Birds, Wolves, and Seeds, Oh My!

Mary Ann

When I bought the book Migration, I thought it was a book about the migration of the Arctic Terns, a nature book.  I like nature books, so I thought it would be right up my alley.  Well, about three pages into the book, I realized this was a fictional story about Arctic Terns and as it turns out, it was just the best mistake! 

Migration by Charlotte McConaghy is an international best-selling book about a young, flawed, and complicated woman named Franny Stone, who follows the migration of the Arctic Tern. It is the longest migration on earth from the Arctic to Antarctica and then back. This may be the last migration on the planet. The Earth is in terrible shape with nearly all animal populations on the verge of extinction.  Franny is on her own type of migration, an internal journey.  She too is on the verge of extinction, and the terns are her lifeline.  Travel with Franny on both of her journeys.  This is one of the few books that at the end of it I cried for pure joy!  Migration is going to be made into a movie. Claire Foy and Benedict Cumberbatch will play the leads. I am excited to see how the book will be adapted to film.

McConaghy’s second book, Once There Were Wolves, is set in the Scottish Highlands and follows scientist Inti Flynn who is trying to reintroduce wolves to Scotland.  Inti loves the wolves and is faced with challenges with the community as she follows her packs making new homes in the wilderness.  It is a story of love, sisterhood, mystery, and nature.  All elements for another best-selling book for McConaghy!  Apple TV+ is doing a limited series on Once There Were Wolves with Elizabeth Olsen as the lead. 

In March, Charlotte McConaghy’s new book, Wild Dark Shore, debuts.  It take place on an island near Antarctica that has the world’s seed bank.  I can’t wait to download it on my Kindle.  McConaghy’s books are full of complex, damaged characters in engaging stories that incorporates nature, wild places, and redemption and hope. She is an adept storyteller weaving character and place into unique stories that stay with you long after you are done reading, and isn’t that what makes a great book?