than happy and free. To survive, Belinda must be as cold and vicious as Ricky. But will she lose her girls in the process? Notes of Distinction: 2014 IPPY Book Award Gold Medal (Multicultural Fiction) 2015 Readers' Favorite Book Award Gold Medal (Fiction—Social Issues)