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Shade of Wings: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26For fans of Laline Paull, a speculative young adult novel about a family of New York City crows struggling to survive the outbreak of West Nile virus during the sizzling summer of 1999.
Four-year-old Duncan needs to hurry up and find a mate—at least, according to his sister, Cloud. But she doesn’t know about the mistake that’s preventing him from leaving their family to start another.
Though he’s the eldest, Duncan doesn’t see himself as a father. Yet that’s what he must become when both his parents die of the mysterious illness that’s killing crows across New York City. He devotes himself to caring for his siblings, including three fledglings—but he soon discovers he can’t protect them from the “blind death.”
Meanwhile, a zoo pathologist’s worst fears are realized. It starts with dead flamingos. Then critically ill New Yorkers start showing up in hospital emergency rooms.
Some blame the crows.
Four-year-old Duncan needs to hurry up and find a mate—at least, according to his sister, Cloud. But she doesn’t know about the mistake that’s preventing him from leaving their family to start another.
Though he’s the eldest, Duncan doesn’t see himself as a father. Yet that’s what he must become when both his parents die of the mysterious illness that’s killing crows across New York City. He devotes himself to caring for his siblings, including three fledglings—but he soon discovers he can’t protect them from the “blind death.”
Meanwhile, a zoo pathologist’s worst fears are realized. It starts with dead flamingos. Then critically ill New Yorkers start showing up in hospital emergency rooms.
Some blame the crows.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 26, 2026
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Pam McGaffin
2 books22 followersPam McGaffin always knew she would write books when she grew up.
So, at age 51, after a long career in journalism and public relations, she quit her day job and went to work. After seven years, countless rewrites, and a seat-of-her-pants course in modern publishing, she released her debut novel, The Leaving Year, with SparkPress Aug. 14, 2018.
Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she grew up, The Leaving Year, is a coming-of-age story about love and loyalty, family and friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in our search for meaning.
For her second novel, Shade of Wings, she looked to New York City to tell the story of the West Nile virus outbreak from the point-of-view of the first US victims – American crows. She hopes readers fall in love her hapless hero, Duncan, and his plucky crow family. She certainly loved giving them life.
Before tackling novels, Pam wrote short stories and articles. Her short fiction has appeared in the online literary journals, Eclectica and Amarillo Bay, and her articles have been published in many Puget Sound-area publications and websites, including The Daily Herald (in Everett, WA), Bicycle Paper, the MS Connection newsletter, and Seattle Children’s Story Project.
She has a BA degree in Communications Journalism from the University of Washington and certificates in fiction writing and advanced literary fiction from UW Extension.
When she isn’t writing or thinking about writing, she likes to read, walk the dog, swim, bike, garden, and watch birds.
So, at age 51, after a long career in journalism and public relations, she quit her day job and went to work. After seven years, countless rewrites, and a seat-of-her-pants course in modern publishing, she released her debut novel, The Leaving Year, with SparkPress Aug. 14, 2018.
Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she grew up, The Leaving Year, is a coming-of-age story about love and loyalty, family and friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in our search for meaning.
For her second novel, Shade of Wings, she looked to New York City to tell the story of the West Nile virus outbreak from the point-of-view of the first US victims – American crows. She hopes readers fall in love her hapless hero, Duncan, and his plucky crow family. She certainly loved giving them life.
Before tackling novels, Pam wrote short stories and articles. Her short fiction has appeared in the online literary journals, Eclectica and Amarillo Bay, and her articles have been published in many Puget Sound-area publications and websites, including The Daily Herald (in Everett, WA), Bicycle Paper, the MS Connection newsletter, and Seattle Children’s Story Project.
She has a BA degree in Communications Journalism from the University of Washington and certificates in fiction writing and advanced literary fiction from UW Extension.
When she isn’t writing or thinking about writing, she likes to read, walk the dog, swim, bike, garden, and watch birds.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 10, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
I loved this book! I knew right from reading the description that I was gonna love this book. I got so excited when I was granted access to this ARC. As I'm a VetMed student I'm obviously gonna nerd out a little at a book about West Nile virus. I adore that this book is written mainly from the POV of the crows and it gives the same vibes and feeling as the film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (or at least this is the sort of thing I was imagining in my head when I was reading).
NB) I make the link to this film in the sense of animation, birds pov, the way they interact with one another. The story line doesn't necessarily link. But I got the same vibe and feeling from the book as I do when I watch the film.
I would definitely recommend even if you don't know much about West Nile virus going into the book it's definitely interesting imagining how the crows dealt with it as well as a sprinkle of human POV adding the element of realism to the story because its based on the outbreak that happened in New York in the late 90s early 2000s.
I loved this book! I knew right from reading the description that I was gonna love this book. I got so excited when I was granted access to this ARC. As I'm a VetMed student I'm obviously gonna nerd out a little at a book about West Nile virus. I adore that this book is written mainly from the POV of the crows and it gives the same vibes and feeling as the film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (or at least this is the sort of thing I was imagining in my head when I was reading).
NB) I make the link to this film in the sense of animation, birds pov, the way they interact with one another. The story line doesn't necessarily link. But I got the same vibe and feeling from the book as I do when I watch the film.
I would definitely recommend even if you don't know much about West Nile virus going into the book it's definitely interesting imagining how the crows dealt with it as well as a sprinkle of human POV adding the element of realism to the story because its based on the outbreak that happened in New York in the late 90s early 2000s.
February 24, 2026
Shade of Wings is an imaginative and deeply immersive read into the effects of the West Nile virus on the bird populations of New York in the summer of 1999, as told through the eyes and words of a crow.
I did a project on the West Nile virus in school, but completely forgot about it until half-way through the book. Although I remember studying the human casualties resulting from the virus outbreak, I had not considered how great of an impact West Nile virus had on the bird populations that encountered it.
I enjoyed the writing, though it started out slower and some sections caught in a lull. The constant POV shifts made it a little tricky to keep up with who was speaking/acting in certain chapters. I am curious if the storyline would have flowed better without cutting to so many different POVs. But at the end of the day it works, so...
Creating the story from a crow's point of view was an interesting concept that worked really well. I liked how the crows, and other bird species within the story, were given emotions, complex thoughts, and dreams for a better future. This created a human-like sense of connection between characters, and made the book all the more impactful.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publishers for an arc of this book.
I did a project on the West Nile virus in school, but completely forgot about it until half-way through the book. Although I remember studying the human casualties resulting from the virus outbreak, I had not considered how great of an impact West Nile virus had on the bird populations that encountered it.
I enjoyed the writing, though it started out slower and some sections caught in a lull. The constant POV shifts made it a little tricky to keep up with who was speaking/acting in certain chapters. I am curious if the storyline would have flowed better without cutting to so many different POVs. But at the end of the day it works, so...
Creating the story from a crow's point of view was an interesting concept that worked really well. I liked how the crows, and other bird species within the story, were given emotions, complex thoughts, and dreams for a better future. This created a human-like sense of connection between characters, and made the book all the more impactful.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publishers for an arc of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pam McGaffin has crafted a truly immersive experience that blurs the lines between natural history and speculative fiction. By centering the narrative on a family of crows, she offers a startlingly unique perspective on loyalty and survival in the face of a mysterious, creeping threat. The blend of avian lore and scientific tension makes for a gripping read, but it is the emotional depth of these characters—feathered or otherwise—that truly resonates. It is a haunting, beautiful exploration of how we protect our own when the world begins to change in ways we don't understand!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When birds start dropping dead in the terrible heat of the summer of 1999, both crows and humans try to solve the mystery. Set in New York City, the story is told mostly from the viewpoint of the crows, and paints a picture of a community-minded species with so many fascinating attributes. Duncan, at four years old, is an elder in his family, and as a worrier, feels guilty for all of his shortcomings even though he proves himself throughout the story as an empathetic leader. Other voices are his siblings, Cloud, Kyra and Worm, who look up to Duncan as he tries to understand the "blind death." The novel's human voices are Maddy, an observant teen living with her grandmother, who notices the number of crows decreasing; and Dr. Annie Burn, a forensic pathologist at the Bronx Zoo, who is the first to posit that whatever is killing birds and people is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is spread from animals to people.
Readers will be completely captivated by the ways that crows deal collectively with a dire situation. A nifty map at the beginning allows readers to follow the crows' movements from their territory in a hemlock tree on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo, to their roosting ground in Staten Island, to the white house in Queens where Maddy and her grandmother live, and all over New York City where the crows' adventures take them. The voices of the crows are believable and inform readers of so much about corvid life: their mating practices (crows mate for life), how they take care of orphans and scatterlings (crows who have lost their family units), foraging habits, even mercy killings. It's hard not to develop a great respect for these intelligent birds. It's also a medical mystery that humans are slow to solve, and I found it fascinating how the CDC was the last to agree to its cause. There's a stunning ending, as Duncan finds a way to make humans pay attention to the plight of all birds. An author's note at the end adds factual information about the West Nile Virus, and explains what's fact and fiction in the narrative.
The human characters cue as white. She Writes Press is an award-winning independent publisher distributed by Simon & Schuster.
Readers will be completely captivated by the ways that crows deal collectively with a dire situation. A nifty map at the beginning allows readers to follow the crows' movements from their territory in a hemlock tree on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo, to their roosting ground in Staten Island, to the white house in Queens where Maddy and her grandmother live, and all over New York City where the crows' adventures take them. The voices of the crows are believable and inform readers of so much about corvid life: their mating practices (crows mate for life), how they take care of orphans and scatterlings (crows who have lost their family units), foraging habits, even mercy killings. It's hard not to develop a great respect for these intelligent birds. It's also a medical mystery that humans are slow to solve, and I found it fascinating how the CDC was the last to agree to its cause. There's a stunning ending, as Duncan finds a way to make humans pay attention to the plight of all birds. An author's note at the end adds factual information about the West Nile Virus, and explains what's fact and fiction in the narrative.
The human characters cue as white. She Writes Press is an award-winning independent publisher distributed by Simon & Schuster.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was sent a copy of this book for my honest review. And honestly... I LOVED IT!!! This book is a stunning novel about family and hope. It is filled with amazing details into the life of Crows and I could not put it down!!!
This book is about Duncan, a Four-year-old crow trying to help his family even after his horrible mistake. But when a strange illness called the "Blind Death" starts killing crows across New York City, Duncan is the one who has to step up and save his family. But it turns out not just crows are dying... And the sickness is worse than they thought...
Oh my goodness, I can't even tell you how good this book is! Every chapter was riveting, and there were times I couldn't put it down. (Was I almost late to work because of this book... Yes. But it was totally worth it!) I'm telling you, this is the book of the year! Teens 14 and up would LOVE this tale of hardship, hope and family.
Now there is violence in the novel. Since it is about animals, there is mention of dark topics. Mention of death, disease, blood and killing. Mention of animals dying, fighting and such. Which is why it is 14 and up. Animals kill each other and then eat each other. It isn't too gory, but there is some detail described. There is also some cursing throughout the book. As well as a mention of a word that starts with 'F'. (Hint-hint)
Overall, this is a book I love soooo much! And I really want to read Pam McGaffin's other book as well!!!! If you love a good animal story, complete with adventure, suspense and family; this is the book for you. Happy Reading!!! -The Young Llama Reader.
This book is about Duncan, a Four-year-old crow trying to help his family even after his horrible mistake. But when a strange illness called the "Blind Death" starts killing crows across New York City, Duncan is the one who has to step up and save his family. But it turns out not just crows are dying... And the sickness is worse than they thought...
Oh my goodness, I can't even tell you how good this book is! Every chapter was riveting, and there were times I couldn't put it down. (Was I almost late to work because of this book... Yes. But it was totally worth it!) I'm telling you, this is the book of the year! Teens 14 and up would LOVE this tale of hardship, hope and family.
Now there is violence in the novel. Since it is about animals, there is mention of dark topics. Mention of death, disease, blood and killing. Mention of animals dying, fighting and such. Which is why it is 14 and up. Animals kill each other and then eat each other. It isn't too gory, but there is some detail described. There is also some cursing throughout the book. As well as a mention of a word that starts with 'F'. (Hint-hint)
Overall, this is a book I love soooo much! And I really want to read Pam McGaffin's other book as well!!!! If you love a good animal story, complete with adventure, suspense and family; this is the book for you. Happy Reading!!! -The Young Llama Reader.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5
The story is based on real events, but presented in an unexpected way. New York City, spring-summer of 1999. A mysterious virus starts its killing spree.
Duncan is eaten up by guilt. He feels unworthy of trust, love, and anything good in his life. His sister Cloud is full of life and hope, and she keeps nagging him to find a mate for life. But is it the right time when death is just around the corner?
A moving story that made me cry. Slow-paced story on guilt, grief, death, and life. There is no death without life, and vice versa. Even when
Duncan's parents are dying, and he has to take care of his five younger siblings. But how can he? He isn't ready; he is immature and unworthy. But he has no choice and tries to do his best. Of course, not everything goes the easiest path. But while taking care of others, he learns the importance of taking care of himself and grows.
I would like to have a bit more chapters about Annye, or other humans, but it was still a great story, and I might even reread it later.
Thanks, Netgalley, for the ARC. All the opinions in the review are my own.
The story is based on real events, but presented in an unexpected way. New York City, spring-summer of 1999. A mysterious virus starts its killing spree.
Hundreds... Thousands die, but no one cares because the first victims are crows.
Duncan is eaten up by guilt. He feels unworthy of trust, love, and anything good in his life. His sister Cloud is full of life and hope, and she keeps nagging him to find a mate for life. But is it the right time when death is just around the corner?
A moving story that made me cry. Slow-paced story on guilt, grief, death, and life. There is no death without life, and vice versa. Even when
death doesn't obey order. It cruelly takes the one who wants to live over the one who's half dead already.It is a story with a deep meaning, and it could be used as a lesson on so many issues.
Duncan's parents are dying, and he has to take care of his five younger siblings. But how can he? He isn't ready; he is immature and unworthy. But he has no choice and tries to do his best. Of course, not everything goes the easiest path. But while taking care of others, he learns the importance of taking care of himself and grows.
I would like to have a bit more chapters about Annye, or other humans, but it was still a great story, and I might even reread it later.
Thanks, Netgalley, for the ARC. All the opinions in the review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC of this book.
"The Shade of Wings" is a unique novel told from the multiple perspectives of crows, thoughtfully exploring the outbreak of the West Nile virus and the theme of grief.
Overall, I really like the book and found the style and different POV's to be an interesting take. I have never read a book quite like this; therefore, I don’t think this book is one I would necessarily gravitate towards or read again. Despite this, I can think of many others who would enjoy the book and love the zoological aspects.
"The Shade of Wings" is a unique novel told from the multiple perspectives of crows, thoughtfully exploring the outbreak of the West Nile virus and the theme of grief.
Overall, I really like the book and found the style and different POV's to be an interesting take. I have never read a book quite like this; therefore, I don’t think this book is one I would necessarily gravitate towards or read again. Despite this, I can think of many others who would enjoy the book and love the zoological aspects.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.
This was a story about grief, learning to accept yourself and your mistakes.
It's a pandemic story and I relate to it a little more
It follows the pov's of crows and humans and it was very beautifully written.
If we had more time in the human pov's I would've loved it even more.
I've found out that I'm loving the fiction/historical fiction genre a lot more lately.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.
This was a story about grief, learning to accept yourself and your mistakes.
It's a pandemic story and I relate to it a little more
It follows the pov's of crows and humans and it was very beautifully written.
If we had more time in the human pov's I would've loved it even more.
I've found out that I'm loving the fiction/historical fiction genre a lot more lately.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book, it was fast-paced and had a really good concept in it. Pam's has really good characters and an amazing writing style in this book. I also loved the dialogue and loved the way this book is portrayed and the way she has written her characters. However I wanted more scenes and more tension between the characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and as usual all opinions are my own. 💚🦅
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 A coming of age story that delves into the complexities of grief, kinship and community.
The novel, written from crows’ perspectives, was refreshing and the world building around their traditions and beliefs provides a nice touch.
The shifting between character pov allowed exploration into their inner worlds, though the characters’ relational development lacked in comparison and could’ve been fleshed out more to evoke further poignance.
#ARC review
The novel, written from crows’ perspectives, was refreshing and the world building around their traditions and beliefs provides a nice touch.
The shifting between character pov allowed exploration into their inner worlds, though the characters’ relational development lacked in comparison and could’ve been fleshed out more to evoke further poignance.
#ARC review
Review of advance copy
Filled with appealing characters, crow lore, natural history, mysterious illness and conflicting scientific theories, Pam McGaffin’s speculative novel Shade of Wings delivers a fresh and compelling story of family, survival, and redemption. The book gripped me from page one, and never let go—simply said, I had to find out what happened to these characters. Well done!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book from start to finish. The crows were so real that I forgot sometimes they weren't people. I learned a lot as I enjoyed the gripping tale of survival in NYC for a family of crows.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews