Anne Lamott may be best known in Australia for her instructional book on writing, Bird by Bird, but she is also a writer of essays, memoir, and novels. In this novel, Lamott revisits the family she first created in Rosie, and continued with Crooked Little Heart.

Imperfect Birds works (perfectly) as a stand-alone novel, however. During the summer before her daughter’s final year at school, recovering alcoholic Elizabeth ekes out her existence day by day; still attending AA meetings, and taking her anti-depressants. But she cannot stop worrying about 17-year-old Rosie – after reading Rosie’s journal, Elizabeth knows her daughter has experimented with drugs and sex. And when they catch Rosie telling lies, Elizabeth and husband James are alarmed, particularly given that one of Rosie’s best friends has just returned from rehab. With narrative from both Elizabeth and Rosie’s perspectives, secrets are spilled early in the book. But this doesn’t detract from the mounting tension.

Imperfect Birds demonstrates the desire to love and protect a child, and how that must sometimes result in difficult decisions and ‘tough love’ strategies. The book contains Lamott’s usual warmth and humour … but may be too life-like for parents of teens.