Date
5-23-2025
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
Chair
Karen Dobson, Rachell Griffis
Keywords
family drama, custody battle, autism awareness, guardianship, mystery father, emotional healing, resilience, overcoming loss, nontraditional family, legal drama, child advocacy, redemption arc, fierce protector, character-driven story, suspenseful fiction, emotional storytelling, heartwarming journey, family bonds, contemporary fiction, new beginnings
Disciplines
Creative Writing | English Language and Literature
Recommended Citation
Wilson, James L., "Strange Bird" (2025). Masters Theses. 1322.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1322
Abstract
Strange Bird is a deeply emotional, character-driven novel about loss, resilience, and the unexpected bonds that heal us. When Camille dies suddenly, her son Malik—an autistic boy navigating a world already challenging to him—is left in the care of those who loved her most but who struggle to fill the void she leaves behind. Margaret, Camille’s fiercely protective mother, and Marcus, Camille’s former partner, battle grief, strained loyalties, and an emerging threat from Malik’s estranged biological father, Daryl.
As Marcus fights to protect Malik's future, hidden truths unravel, testing friendships, family ties, and the meaning of true guardianship. The novel captures the raw heartbreak of letting go, the courage required to stand firm in the face of injustice, and the slow, tender rebuilding of a shattered life. Tension, suspense, and tenderness weave through every page, culminating in a powerful, hopeful resolution where love—tested but unbroken—wins.
A story of quiet bravery and the fierce, imperfect forms that love can take, Strange Bird invites readers to believe in new beginnings even in the shadow of deep loss.
