I did find some dialogue to ne cringey particularly between Marcus’ friends, Charlie and Reed, but did not detract from the book too much.

He had to make some tough choices, choices that did always end up being what he originally wanted and he grows, as a result. Brunner did a great job making Marcus feel like a teenager, his growing pains, his decisions, they seemed to be atypical to a 14 year old. He is a fundamentally flawed protagonist and I loved it. While that could be possible, it just so happens the girl, Lucy, is part of an organization called HALT, the sworn enemy of his family. During the novel, he is very naive thinking he can get the girl while impressing his dad with falconry. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong for Marcus. I swear he is the living embodiment of Murphy’s Law. Throughout the novel, he encounters some hardships that turn him into a much stronger and mature kid. Marcus has always wanted two things: a girlfriend and to prove himself to his father, a master falconer. Barring some cringy dialogue, it is a thoroughly entertaining book. With humor and honesty, Mercer’s story shows how growing up means making difficult choices…and sometimes, being rewarded in unexpected ways.”įlip the Bird by Kym Brunner was a pleasant surprise filled with likeable characters, good theme, and a surprising second half. Mercer soon realizes that if he wants to keep seeing Lucy, he’ll need to keep his love of falconry and his family’s raptor rehabilitation center a secret from her, and Lucy’s involvement with HALT from his family. He thinks his love life is about to take flight, until he discovers that Lucy and her family belong to a fanatical animal-rights organization called HALT-a group that believes imposing any sort of restrictions on animals is a form of cruelty. When Mercer meets Lucy, he falls hard for her gorgeous looks and bubbly personality. With hunting season fast approaching, fourteen-year-old Mercer has only a short time to work with Flip, a red-tailed hawk he irreverently named to show his dad that falconers don’t have to be so serious all the time. “Mercer Buddie wants two things in this world: a girlfriend and the chance to prove to his master falconer father that he’s not a flake.

Flip the Bird by Kym Brunner