"The Language of the Birds" is marketed as a young adult suspense novel, but the only thing that really lends itself to the YA categorization is a seventeen-year-old protagonist named Arizona; substitute someone older, and instantly, I think it makes more sense and finds more of an audience. The younger protagonist doesn't work here because she's running around the Western United States getting into all kinds of dangerous situations, carrying a gun... and not a single adult questions it. She reports her mother missing, takes a dog with a gunshot wound to a vet for treatment, is seen camping alone... no one is suspicious or curious- nothing.

I like the idea of a neurodivergent protagonist. In fact, Stephen King has done this very well with his character Holly, who appears in several of his mystery/suspense/thriller novels. I like the added challenge of Arizona needing to interact with people and face her struggles with social anxiety and connecting. However, it makes it challenging to believe her as a character when she is so calm and grounded in dealing with kidnappers/killers. She has no problem telling them off, coming up with snarky responses, etc... but we never really feel a sense of anxiety or fear or sadness over her mother being kidnapped. That makes it hard to empathize, relate to, and generally root for Arizona because she just doesn't seem believable as a real teenage girl.

There are some action scenes sprinkled throughout, but they never felt exciting or suspenseful. The whole book just sort of feels like it follows a monotonous tempo that is the same throughout- whether it's a detailed explanation of how to decode a cipher or a gun fight.

That leads to the other big issue in this book- the puzzles. Puzzles can be really cool and interesting when done right. Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One" and its sequel, Dan Brown's books, and even the move "National Treasure" do a good job introducing and explaining puzzles in a way that's not overly complicated, overly detailed, and doesn't halt the action. Here, however, we get so much detail about various methods of decoding that it just feels exhausting. Any time I find myself wanting to skip ahead it's a sign that an editor missed the mark in helping the author streamline and keep the pacing up, and this book, unfortunately, suffers from many of those moments. It's clear the author loves puzzles and is fascinated by the subject matter and historical influence in the plot... but it's also critical to realize that there's a limited audience that has that same depth of fascination and that there's a happy medium somewhere that simplifies some of the complexity and appeals to a broader audience.

What I did like is that this is story with strong female characters who are constantly trying to work the problem and not expecting or relying on anyone else to save them. I also always love a good canine sidekick, and Mojo provides some much-needed glimpses into Arizona's heart and humanity. Again, I think there was some real potential here with better editing, a bit more time in the development of a human angle in the character development, and aging the protagonist just slightly- even to college age.

I did find some of the history interesting. (Who really knows that much about Herbert Hoover? This part of the story led to an interesting dive down some fascinating rabbit holes.) The plot is certainly ambitious and intriguing to those who like puzzles and conspiracy theories/unsolved mysteries. Unfortunately, for me, the pacing and a few of the choices kept it from living up to its full potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced read.

This book was an engaging and puzzle-packed adventure, reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code with a touch of The Unseen World. I was completely drawn into Arizona’s journey as she unraveled each cryptic clue, her determination and intellect making her a compelling lead. For readers who love decoding mysteries alongside the protagonist, I highly recommend picking up the print version. The visual layout of the codes and clues adds an extra layer of immersion that’s hard to replicate in audio format.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random Housing Publishing and Ballatine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for this free digital read in exchange for my honest review. Thank You to Goodreads and Publisher for the free book in exchange for my honest review.
The Language of Birds is a page turning read about a teenager who ends up having to figure out a bunch of puzzles. Why does she have to solve them? Who left them behind for her? To find out make sure to read this one. This was written well and I enjoyed every character in this one, especially Arizona. The book was such a fun read and was such an adventure. I highly enjoyed this one and would recommend to any young adult reader or readers who love mystery books.

Reading the description this book sounded a little different than what I usually read and had a good premise. Maybe because its not my usual type of book but I just could not get into this book. It was not a DNF as it did interest me enough to know what was going on. Maybe I just do not have the intellect for this book. All of the parts with the decoding I just sort of sailed through not really caring or paying too close attention because it did not make sense to me. In the end I feel like it was ultimately a let down. I was hoping for something more.

Thank you for access to this book in exchange for an honest review!

From the start, the characters and puzzles within the novel were intriguing. Although the underlying storyline is deep, the characters allow for some entertainment while being thought-provoking. Arizona also goes through some major character development that was a joy to watch unfold.

I was really excited to read The Language of the Birds by K.A. Merson, especially because of the promise of a treasure hunt and puzzle-solving. While I liked the book, I didn’t love it. At times, the detailed explanations of the ciphers felt a bit overwhelming and went over my head. That said, I really enjoyed the main characters, Arizona and Mojo — they brought charm and energy to the story. The book’s clue-following adventure gave me strong National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code vibes, which made it a fun ride overall.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for letting me read this ARC.

Despite sounding interesting, this was so far over and above anything that I could begin to understand. Ciphers, codes and obscurity abound. In the midst of all the running around trying to solve the clues and thereby finding the person there were some significant “listen to me and learn moments” Lesson to be learned, it shouldn’t be hard to accept help when you need it. It shouldn’t be hard to express your emotions, even when you are scared. Being different shouldn’t be made hard for savants and others.

Best sentence: “Hope is a log on a raging river, and she clings to it.”

If you love puzzles, clues and working it all out, this is definitely your next and best read. Thanks to Ballantine Books/Random House and NetGalley for a copy.

I couldn't get into this book, unfortunately. I tried a couple times, but I didn't connect with the character. I think part of this was how early on the inciting incident happened (almost right away).

The puzzle aspect of this book—which is what I was most excited for—didn't feel like it invited the reader to participate. It felt more like we got to sit back and watch the MC make connections and solve things without a chance to ponder the clues ourselves.

DNFed at 13%.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC.

A coming of age story with heart and history. This novel is a brainy thrill ride filled with myth and mystery as Arizona dives into a world of ancient texts, encrypted clues, and forgotten corners of American history. A brilliant read.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Language of the Birds is part thriller, part puzzle box, and part coming-of-age story. Seventeen-year-old Arizona, a brilliant and socially offbeat teen, finds herself at the center of a cryptic conspiracy after her mother is kidnapped under mysterious circumstances. The ransom demand? Solve the puzzles left behind by her late father—puzzles that seem to point toward a long-lost secret hidden somewhere in the American West.

Armed with her encyclopedic mind, trusty dog Mojo, and an Airstream trailer, Arizona sets off on a quest that’s anything but straightforward. Along the way, she deciphers ciphers and follows obscure historical breadcrumbs in hopes of reuniting with the only family she has left.

The mystery is tightly wound, and readers who love decoding riddles, cracking historical codes, and diving into esoteric knowledge will find much to enjoy. Think The Da Vinci Code meets National Treasure, with a dose of teenage introspection and emotional growth. That said, the book’s layered riddles and extended problem-solving sequences may lose some readers along the way (myself included).

Although it was more of a cerebral read than I was looking for, it came together for a really nice ending. Thanks to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book felt very haunting to me as they worked on solving the mystery and gain confidence in themselves.

Arizona's journey into the world hit me hard and seeing an introvert having to come out of there shell was really cool.

I tried reading this book earlier and stop. I thought I would give it another try. However, I am not the target audience for this book. I believe it would be best classified as a YA. In reading the synopsis, I was intrigued, a young girl, puzzles, a mother needing to be found and notes left behind from the father. I did not connect with this book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, #K.A.Merson and #TheLanguageoftheBirds for the ebook for my honest review.

A highly intelligent teen sets out to save her mother through a series of codes left by her dead father. Things I liked- connections to US history and her dog. This fits well in YA genre. However there are pieces that seem like square pegs fitting into a round hole - especially putting oneself on the line when the connection to any other human seems to be a struggle. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

This book is the first to be published by K. A. Merson (https://kamersonbooks.com). The Language of the Birds was published last May. It is the 52nd title I’ve completed reading in 2025.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

Arizona is brilliant, but has some disorders that make it difficult for her to fit in. As a result, she has been homeschooled. She is only 17 when her father dies in a motorcycle accident. Her only real friend is her dog, Mojo. Three weeks later, she and her mother are visiting some of her late father’s favorite places. They arrive in the ghost town of Bodie in Bodie State Historic Park and go their separate ways. Late in the afternoon, she discovers that her mother is missing. She reports it to a Park Ranger and is told she should return to her campsite and wait for an update on the search.

When she later checks on the progress of the search, Arizona finds that the man she had talked with was an imposter. Now talking to a real Park Ranger, she finds there is still no sign of her mother. Arizona receives a note saying that her mother has been kidnapped. She is told that the only way she will see her mother again is if she cooperates.

Arizona is on her own and has to rely on the problem-solving skills her father taught her. She is given a coded message to decipher. Each time she solves one puzzle, she is presented with another. The kidnapper is looking for an ancient secret that her father had kept secret, and Arizona is expected to find it for him.

Along the way, Arizona meets another young woman traveling alone. The slightly older Lily is traveling in a Volkswagen camper with her dog, Gus. Arizona is surprised when she slowly establishes a friendship with the stranger. While she is willing to discuss things with Lily, she insists on doing anything she considers dangerous herself. Her travels take her to a graveyard, diving off the California coast, to an abandoned mine, the Hoover Dam, and finally back to Bodie. Arizona is confronted with increasingly more challenging puzzles, and she is eventually able to apply her extensive knowledge against the kidnappers.

Can Arizona follow the trail of clues and discover the ancient secret her father had been hiding? Can she maintain genuine friendships with others? Will she get her mother back?

I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 352-page young adult thriller. Due to the trail of clues, this novel reminds me a bit of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The author weaves the explanation of different codes and ciphers into the story. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

17 year old Arizona is reeling from the recent death of her father when her mother is kidnapped and the kidnappers want Arizona to solve some complex puzzles before bringing her mother home. Arizona is very bright and able to decipher many puzzles to find this hidden secret that the kidnappers want to find. She travels all over Nevada and Arizona in her quest to get her mother back.

I was intrigued by the puzzle aspect of this story and that worked pretty well although sometimes the explanation of how Arizona solved the riddle went a little long. Arizona was a good main character, if maybe a little too good to be true. I would shelve this in the YA section since there is a heroic teenage YA character and plenty of background things that get ignored (source of money, for example). Think of this book as YA version of National Treasure but with lots of internet research.

Arizona, an outcast teenager from what you would consider "normal" is an only child living with her parents camping their way around California. She's homeschooled, super into numerology, astrology, history, and poems. Some social anxiety has her fearful of strangers and relies on the company of her dog, Mojo. Her had, only two weeks prior, has passed away due to a motorcycle accident. While Arizona and her mom are exploring a new park, they agree to meet up at a certain time and Arizona's mom never shows. Turns out she was kidnapped and the only way to save her is to solve a puzzle for the Adept, a man who is trying to seek the answer to life, or The Language of Birds. This story leads you down a Dan Brown like story with twists and turns and all things ciphers to figure out what they want in exchange for Arizona's mom.

While the story seemed a little clunky, I was hooked on the clues and puzzles that needed to be solved. So much research went into this book, it was an incredible job by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

What an interesting book! Think Dan Brown on American soil with local landmarks. I loved the puzzles, though on a Kindle, they lost some of their solving power on the reader's end. The dips and twists and history and scenery...all very well done. It did get a little clustered with how the first couple puzzles were solved. A bit too much information that I had to look up. I enjoyed that the characters were not perfect. They had personality. I think I'd like to know a little more about dad and his history.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Digital Copy of The Language of the Birds in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book!
Arizona's dad passed away 17 days ago at the beginning of the story. She and her mom, and their dog are traveling in their Airstream to different locations that her dad loved, in order to spread his ashes.

At the first location, Arizona needs to be alone with her thoughts for a while and wants to go on a walk with her dog, Mojo. She and her mom agree they will meet up at 4pm. 4pm comes and goes, but her mom is not around. She talks with a park ranger, who doesn't seem to be too concerned. By 6pm, Arizona knows something is wrong. The park is closing and her mom still hasn't shown up. Arizona approaches a park ranger who tells her she needs to go back to their campsite, but that the rangers will do a search.

When she gets back to the Airstream, it has been ransacked, but a note was left behind on the counter explaining that her mom has been kidnapped and that she will need to tell them what her dad's secret was. She doesn't know what they are talking about, but after the first phone call, she is given some clues.

Throughout the book, she will have to travel to different locations, solve riddles and crack codes to come up with information for the kidnappers.

I really enjoyed this story and it kept me wanting to finish the book to see how it ends!

Well done!

Arizona and her mother are traveling to spread her father's ashes at his favorite spots across the US. When visiting a Ghost Town her mom disappears and their RV is ransacked. A note suggests that her dad died with a great secret and crooks want it. Arizona must solve some cryptic clues to solve the mystery and save her mother.

This is quite an intriguing book. It features a YA protagonist but it's a very "smart" story--filled with big words, big theories, and big problems.

Also, it feels as if there are a lot of books featuring codes and puzzles lately. I love National Treasure as much as the next person, but I will freely confess that I am not smart enough for all these clues and treasure hunts!

Seventeen-year-old Arizona's father dies in a motorcycle accident and her mother disappears while they are mourning him. She quickly learns her mom has been kidnapped and the only way to get her back is to solve a series of puzzles and codes. The kidnappers have ties to the old alchemists and the book features tons of puzzles and mentions of ancient texts (and lots of readings of poems). I won't lie--it's a lot.

The puzzling is fun, but my favorites were the more emotional sections with Arizona herself. She was clearly autistic, or something similar, and it was her father with whom she had identified more (he was also a puzzle guy). Arizona is crazy mature for a 17-year-old, driving the family truck and camper all around to solve these puzzles, and basically dealing with a death and disappearance without completely freaking out. She also has an adorable dog, Mojo.

This is definitely a different sort of book, but that's not a bad thing. The puzzles and ciphers and some of the odd plot choices were a bit too much for me, but I'm still glad I read it.