I was really excited about the premise of this book and all the puzzles in it. But it read really young to me, and I had just read two other road trips books (trend this year?) so this one just didn't hit right for me. I think/hope it will find it's right audience.

3.5* This was super intriguing because it weaved together math and science with classic literature. The mystery felt just like National Treasure and was both fun and nostalgic. I loved following along with the puzzle, and there is a dog, what more could you ask for!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a copy. This is out now!

An interesting take on the treasure hunt concept. where Arizona finds herself with her dog, hunting for her mom, and the truth behind her Dad's death, Arizona's neuro divergentancy serves her well, when combines with her talent for puzzles, when she finds herself alone and on adventure covering multiple sates. It's unique real history just adds to the fun of the story. A definite quirky read, fun for YA crowd and adults alike.

I love puzzles but this book is filled with way too many codes, riddles and poring through ancient texts. I'm sure this novel will find it's audience Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel, it just wasn't for me.

Since I did not finish the book I will not post to purchasing sites.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

When I read the synopsis I was intrigued. The idea of a teen trying to solve the disappearance of her mother with puzzles is not something I had seen done before. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me because I don't think I am the intended audience.

This story will not be for everyone, especially those who don't enjoy complicated puzzles or just want to relax their mind while reading. I, myself, love a good puzzle and have always held a certain fascination towards those who easily solve the most complicated of them. This author is a brilliant writer, to say the least, weaving together mind-boggling puzzles and an intricate plot involving a missing woman. The protagonist was well researched, intriguing, and highly likable. The dog I wanted to rip out of the pages and keep with me. This was a captivating read that kept me on my feet, succeeding in telling a solid mystery with surprising twists and a satisfying ending. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for this ARC.

Arizona isn't a.typical teen, she loves geocaching, cryptography and exploring just to name a few things. When she realizes her mom has been taken and there is a cryptic test along with the note she is upset but at the same time excited. She loves solving things and she is pretty good at it. She starts on her journey of solving everything the kidnappers throw at her. Will she be able to figure out every puzzle tossed her way and find her.mother in the end? This was a wonderful read and is great for someone who loves to put clues together and figure out the puzzle in the end.

This is just the book for math whizs who enjoy deciphering and code breaking. Unfortunately, that is not me so it’s hard for me to rate a book that has so much of this kind of content. I did like the action part of the story in which 17 year old Arizona must decipher clues in order to free her mother from kidnappers. Although, her mother’s numerous escapes and recaptures seemed a bit contrived and really didn’t add to the story. Arizona was a good character and developed well and I liked Lily but had a hard time not suspecting her of being in cahoots with the bad guys. Her character and the secondary characters were not developed well at all. I will admit that I found the code diagrams to be very boring and I had to skim past them so I really never figured out what big secret they were all trying to uncover. This is obviously not the book for me. Based on my lack of enjoyment, my rating is rounded up to 3 stars, knowing that the right reader will probably really enjoy the book.
Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Arizona and her mother take a camping trip to a place they loved to go with her father, recently dead, Death Valley and the ghost town of Bodie. The two decide to tour the town separately, but Arizona's mother never arrives at the meeting point. Eventually she discovers her mother has been kidnapped by someone who thinks one of the women may have, or have access to a secret her father supposedly took with him to the grave. This sets off a treasure hunt of ciphers and puzzles and secrets as she tries to rescue her mother and stay alive. Arizona is 19 and has neurological issues that have kept her removed from others her age, so it is hard for her to trust or ask for help. On her hectic, daring, and sometimes brilliant journey, she discovers who she can trust, and just what she is capable of (and it is a LOT). Arizona is a fascinating character, and shows great and believable character development with the challenging experience. The pace is often frantic, the puzzles complex and difficult, and the challenges demanding. But the characters raise it far above the usual thriller. Highly recommended.

The Language of the Birds follows seventeen-year-old Arizona, whose mother is kidnapped during a family trip. The kidnappers demand she solve puzzles and ciphers related to her deceased father's secret to secure her mother's release. With her dog Mojo by her side, Arizona embarks on a journey across the Sierra Nevada, decoding riddles that span centuries of American history.

This debut novel excels in constructing elaborate puzzles that puzzle enthusiasts will love. Arizona, coded as being on the autism spectrum, makes for an interesting protagonist whose analytical mind becomes her greatest asset. The author does well portraying her unique perspective as she ventures beyond her comfort zone. However, the book struggles with its identity, caught between adult mystery and YA fiction. The heavy focus on puzzle-solving comes at the expense of character development and pacing. Arizona sometimes reads inconsistently, alternating between mature adult and typical teenager.

For readers who delight in complex puzzles that go way beyond Wordle or the NY Times Crossword, this book offers a treasure trove of mental challenges. The author weaves these puzzles into hidden corners of U.S. history and western landscapes in clever ways that puzzle enthusiasts will appreciate. However, those seeking a more balanced narrative with deeper interpersonal relationships and thriller-level tension may find themselves skimming through the detailed puzzle-solving sequences.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Language of the Birds by K.A. Merson, which was a new author for me. Sadly I just could not connect with the characters in this book. I am sure it may be of interest to others, but for me I felt like I spent hours reading something that I can never get back. Yet I try to finish each book, having said that I would still suggest others read and draw their own conclusions.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This book reminds me why I find it so hard to start reading The DaVinci Code…the author is much smarter than me and I feel so inadequate when I don’t understand some of the hidden/secret messages that the characters are uncovering as the story unfolds. This was an entertaining story but I feel like this will really hit with people who are wholeheartedly into these sort of decipher stories.

There’s something instantly compelling about a story centered on cryptic codes, hidden histories, and a young protagonist pulled into a web of mystery. The Language of the Birds starts with a strong premise, but I found myself struggling with the execution. I wasn’t entirely sure who the book was meant for. It seemed to fall somewhere between adult fiction and YA, without fully committing to either.

My main challenge was the depth and complexity of the puzzle-solving. And I say that as someone who genuinely enjoys puzzles. In this case, the intricacy became overwhelming and started to drag down the momentum of the story. I ended up skimming through several sections just to keep things moving. Once I lost that sense of engagement, it was hard to reconnect with the plot. That said, the effort and planning behind the puzzles is clear and impressive.

One standout element was the character of Arizona. She is eccentric, warm, and completely lovable. Her energy added a much-needed spark to the story and made her one of the most enjoyable parts of the book.

While this one didn’t fully work for me, readers who enjoy layered codes and literary riddles may find it more rewarding.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book about a neurodivergent 17 year old girl who is super smart at solving puzzles. In the story, Arizona's mother has been kidnapped and held until a series of word puzzles are solved by Arizona.

I really enjoyed this book. Was it full of word puzzles that were too much for my brain? Yes, but the author explained them as Arizona solved them. Did I read all of the verse that made up the puzzles? No. I really didn't see any need to. Did I read this book like crazy? Yes. I was super into it.

Besides the puzzle solving, there is the growth of Arizona along the way. She learns that she can approach people, make friends, and even trust and lean on them if she needs to. She also learned that she could do pretty darn well all on her own. Go, Arizona!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

When Arizona, a seventeen year old finds out her mother was kidnappedsd, she sets off to break codes and puzzles to set her free. The book was a journey filled with mind numbing conspiracy theories, mathematical ciphers and alchemist history. This slowed the story down to a crawl for me. Skimming passed the pages and pages of codes and ciphers only left an under developed character and a plot that didn't make much sense. I would recommend The Language of Birds to young adult readers who like solving complicated mathematical puzzles.

The Language of the Birds by K.A Merson is a decent mystery, but loaded with the solving of cryptographs and various other puzzles which were above my head.. It also involves knowledge of some works of literature and mythology. All of these things had been favorites of her father and so became favorites of Arizona. The three of them, Dad, Mom, and Arizona, had mostly led a nomadic life, driving from ghost town to ghost town in an F-150 pulling an Airstream. Their mission now was taking Dad’s ashes to places he loved and leaving a little of him at each one. Dad had died in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago. That is how they found themselves in Bodie, yet another ghost town, and state park, and that is where Mom disappeared. It didn’t take long for the kidnappers to contact her with a puzzle to solve. Fun journey. Along the way Arizona made her first, ever, friend, Lily.

It was all very odd, but then most things were for Arizona, who herself was odd, probably autistic, but brilliant. Her mom was no slouch either, escaping several times, but always being recaptured. Arizona followed the clues before she passed them on. The place they took her didn’t make much sense, until it did. She was a terrific character...so smart. The mystery was good and the final solution even better. The growing friendship between the two girls was fun to be a part of. The bad guys got theirs, isn’t that the important thing?

I was invited to read The Language of the Birds by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #KAMerson #TheLanguageOfTheBirds

The Language of Birds is a unique mystery following the journey of a relatable young woman working through what appears to be autism. The characters are instantly likable and enjoyable to follow on their journey, including quirky Lily as a supportive role. Merson evokes feelings of The Da Vinci Code with historically accurate items and a realistic puzzle. Where the novel fell a little short for me was with the length - the action was consistent, but it felt like the puzzles were somewhat too simple. The journey itself was a little simple where a 17 year old girl has the finances and maturity to function on her own; driving a motorcycle and hauling a giant trailer. While it is fiction, this was a jarring moment that brought me back to reality. Additionally, I would have loved a little bit more closure at the end, rather than a cliffhanger. It was an enjoyable read, none the less and one I would recommend to any puzzle fans!

While this book contains so much cryptic coding, things I didn’t quite understand, I throughly enjoyed the overall story very much. Pages turned quickly to find out the end result and Arizona is definitely a character worth rooting for. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

🧩✨ Bookish expectations: mystery, puzzles, intrigue. What I got: ghost towns, kidnappers, a neurodivergent teen heroine with a dog sidekick, and some seriously wild plot twists. Not mad about it.

Meet Arizona—yes, like the state—a sharp, matter-of-fact teen whose dad just passed away. She heads to a desolate Nevada ghost town with her mom and her pup Mojo to scatter his ashes… and then her mom vanishes. Cue cryptic notes from the kidnappers demanding she solve puzzles to get her mom back. Like, escape room meets national treasure meets emotional family drama.

What truly surprised me? Arizona’s no-drama reaction to everything. Her neurodivergence is central to the story—she struggles to relate to people and express emotion, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t feeling everything deeply. Watching her slowly connect with fellow camper Lily and wise old Marty gave the story so much heart 💛

Now, full honesty: some of the puzzle-solving antics go off the rails. Like, how did she not get caught climbing that? Or breaking into THAT? Plot armor was in full force. And the kidnappers? A little extra... but in a “huh, that’s where we’re going with this?” kind of way. 🤷‍♀️

🔍 Overall, this was a quirky, unexpected ride that blended action, mystery, and a unique character voice. If you’re into offbeat mysteries with heart and hijinks—this one’s for you.