I think this unpublished draft needs serious editing to be marketable. The beginning isn’t too bad, but after the first few chapters I think most people will lose interest.. The unhinged psycho who leads the cult that has captured the mom is just boring and while there is some degree of empathy with the daughter and mom, the whole backstory about the dad who may have been a covert operative is just not written well enough to catch your interest. In short, while there are a few hooks that should if done well. Would have drawn in a Reader, but in its current form this book as written is not engaging.

Arizona isn't your typical teen and she certainly isn't living a typical life. We meet her during a time of turmoil - her father has recently died. Arizona and her mother are in a National Park when her mother disappears and their Airstream is ransacked. She is alone with only her very concrete way of thinking.

It takes a bit to get used to Arizona. She has no one to count on and the stakes are quite high! The men that have kidnapped her mother do not realize they are dealing with a neurodivergent teen and thus begins a whirlwind story. This thriller captures the brilliance of different thinkers and the plotting keeps you breathless!
#thelanguageofbirds. #thelanguageofthebirds #kamerson #randomhouse #ballantine

If you're not like everyone else, you won't expect the same things of life. And if you're a teen on top of it, anything can happen. This mystery, thriller, growing up novel takes you on a wild ride. Add to the mix a kidnapped mom and a dead dad who might or might not have had a missing document or paper, and you've got the makings of a gripping adventure. Hang on.

(How many kids know their parents? My own sure didn't know me in their teens, and I was just starting to understand my parents when I hit my 20s. That twist made it more interesting for me, too.)

Recommended for a nail-biting commute or break at work. Maybe tuck it into your tote bag when you hit the beach or mountain cabin.