With the use of cryptography and various puzzles included in this one, it's a really impressive debut, and I love what the author did with Arizona as a fierce and complex character. Readers don't need to be great at puzzles and codes themselves to enjoy this one.

I loved this. I am a sucker for puzzles, riddles, etc. I really liked Arizona as the main character too. I was locked in through this whole story, I finished it in one sitting.

Arizona strikes me as a brilliant, and possibly neurodiverse teenager and luckily we’re in her thoughts at times in this story as she processes information about the loss of her father, the disappearance of her mother and how to relate to a new friend who appears at exactly the right time - when Arizona is alone and vulnerable. It’s a clever tale, if not a full out page turner, that kept my attention and kept me wondering how it would come to closure. I enjoyed it and the tie in to historical figures and real places. That part was intriguing on its own.

Seventeen-year-old Arizona’s favorite things include cryptography, geocaching, the writings of Jules Verne—and exploring the Sierra Nevadas on her Russian Ural motorcycle, with her dog Mojo riding shotgun in his sidecar, which means she is not an average teenager. So when she learns her mother’s been kidnapped and finds a cryptic test accompanying the ransom note, she’s not just horrified—but electrified. Solving puzzles and cracking codes are what she does best, and she knows exactly how to tackle the challenge the kidnappers are dangling in front of her. What she doesn’t yet realize is that she’s been enlisted in a treasure hunt, on the trail of an occult, centuries-old secret her father supposedly took to his grave. And if the prize at the end is real, it could shake the world. As Arizona chases the truth through fiendish puzzles and ancient texts, she’s forced to navigate the outside world in ways she never has before―and begins to forge connections she never dreamed she could.

This is a very good book about a brilliant teenager who we would call "different". The author shows that "different" people can exist in the regular world if someone will give them a chance and not judge or shun them. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book unlike any I am used to reading. I highly recommend it, especially if you have someone in your family that is "different' from the world's "norm".

Not sure if this was a bit over my head or if I wasn't the intended target audience. It was an enjoyable enough read, but I typically don't go for slow build type of books. I almost DNF'd this book multiple times.

The Language of the Birds by K.A. Merson is a fast-paced, brainy thriller packed with codes, conspiracies, and heart. When Arizona’s mom goes missing, she’s thrown into a cryptic treasure hunt filled with clues, hidden histories, and family secrets. What begins as a search for answers becomes a journey of self-discovery ….wrapped in danger.

My thoughts:
A cerebral adventure disguised as a YA novel, this book is a hidden gem for puzzle fanatics. Twisting through overlooked threads of American history and rugged landscapes, it rewards readers who thrive on intricate mental challenges. Just know—if you’re here for emotional arcs or pulse-pounding suspense, the puzzle-heavy path may feel more like a maze than a thrill ride.

Thank you to #netgalley #Ballantinebooks #randomhouse #kamerson for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sad to give this book 2 stars, but it didn't hold my attention. I love highly intelligent characters like Arizona, but her skills with cyphers are so unique and specialized that I believe only a specific group of people will find this book interesting. So much time is spent on her techniques to crack the codes she's given in a race to save her kidnapped mother. After a while, it just felt like trying to read a book in another language. Maybe I'm not the target demographic, maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance, or maybe the book needs to be better to appeal to a larger audience.

Just ok for me. A bit muddled at first, then picks up pace, gets interesting, then the story falls flat on its face. Disappointing ending for sure.

I absolutely loved Arizona. She's a great character, scarily smart, brave, and quirky--perhaps not neurotypical? Her adventures will delight both advanced YA readers and older adults who love intricate ciphers and exciting treasure hunts. The puzzle of the mystery is enjoyable, and Arizona's inner journey as she forges connections with people other than the father she has lost makes this a story with nuance and depth.

The Secret Language of Birds by K.A. Merson was a great read! If you like YA, mysteries, that deal with puzzles and deciphering, friendship, grief, and personal growth then you will love this book!!

This is Merson’s debut novel and I think she did an amazing job. I love that this book is so different, involves solving puzzles and riddles, which I love to do! Arizona went through some setbacks but didn’t let that stop her. This book reminded me of National Treasure or The Escape Room where you have to solve riddles and puzzles to solve the mystery or in this case to find the kidnappers who have her mother. Thank you to Ballantine, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

I enjoyed this book, but am not completely sure who the audience is. In one sense, I think it might be young adult as the main character is a 17 year old girl, who has just lost her father and her mother is kidnapped by a group making her solve ciphers to release her mom. However, the ciphers are really hard. It feels like the Da Vinci Code at times, I don't want to give away the details, but there are some deep conspiracy theories along that line. I don't think most teenagers, or adults for that matter, would be able to solve any of the ciphers on their own. So while the book is very smart, and clearly the author did some excellent research, I was just along for the ride, would have preferred something I could engage in more directly. However, the main character Arizona is quite charming, and I enjoyed the other characters she met along her adventures.

I thought this was a great book, but I'll be honest I skipped almost all of the puzzle part of the book which left me with a nice mystery with wonderful characters. The puzzles were elaborate and I applaud the very brilliant author who put them together for this book. And while I personally love puzzles of any kind, my life is too busy to go through and try to figure them out. I loved Arizona! She's a brilliant teenager who appeared to be on the spectrum somewhat, although it was never mentioned. Her and Mojo followed the quest, in hopes of finding answers and of course, helping to free her kidnapped mother. I think this book would make an excellent movie!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This one is the Goonies meets National Treasure! It’s full of cryptic mystery and intriguing adventure. I had such a great time on this ride!

Arizona and her mom have lost the patriarch of their little trio. They plan to honor him and release his ashes in places he loved. Her and her dad had a fascination and hardcore hobby of ciphering and decoding. When her mom turns up missing on a hike in a national park, the stakes are quickly raised to rescuing her at all cost. Turns out- there may be more to her dad’s love of cryptic puzzles than just a hobby. Was her dad’s death really an accident? Now Arizona has to put her honed skills to the test to solve equations, coded texts and riddles to save her mom in time.

This thrill ride takes Arizona everywhere from dessert caves to island dives, and readers will have a blast tagging along! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Really fascinating and fun book about a girl's search for her family after her father dies. It's a cypher mystery book, so know that going in! The puzzles were detailed and fun to get to the solutions. I loved the real history facts woven throughout and the main character was a great look at a neurodivergent teen finding her place in the world.

Arizona lost her father three weeks ago, in a motorcycle accident. It’s just her and her mom now, and in memoriam to him they spread his ashes at their recent a future vacation sites. Arizona’s mom goes missing at one of those sites and Arizona receives a bizarre phone call instructing her to solve a cipher to get her mom back. Homeschooled and generally people adverse Arizona feels al alone and totally ill-equipped to handle this, but with no one to turn to and not trusting anyone, what I she to do? Who could know her dad and her loved ciphers, and what does this have to do with her missing mom?

When I first started reading I was worried I wouldn’t be able to relate to 17 year old genius, Arizona, but I found her to be a lovable main character that I rooted for throughout this novel. She’s quirky, lost, and unintentionally funny, in a way that makes you want to rescue her. While at times I found this novel to be slightly heavy on the science/research. I very much appreciate the level of detail that Merson went to, to create this novel. There is an astounding level on intricacies in this novel. Part coming of age, part mystery, and a whole lot of whodunit with a quirky heroine, I would definitely recommend picking up this novel.

Merson in the author note thanked Andy Weir, Steig Larsson, Blake Crouch, while I haven’t read Crouch, you can definitely feel the influence of the other authors in the best of ways.

This is a combination of a story of family, a young woman, seventeen year old Arizona and her dog, and a friend who she turns to in order to share what she is thinking, a father whose body is discovered somewhere in the desert, and a mother who has, apparently, been kidnapped.

Arizona is an unusual young woman, so when she realizes that her mother has been kidnapped, she turns to what she feels is best to do, she follows what she is best at, solving puzzles.

I really enjoyed this story, despite some of the setbacks that Arizona went through, and loved how this story was wrapped up in the end.


Pub Date: 13 May 2025

Many thanks for the ARC provided by K.A. Merson & NetGalley

An amazing main character in Arizona, a riveting mystery plot, and a fascinating way to incorporate puzzle-solving into a novel. I am a very poor solver of cyphers, but that didn't stop me from loving spending time with a complex and beautifully-conceived brilliant neurodiverse teen, whose unique skillset allows her to solve problems from angles other people can't see. I can't wait to read more about Arizona!

I found this book about Arizona and the fight to find her mother, but also solve her father's death, fascinating, and it was a really good YA read. It has a really gripping story, and the ciphers/codes throughout the book definitely add to the suspense of the book. I enjoyed the "treasure hunt" aspect of it - like I was right along with Arizona, rooting for her to figure out the clues quickly in order to figure out what was really going on with her parents.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I was 100% not the target audience for this. I think the premise here is so so intriguing but the puzzles and the history just confused me a lot, in all honesty. The parts outside of the puzzles, I really enjoyed. I loved Arizona’s character, but the book wasn’t for me unfortunately. This was written by an insanely intelligent author though, so props for that because, WOW.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Language of the Birds.

The premise was so intriguing and I was excited my request was approved.

The problem is that the plot was too cipher and riddle-y for me. I'm not smart enough to follow along. 😅

Arizona is a smart, neurodivergent 17-year old who is skilled in ciphers and puzzle solving.

When her mom is kidnapped and the only way to secure her release is to decode a series of cryptic notes, Arizona, with her trusty dog at her side, embarks on an adventure that will lead to shocking revelations and new friends,

The narrative was too science-y and brainy for me to follow.

I appreciate the work and effort the author took to create the narrative.

I also loved how much of the story is based on real life documents and history. I didn't know much about Herbert Hoover other than that he was the president.

I didn't dislike Arizona; I appreciated her talents and skills and I loved her dog. I also liked how her mom wasn't a helpless victim; she sought ways to escape.

I understand solving the riddle also enabled Arizona to develop her verbal and communication skills and learn to socialize.

I prefer my mysteries more straightforward and with a lot less math.