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This One Is For The Birds

Genetics, bioengineering, eliminating the male species, war, Joseph Stalin, ancient arctic monsters, and an all boys summer camp--what could possibly go wrong?

By Kurt MasonPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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For starters, I don’t think that I have ever been so excited to write a review for a book! “The Alex Crow” by Andrew Smith has been on my reading list for a long time (a recommendation from my YA Lit professor in college), and now I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner. Though this book is geared towards more of a young adult readership, there are certainly some adult themes and a level of humor and wit that all readers will be able to appreciate.

Andrew Smith has written a compelling book that brings together vastly different narratives from a host of creative and captivating characters, that range from present day to the nineteenth century, that somehow manage to fit together in perfect harmony. Smith’s book brings together the stories--both past and present--of Ariel, a young refugee who is spending the summer with his American brother at Camp Merrie-Seymour for Boys; The Melting Man, a schizophrenic man who is working on a master plan that involves a bomb, a U-Haul van, and the voice of Joseph Stalin commenting on his every move; a nineteenth century doctor on a failed arctic voyage that leads to an unexpected discovery; and let’s just throw in a reincarnated, suicidal pet crow for good measure.

Smith has beautifully crafted the characters in this book to be both relatable and inspiring. A large portion of the book is told from Ariel’s point of view. In a dual narrative, Ariel recounts, in a story to his new American brother, all that he went through on his journey from his village to his destination in West Virginia. Between these stories, we get to see Ariel undergo the current events of his summer at Camp Merrie-Seymour for Boys. While Ariel’s story of refuge strikes a more emotional and serious chord, the story of his adventures at summer camp are often humorous and nostalgic of what it’s like being at a sleep-away summer camp. The bonds that the boys build in the Jupiter cabin, the pranks they play, the unenthusiastic counselor Larry, and all the euphemisms and sexual innuendos create a warm story of the developing bond of friendship.

The friendship that the boys build over the summer--and the summer camp itself--transported me back to being young, back to feeling like a kid again. Despite the cruelty and unfairness that rains down upon them at Camp Merrie-Seymour for Boys, this group of friends is able to create a sense of warmth that resonates deep within you as you read and leaves you digging up your own childhood memories full of the crazy adventures, silly hijinx, inside jokes, and pure sense of joy that came with being young.

The other characters in the story--The Melting Man and the journals from the arctic expedition--provide information and background the mysterious Merrie-Seymour Research Group and, more specifically, the Alex Division. The Melting Man, though his storyline can be humorous at times, serves as more of a cautionary tale about the power of the Alex Division and the Merrie-Seymour Research Group in regards to their work with genetic and bioengineering.

All of these different characters, and all of these different stories, come together to create a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for something that will make them laugh, cry, cringe, and ponder. “The Alex Crow” has so many layers that allow the reader to engage with the text in different ways. I’m looking forward to reading this book again in the future because I feel like I will walk away with something different after every read. If this book is your first experience with Andrew Smith, you are in for a treat, but if you are already a fan of his work then the beauty of this book should come as no surprise. I would highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who is up for taking a step off the beaten path.

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About the Creator

Kurt Mason

Teacher • Writer • Reader

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