Set in a world at the brink, Migrations is the story of Franny Stone - a woman seemingly belonging to no place and struggling with her past. Franny has always had a connection with birds, and is determined to follow the last known flock of Arctic terns on their final migration. To do so, in Greenland she convinces the captain of the fishing vessel, Saghani, to take her on as a crew member. As Franny and the rest of the crew make their way south with the birds, an epic journey unfolds, along with secrets of Franny’s dark past.

This book was beautifully written and so much different than I expected (in a good way). I went in thinking it was going to be literary fiction, but the story also reads like a mystery. It is told in scenes from the present and the past - the latter giving just enough away to hook the reader in needing to figure out who Franny really is and how she ended up on that boat.
I also thought this would be a much more plot driven story because of the setting of a world at the brink of ecological catastrophe, but it is definitely about the characters. The tone of Franny’s story was a perfect match against that bleak backdrop.
I did have some believability issues with some scenes in the book, specifically when characters are caught in icy water but somehow survive relatively unscathed. However, when taking the story as a whole, It was easy to overlook this.
This story of love, loss, and survival was so deep and well thought out, it is almost hard to believe this is a debut effort. I loved this story and very much look forward to seeing what McConaghy dreams up next! 4.5 stars

"The animals are dying. Soon we will be alone here."

Migrations is a distressing and haunting story from the very first line. It paints a depressing future in which most animals have gone extinct because of human greed. It's a future that may very well be ours if we don't fix things. This was truly a thought-provoking book and so well-written I cried. I felt so many emotions while reading this but most of all, I felt that even in the bleakest of futures, there is life and there is hope.

ARC provided by Netgalley.

I love this novel.

I love the writing, its beauty and quality, the slow reveal of backstory, the melding of the personal and communal crises.

I love the chilling portrayal of a near-future world devastated by climate change and human greed.

I loved the strength of will of the fragile and broken protagonist, Franny.

I love the love story of Franny and Niall, how they hold each other close while letting each other go.

I love the adventure, the chase, how Franny choses the impossible and survives.

I love that the novel made me cry. And think. And love it.

Five Stars. Read it.

I won a free ebook from a publisher giveaway. My review is fair and unbiased.

Migrations is the story of Franny, a woman with a secret who embarks on a journey to follow the migration path of the last known Arctic terns. The author explores the themes of migration, extinction, wildness, and love beautifully through her characters. It was the best book to read during quarantine. The descriptions of the natural world transported me out into that world when I couldn't transport myself off the couch. This book was heartbreaking and beautiful. Highly recommend.

Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy is a remarkable novel. Planet Earth is in a climate change emergency. The overwhelming majority of wildlife is dead. Franny Stone hopes to find answers by studying Artic Terns. These birds are noteworthy for having the longest migration of any animal: from the Artic to the Antarctic and back. A central question explored in this novel is whether animals can change their nature. In a world where food sources have moved and are scarce, would these birds still attempt to travel the full length of this arduous trip despite the obvious threat to their personal survival? At the same time, can a human being break a long pattern of potentially self-destructive behavior? Can trauma be passed on across generations? We find our protagonist in a moral conundrum as she hitches a ride on a commercial fishing vessel. Franny is a conservationist at heart. In a dying world, she believes in the significance of conserving what little wildlife we have left while the fishermen want to extract as many fish from the sea as possible. As she recognizes taking this ride is her only shot at carrying out this once in a lifetime study, she’s willing go through rigorous on the job training in order to be a contributing crew member of a commercial fishing boat. Charlotte McConaghy’s prose is spellbindingly beautiful. There are so many memorable lines in this book-- contemplations on life and our role in the planet. The author manages to provide so much rich detail about the hard life of a commercial fishing crew member as well as on the biology of birds, while keeping it organic to the story and approachable to readers who may not have an extensive background in biology or nautical science. Migrations is a work of fiction that transcends genres and feels completely plausible based on our current state of the environment. It brilliantly captures the beauty of scientific research by illustrating how studying the migration of a single bird can have far reaching effects on both people and our world. This is an unforgettable read.

McConaghy's novel is lovely and lush. The story takes place in a dystopian future, but she successfully makes that merely a backdrop for the intensely personal story central to the book. A must-read.

Migrations...I was unsure when starting to read this story how far it would take me. Most all wildlife, birds and fish are extinct in our world. The story jumps back and forth from present to past, building a story of love, extreme sadness and strength to carry on the mission of following migration of the Arctic Terns (one of the last birds on earth) along with her own life. The lives lost, the unlikely friends and enemies found and the never ending battle to live or die. As I continued reading, I grew to know Franny Stone began a little more and understand the why of this never ending drive, until the end, then I cried. Thank you Charlotte.

What a gorgeous piece of literary fiction!
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Animals are extinct. The oceans have nearly been fished empty. The birds have all but disappeared but for the Arctic Terns which are approaching their final migration.
Franny, a fiercely determined woman, embarks upon a journey to follow the birds as they take flight. The supporting characters unfold gently as does the character of the ocean. At times it is calm while at others it is chaotic and deadly. Franny is unable to find her place, struggling to stay anchored even with her husband, a man she genuinely loves. Loss and sadness are revealed slowly as the narrative progresses, going back and forth between place and time.

Atmospheric with beautiful imagery. Amidst mass extinction one woman follows the migration of the last remaining Arctic terns on her own instinctual journey. As with the studies of species, her mysteries are revealed slowly.

Fanny Stone makes her appearance in Greenland to acquire work on the Saghani. Her motivations are to convince the ship’s captain to track the last of the terns and journey with them on their last Migration. More ways then one, these birds are a symbol of her life in many ways. At least that is what I came away with the story.

As the story unfolds, you begin to realize that Franny’s life is displaced, haunted and she must find the answers of her torment and come to grips with secrets bottled up so tightly, even she has forgotten them.

This story has ceased hold of my heart and it is one I think I will always come back to. While there is great sadness in this story, it is extraordinary and evoking with lyrically told sea life, characterization and captures your attention to wildlife that is threated to extinction.

I can’t remember the last time I have been transported and completely immersed in the characters’ lives. It’s as if the character’s hopes, dreams, longing, plight is your own.

Stephanie Hopkins

First, let me say that this is a well written book. However, it is also a very sad, heartbreaking and frightening book. It is not an easy book to read. However, it is also a book about conservation, mental disorders, survival and facing the facts. Franny Stone, the main character, is also flawed with a dark past so it might take awhile to understand or sympathize with her. I do recommend this book for the writing and the message. However, if you are someone who doesn't like sad stories or flawed characters than I would choose another book. However, I hope that you do try this book at least.

“If you or anyone you know wishes to visit the remaining forests of the world, you need to join the waiting lists immediately, for it is becoming more likely that the lists will outgrow the life spans of the forests.”

Migrations asks us to imagine a world where nearly all the creatures humans share the earth with are gone. But at its core, the book is about relationships and the lengths we will go to for them. When Franny sets out to follow the last migration of the Arctic terns, we learn she has secrets that make this journey about more than just the birds’ survival.

Bird lovers will feel a special connection to the soaring prose, but anyone who has wondered about the future of our planet and how we are all connected needs to read this devastatingly beautiful and timely novel.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the mystery of Franny's past and how it was revealed little by little. I liked reading about the birds and how climate change had affected the animals.

I really wanted to love this book. The description sounds like a book I would enjoy and I did enjoy parts of it. I loved the idea of a woman's quest to follow that last arctic terns on their migration and in the process discover more about herself. Unfortunately, I was not drawn in by the writing and I never liked Franny very much. Her character interested me, but I never felt very engaged with her. The back and forth in time I actually liked because I thought it made the story more mysterious and is probably the reason I finished it.

This book hits like a truck, over and over again. This is the first book I've read that made me clearly understand what literary fiction is. It's about the characters, the emotions, the experience; it's a mood, a message, a snapshot, encapsulated in a book. Charlotte McConaghy tells the tale of a woman named Franny Stone who is living in a future where climate change has resulted in the extinction of most species of wild animals. She is wild herself and has a deep love of nature and the ocean. The story begins with her joining a fishing crew to follow the Arctic Terns on what may be their last migration. As the story unravels, we come to discover what has led her here, what has broken her, and what keeps her going. It's tragic, yet beautiful. I will never forget this one.

What I enjoyed the most:
- Franny is a fantastic character. I cannot exactly relate to her deep need to wander but I find her infinitely fascinating and a beautiful spirit. She's dark and complicated but so loving and tender at times.
- The journey. This story unravels by hopping back through Franny's past. Regularly we are returned to her current adventure and each time, understanding her motives and emotions just a little better.
- The crew. The crew of the fishing vessel she boards are a fun bunch and I grew to like many of them and root for their success.

What could have been better:
- Some of the more minor characters on the boat weren't really fleshed out so well so they started to kind of blend together to me. I wish they had be elaborated on more to help make them more distinct.


That's it. That's truly the only even slightly negative thing I have to say about this. I caution anyone who decides to pick this up when it releases, that it's a heavy read. It's sad, it's challenging emotionally but I felt the pay off was beautifully done and it made the journey worth it!

Migrations is one of the most captivatingly beautiful and haunting books I've read in recent memory. Charlotte McConaghy details a journey story - a migratory story - on multiple levels. It delves into the lives of characters who are grappling with their personal histories, as well as an ecological crisis.

It's a story that looks back as well as forward. It's a work of literary fiction that is rich with symbolism where readers will also deeply connect with the characters. All to say, I loved it and highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was very unique and not the post-apocalyptic story I was expecting. The language was gorgeous, and the story takes you on a sea voyage from Greenland to Antarctica, following the migration of the last of the arctic terns. It is the narrator Franny's journey as well--her disturbed past is revealed slowly to the readers; at the same time, being on the ship helps Franny process the past and come to terms with it. Everything is woven together so beautifully, conveying a deep sense of loss and desperation throughout. I usually have no interest in sailing or sea stories, yet I ended up caring deeply for each of the characters on The Saghani.

Although we are cautioned about quoting from the uncorrected proof, I'd like to share this passage which to me summarizes it all (with the understanding that it may be edited in the final copy):

Because it seems to me, suddenly, that if it's the end, really and truly, if you're making the last migration not just of your life but of your entire species, you don't stop sooner. Even when you're tired and starved and hopeless. You go farther.

I really loved the book. If I were to change one thing, I might've prefer that the book ended after Chapter 29 and did not include the Epilogue.

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. Thank you to @flatiron_books via @netgalley for a copy of this book which will be out August 4, 2020. The big theme that is throughout this story is nature/saving our planet which I love reading about in books. But it also is about a woman named Franny and her life. The narrative goes from present day to the past in these chunks where we learn more about why Franny has ended up chasing these birds that may go extinct...the real reasons she is “running away.” I liked the pacing and enjoyed reading the story as it unfolded in the set up of changing times/locations. It also deals with grief and different relationships whether with a spouse, a parent, or friend for these characters. I hope we always have lots of birds, fish, trees, and wildlife as part of our daily lives. I truly cannot fathom if all of the beautiful nature in the world did exist. Posted on Instagram @carolinehoppereads and GoodReads

Franny Stone is searching. She is searching for her past and her place in the world. Franny is a wanderer and in touch with nature especially the sea. This book takes place in a time where climate change is evident and there are a lot of animals that are extinct due to man. She decides to follow the arctic tern on its migration, one of the few birds left not in captivity. On her quest she will discover herself.

This book offers us a glimpse into our future if we cannot coincide with the natural world. The character of Franny is reminiscent of the marsh girl in "Where the Crawdads Sing". Both characters are highly tuned to nature. This is a wonderful book to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advance copy of Migrations to read and enjoy.

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy was my favorite read of 2020 so far. It was the kind of book that grabbed my imagination from the first page and wouldn't let go until the last word. I rarely read a book as quickly as I read Migrations and I was sad that I had finished it when it was done.

I don't want to give too much away in this review but I will say that the story weaves together the loss of many of the world's animal species with the loss of one woman's ability to deal with her life's hardships in a way that makes it impossible not to imagine what the world would be like without our animals, birds, insects, etc. The writing evokes a sadness in the reader, not only for people living in this future world, but for the entire dying planet at the heart of the story. It's quite a book, to say the least. I have recommended Migrations to all of my reader friends and feel very lucky to have been able to read an advance copy.