The Language of Seabirds: A Tender and Heartwarming Story about First Love

The Language of Seabirds is an Achillean (MLM) Middle Grade Contemporary Romance story set at the seaside that follows two boys finding first love together. It’s the first summer after Jeremy’s parents divorced and our protagonist isn’t exactly enthused to be spending the summer with his father and uncle at the seaside in Oregon. That’s until he spots ‘Runner Boy’ who we quickly learn is named Evan and the two of them form a friendship that we watch blossom into something more.The seaside setting of this story is perfect for your next summer read and the Middle Grade age categorisation makes this book a wonderful and accessible book to a very wide readership. I can guarantee you’ll coast through this in no time and be left wanting more with these adorable characters. The development of Jeremy and Evan’s friendship and the navigation of the transition from friendship to relationship is so, so beautifully explored and it warms my heart to know that young Queer boys will be able to see this type of representation so early in their lives.The complicated relationship that Jeremy has with his father makes this book interesting and it explores the topic of divorce in a way I think will be good for children to see, especially if they are in a similar situation. While I don’t love Jeremy’s dad as a character, he is flawed and interesting which at least adds another aspect of merit to this book.I really recommend you check out The Language of Seabirds if you’re after your next summer read and want it to be a fluffy and cute one!

I was interested in the precis that appeared on this Amazon sales page and so bought this novel along with several others during those weeks, most in the same genre.I was quite intrigued by the story when the book opened. A professional couple deciding to separate and their only child needing to decide whether to remain living with his father or move to another place with his mother. With his mother moving her possessions out of the former family home, the boy goes with his father to what he thought would be a vacation at the beach.The idea of the story was interesting enough, especially the innocent way the two boys, who are intended to be the main storyline, meet up and get to know one another. However, I did find the endless references to different birds as a form of code between the two boys to grate after a while, especially since there appeared to be no need at all for any code between them. I felt the story then suffered as more and more different bird species were introduced. That, together with an ending I didn't find satisfactory, meant I didn't enjoy this read at all even though it was nicely written.

Every child should read this book, it took me back to being 12 and my first love, and thou we are not a couple our love still exists 55 years later. Everything in life is not about sex, and true love for another person certainly is not.

I predicted that this one was going to be a 5⭐ and it was!I had a slight concern when I started reading this book at how young our two main characters are. They're only 12 and I know I was definitely too young for a romance at that age so I didn't want any of their innocence to be taken away! But actually it was a beautiful love story which still contained so many innocent childhood moments, like the dinosaur scene (😩). The actual 'language of seabirds' was also a really cute and young way of looking at the world and communicating.I loved the coastal town setting with a quirky cast of characters and I was rooting for these two the whole way through. This book has a special place in my heart and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being my favourite book this month.And that ending definitely almost made me cry.

Not suitable for my Daughter

This book is filled with the same in-between energy of not yet being an adult - being nowhere close - but having to grow up. Deeply reminiscent of the embarrassment of existing in your own body, where words seem like butterflies you can’t catch, but somehow end up in your stomach as soon as you open your mouth. It brought me back to nights where I’d sit against the fence at the empty lot down the street, bathed in the buttery light of street lamps and drinking from the same soft green can covered in cherry blossom branches. I’d sit with friends and we’d feel the world and how it was unfolding before us. But was I brave enough to step out and explore? Maybe if I had books like this I would have been a little braver.The Language of Seabirds is a nostalgic and potent story of first loves, friendship, and defining yourself with words you sometimes have to mold like clay to fit who you are becoming. It’s a very honest depiction of being young and feels like a snapshot out of so many of our lives. It is beautifully written, almost poetic. Highly recommend this story to middle-grade/young adult readers and adults who might have needed a book like this growing up.

Great story, rich descriptions, excellent life lessons. I pre-read these books to make sure I can share them with students in our middle school who are looking for lgbtq content. This is one of the best I have added to my library.

4.5/5 starsThe Language of Seabirds is a sweet and loving middle grade book about two preteen boys falling in love. Jeremy’s life is in transition. He is halfway through his final year between his preteen and teenage years, and he just figured out he likes boys. His parents just got divorced and he must decide over this summer break who he wants to live with. When he and his dad go on a two week vacation in a small touristy beach town, he meets a fellow 12-year-old boy Evan who evokes emotions he is still completely new to.I was at first iffy about how young the protagonists are on this book, but Will Taylor successfully wrote a tender and innocent romance between these boys that is mostly left unspoken but not unacknowledged. They are just young boys on the cusp of adolescence who love to run, play with dinosaur toys, and talk about birds while also wanting to hold hands and have meaningful comfortable silences. Jeremy struggles with his love of fashion magazines, his evolving relationship with his once easy-going father who has changed since becoming a solo parent, and his desire to feel safe and not keep the secret parts of himself to himself.𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴.Will Taylor’s prose here is evocative and imaginative. He gives Jeremy and Evan a secret love language of their own through their mutual interest in seabirds. The story is quiet and intimate, but also wholly mesmerizing and moving. You cannot help but fall in love with these characters or see yourself in their shoes.𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥. 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵, 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.The Language of Seabirds is an intimate and tender story of young love between two boys that speaks volumes.

for writing this beautiful tale. It opened my heart and helped me to heal my 13 year old self … wish I could have read this book so many years ago😎.I don’t think you realize just how many kids you are helping with your story; thank you for that.Evan and Jeremy ❤️👊🏻🙏🏻 Moose

As a school librarian, this is the book my students have needed. It's first love and so much more. Most middle schoolers will relate to Jeremy wondering if Evan, a boy his age who he meets visiting family on the Oregon Coast, like likes him--and if he does, why isn't he texting? Jeremy, who hasn't come out to his family, also is figuring out his relationship with his newly-divorced dad--loves him but his dad is hard to be around. Jeremy and Evan make up their own coded language based on the behaviors of the birds they see, showing their joy and the need to be a bit guarded. A great book for grades 5 to adult.