Migration by Charlotte McConaghy

September 1, 2020 (by Leah)

This was a beautiful and haunting book that will stay with me for a long time. The story centers around Franny Stone as she sets sail to follow the migration path of the last flock of arctic terns. The book takes place in the near future at a time when animal species have begun disappearing at an alarming rate and the Earth is on the brink of devastation. Franny is determined to accompany the terns on their final journey. Her dark past is revealed to the reader in a series of flashbacks. The more we get to know her, the more we see how fragile and flawed she is - not the strong and fearless person she appears to be. McConaghy’s writing is reminiscent of Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven ,  The Glass Hotel) ... poetic and ethereal. This story is about resilience, survival, overcoming trauma, the power of connections and unconditional love. It is also a love letter to the ocean, birds, fish, the earth as a whole. A book that takes its time and should be enjoyed while listening to surf in the background.