Flip the Bird

by Kym Brunner

Mercer Buddie wants two things in this a girlfriend and the chance to prove to his master falconer father that he’s not a flake. 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.
     When Mercer meets Lucy, he falls hard for her gorgeous looks and bubbly personality. 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. 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.
     With humor and honesty, Mercer’s story shows how growing up means making difficult choices…and sometimes, being rewarded in unexpected ways.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Animals

368 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2016

About the author

Kym Brunner dreams entire novels in her head, but needs about a year to write it all down. She wishes there was an app for this. She's addicted to tea, going to the movies, and reality TV. She lives in the Chicago area with her family and two dogs. Keep in touch by following her on Facebook (Author Kym Brunner), Twitter (@KymBrunner), or at her website, http://www.kymbrunner.com.

Reviews

[Kym Brunner]

This book has lived in my heart (and computer) for many years. I am beyond excited to be releasing Flip the Bird out into the world for his fledgling tour.

Thank you to all the falconers who helped me on my journey, and to my 7th grade class a few years back who fell in love with this star-crossed lover's story, reigniting my desire to get this out into readers' hands. My deepest wish is that my readers develop the ability to be open-minded about the world and its inhabitants (humans and feathered friends alike). Life is too short to be judgmental. The next time you see a hawk, I hope you'll think of Flip and wave hello.

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this YA contemporary romance.

Mercer Buddie is a high school freshman who's still trying to get his bearings in his world. Originally from northern Wisconsin, his family moved two years ago to the northwest Illinois area so his mother could take a director job at a fictional Rockford college. His mother is a scientist, though Mercer has little interaction with her because of her long hours. He's very close with his father, a bird expert and raptor rehabilitator. Raptors, for those who don't know, are birds of prey, and have talons and hooked beaks--when I used to teach at Cal State Bakersfield, I had the opportunity to tour their Raptor Sanctuary many times. The Buddie Bird hospital and sanctuary in this book was very reminiscent of that. Mercer's father rehabs injured birds, releases those who are able to survive on their own, while caring permanently disabled ones. Mercer and his elder brother, Lincoln, have both assisted in the care of the birds, and are falconers as a hobby. This means they humanely trap wild hawks and train them to hunt for them. It's a hobby I'm not very familiar with, but I learned a lot about it in this book!

At age 14, Mercer is finally legally able to get a hunting license of his own, and to train his own bird. As the story opens, Mercer is on the hunt for his first bird--and he messes up by leaving his bait behind. He meets Lucy at a local pet store to buy a new mouse; she thinks Mercer is buying the mouse as a pet. Mercer's so tongue-tied and captivated, he can't get her out of his mind. He successfully traps a juvenile red-tailed hawk that is promptly named "Flip." Mercer's anxious about his bird-training skills, and hopeful he can train Flip well enough to compete for the Best Apprentice pin at the season opener falconry hunt in four weeks.

Mercer next meets Lucy in the most unlikely place: a protest at his mother's college. Turns out Lucy's parents are big in an animal rights organization called HALT, which wants all animal testing and use to be outlawed. Some members of this group have been arrested for destruction of labs, and Mercer witnesses them assaulting his mother. Still, seeing Lucy at school, he wants to know more about her--and he thinks pretending to be interested in her organization is one way to do so. He's particularly shy, and wishes he was a buff ladies man like Lincoln.

The more Mercer interacts with Lucy, the more trouble he finds himself in, however. He's lying to everyone about who he is; hiding his falconry from Lucy, hiding his HALT activities from his parents, and pretending to be a vegetarian so he can eat lunch with Lucy each day. Some of her fellow HALT members at school are even more keen on the protests than Lucy, and Mercer's friends keep urging him to be himself--and not always so subtly.

As to be expected, the big reveal comes at the worst possible time in Mercer and Lucy's budding romance. It seems like that might be the end, but it's not...well, not exactly. Because Mercer's family and their raptor sanctuary are now in the crosshairs of HALT, and that's not a safe place to be. Mercer's father had warned him of the dangers of this group, and it's not idle words.

I don't want to give away any more of the plot. Mercer proves himself time and again to be a kid who can't separate his feelings. He likes Lucy, and he loves falconry, and his family, but he thinks he can have it all. Unfortunately, he just can't. When it comes to the crisis, he's honest and forthright and admirable. That said, that's not his biggest challenge--and he's a total boss in the face of the serious problems caused by HALT members' recklessness. Also, he has the opportunity to continue his romance with Lucy, under less-than-ideal conditions and makes the right choice there, too. Through all this adversity, Mercer becomes a stronger kid, one unwilling to be pushed around by anyone, not friends or family. He recognizes the futility of pretending to be someone he isn't only to make others happy, and this is an organic theme of the book, not something tacked on.

I really enjoyed all the falconry bits, and the sheer elation Mercer experienced in training Flip. His big showing at the opening hunt was so fun! Lots of good and "bad" humor. Mercer is a stand up guy, in his mind initially, but later in his actions. His brother Lincoln is a jerk and a bully, among other flaws, and Mercer does the right things, eventually, that actually end up getting his whole family to be more cognizant of their problems. I like his tattling sister, too.

Regarding HALT. Full disclosure: my education is in science, and I spent many years as an animal researcher. I've had many friends and family express conflicting opinions regarding the use of animals in scientific studies. I cannot begin to outline the restrictions and care that goes into certified animal research--there are so many. And while I respect the gains that animal rights activists have made in terms of ethical treatment of animals, I absolutely can't condone violence and destruction of property in the name of "saving" animals. What is particularly troubling are people who do not understand the danger they create when they release animals who are unable to live free. The scenes in this book are fictional, but they are not created out of imagination. Like Mercer, readers will have to decide what the right choices are regarding animal welfare. As a scientist, I know that animal research is conducted as carefully as possible, with as few animals as is necessary to demonstrate accurate results to benefit humans and animals alike.

Compelling characters, a dynamic odd-couple YA romance, and interesting plot twists kept me reading this one long after I should have gone to bed. It's a solid story about being true to who you are, finding the right relationships, and meeting your responsibilities head on.

Oh, and flipping the bird now and then.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this one tickled me pink. Puns, falconing, crazy PETA-like organization, love, family, science - all that stuff in here. And an unconventional ending (for YA, at least). This one is a quick read - I know it took me weeks to read it but I was reading other stuff too, I swear - and a whole heap of fun. Hooray! Read this one to put yourself in a good mood.

[Marykay Kinnear-mulholland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read a book twice, "FLIP" was an exception!!! The first time I read thru so fast, needed to know what was next! Second time took my time to savor the details! Appreciated all the different aspects of this very engaging fun and serious book! Somethings were so familiar and other were excitingly new experiences! I really enjoyed getting to know the characters they seemed so real. The twists kept me reading and the ending tied it all together. More please! Cant wait for K. Brunner's next new book, I'm sure she will come up with and equally phenomenal concept!

[Cherie Colyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brunner does it again with Flip the Bird, an engaging adventure with compelling characters, an interesting plot that kept me turning the pages, and wonderful humor.

[Virginia Mcgarvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Mercer Buddie is determined to prove to his master-falconer father and brother Lincoln that he can be just as serious and a successful falconer as they are. Then he meets Lucy, a hot girl with a great personality. With adolescent hormones raging, he is set to impress her and claim her as his girlfriend. Then Mercer realizes that Lucy and her family are members of HALT, a fanatical activist animal-rights organization. With his mother that is head of a research department trying to find cures for cancer by testing medications on dogs and his passion for falconry, he is faced with moral and ethical dilemmas that make him consider what is right. When his and his family’s history in falconry is revealed to the group, Mercer must face the consequences that ensue.

This well-written, fast paced book will delight adolescent readers. The plot is filled with tension that bounces between animal-rights, ethics, morals, and young teen minds and antics. It is further complicated by the protagonist’s passion for falconry which contradicts the beliefs of his girlfriend and her fixated parents. This book introduces a new and refreshing story as there are not many fiction books about falconry or animal-rights activists. Brunner has captured the life of adolescent boys and juxtaposed it with an original plot. A warning though; this book is not for the faint of heart as accurate but brutal aspects of hunting and falconry are described.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Cute story but kinda predictable :)

[Jill CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romance book suitable for guys with a neat twist involving falconry. While reading it, I thought boys might enjoy it as well as the girls, but I can't see that at my school. I will test it put on a few kids to see.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issues with hunting, falconry, and animal rights activism all come together in Kym Brunner’s Flip the Bird. Fourteen year-old Mercer Buddie wants two things out of life right now: he wants a girlfriend, and he wants to be a falconer, like his father and brother. He’s training as an apprentice to his father, a master falconer, but feels like his dad favors his jock of an older brother and is too critical of him. He captures a red-tailed hawk that he names Flip – to show his dad that falconry doesn’t always have to be a Very Serious Business – and has a few short weeks to train him for the big falconry meet; he’s got his eye on the Best Apprentice Award. Then he meets Lucy, who’s gorgeous and has a great personality and seems to be just as interested in him; the only problem is that she and her family are part of a fanatical animal rights organization called HALT. Mercer tries to play both sides to stay in Lucy’s and his family’s good graces, but sooner or later, the two halves of his life are going to converge. His mother is a scientist at a university lab doing medical research, and his father has a raptor rehabilitation center in addition to being a falconer – which means, a hunter. There are a lot of difficult choices in Mercer’s immediate future.

Flip the Bird brings together a lot of hot button topics to create a moving story about family and going with the crowd. Told in the first person by Mercer, the narrative is humorous while discussing the frustrations of being the little brother; the struggle to be treated like a responsible young adult, and the difficulty in making decisions that may be unpopular with the people you want to impress the most. To impress Lucy, Mercer joins the HALT collective she forms at school, but this puts him at direct odds with his family, and they let him know it. There are consequences to his actions, and we see Mercer grow as he faces those consequences. There’s interesting information about falconry and raptor rescue here, which will appeal to fans of animal fiction and birds. While the author gives a shout-out to some of her research sources in her acknowledgements, and does emphasize the extreme commitment that falconry requires, I’d have liked to see links to information about raptor rescue at the end of the book. I did some quick searching and came up with a quick list for anyone interested: The Raptor Trust, Wild Bird Fund, and A Place Called Hope. PBS’ Falconer’s Memoir page offers a map of states permitting falconry and links to classroom activities for using “A Falconer’s Memoir” in the classroom. The World Wildlife Fund is an organization that works with wildlife conservation and endangered species, and most large zoological preserves pioneer conservation and rehabilitation practices for animals in the wild. Kym Brunner is also a seventh grade teacher, and her author website offers presentations that you can use in the classroom.

I enjoyed the book and the characters. I’ll be adding this to my shelf; if you’ve know realistic fiction, animal fiction, or middle schoolers looking for something new and different to read, add this one to your shelves and shopping lists.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this middle-level novel. What was so appealing to me was the information I learned about falconry - who knew?! While it's not a popular activity in my area it must be in the mid west? Anyway, really likeable characters and fun!

[Viva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! At first I thought this would just be a teenaged cheesy rom-com but it turned out to be much more than that!

First, I picked this book because the main character (Mercer) is training to be a falconer from his Dad and his family runs a bird of prey rehab center. The book delivered on that regard because I learned something about falcon training, rehab and bird care.

The rom-com part of the book was a bit cheesy and seems to be written more at a middle school level than high school, which is the level the characters are at. However, the plot turned out to be more complex than that and the book also delivered there.

Firstly, Mercer's family is composed of older brother, younger sister, Mom and Dad. The story explores the dynamic between the members of the family. The older brother at 18 is beginning to spread his wings; we find out how important it is to treat members of your own family correctly and trust to each other and how important these relationships are. Lucy, the love interest's family is just her and two parents and her dysfunctional family is much different, here we learn when to stand up for ourselves and our beliefs.

We also look at the relationships between Mercer, Lucy and their group of friends and I even learned something here I should have known all along.

Lastly, the book touches upon animal rights, animal testing and briefly looks at a couple of issues on both sides. There is not a lot here, this is mostly a rom-com book but there is enough for the interested to start looking for more info.

I liked all the characters. They were all well written if somewhat cliched. The pace of the book was also good. There were no slow parts and I finished the book with 24 hours. The author managed to fit a lot into this book.

So overall, this book masquerades as a cheesy rom-com but it hid some diverse and valuable topics within it: falconry, animal rights, family relationships, and doing the right thing. And it did it in a way that it was interesting to read. I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it to any other reader. I got this book as a free review copy.

[Mojoreb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flip the Bird by Kym Brunner was a pleasant surprise filled with likeable characters, good theme, and a surprising second half. Barring some cringy dialogue, it is a thoroughly entertaining book.

   Marcus has always wanted two things: a girlfriend and to prove himself to his father, a master falconer. Throughout the novel, he encounters some hardships that turn him into a much stronger and mature kid. I swear he is the living embodiment of Murphy's Law. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong for Marcus. Albeit, it largely his doing. During the novel, he is very naive thinking he can get the girl while impressing his dad with falconry. 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. He is a fundamentally flawed protagonist and I loved it. 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 had to make some tough choices, choices that did always end up being what he originally wanted and he grows, as a result. I did find some dialogue to ne cringey particularly between Marcus' friends, Charlie and Reed, but did not detract from the book too much. I thought Lucy was a good character who got increasingly better bt the second half and shared nice moments with Marcus. Charlie was a complete bro while Reed came off as a bit whiney, but I could understand why he did what he did.

   The first half of the book had a fairly predictable plot, but I found the second half to be surprising with a climax that had some grim implications. The falconry aspect certainty separates it from other YA books and I found it quite interesting. The care that Brunner took on the birds was a bit refreshing and pretty awesome.

   In conclusion, Flip The Bird was a surprisingly emotional and entertaining novel. Marcus was a flawed, yet likeable protagonist who behaved like his age. The plot while standard at first resulted in a climax with a darker tone. I was genuinely surprised at how much I loved this book and I definitely recommend it to others especially teenagers.

[Rhianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll flip for this blend of humor and heart!

Having been a bystander of the falconry apprenticeship process with my partner (now a general) and having a master falconer cousin I couldn't resist giving FLIP THE BIRD a read. Falconry is such a fascinating sport—way more work and dedication than I have the desire to take up—and having some first hand knowledge I felt I could give it a pretty fair shake for facts while enjoying a YA read.

Mercer is a charming boy that has a lot of tough choices to make both as an apprentice falconer and as a young man trying to win over a pretty girl. He makes many mistakes along the way but grows wiser for them. I don't often read first person narratives from male characters but I quickly grew to enjoy Mercer's voice. In fact, I enjoyed this so much that as soon as I finished it I walked into my own teen son's room and told him I think he should read it.

As a mom I think this would make a good option for a reluctant teen reader. It has heart and humor while giving accurate facts about a sporting world not commonly known this intimately in the US. I can't say every aspect of falconry is perfectly portrayed as some aspects vary from state to state and so forth but if this doesn't make you want to learn more about falconry I don't know what will.

I much recommend this book, it was a very enjoyable read that left me grinning and eager to share it with my readers.

Note: ARC received via publisher.

[Margo Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh. I LOVED IT!! Loved it. This book had me from page one.

FLIP THE BIRD by Kym Brunner is delightful, refreshing, and engaging.

As the title suggests, fun word plays are peppered throughout the book, and Brunner infuses the story with a sense of humor that had me laughing out loud multiple times. Brunner takes us into a world that many readers are not familiar - the world of falconry. While there are scenes set in a typical high school, most of the story takes place in settings new and fresh for most readers. I'm always amazed when a contemporary novel feels like a page-turner to me. As a fan of thrillers and high-suspense novels (which are inherently page-turners), when I come across a story that is not in that genre but still compels me to read faster and longer and past my bed-time, my mind is blown. Another thing I love about a great story is when the plot catches me by surprise. FLIP THE BIRD has several plot points that took me in directions I wasn't expecting.

Nicely done, Kym Brunner. Nicely done. FLIP THE BIRD will appeal to everyone - adults and kids of all ages. Go out and buy it today.

[Jeanette Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of young adult fiction but this was a winner. It was completely entertaining for an adult reader but I think it would be a brilliant choice for kids around 10 and older. It's a fast-paced, exciting story with a surprise that really knocked me over. I couldn't put it down once I got to that part, and ended up reading the rest in one sitting. The detail around falconry as a sport is fascinating and well-researched, and told in a way that doesn't seem instructional, yet it is! I knew nothing about falconry and was intrigued all the way through. The love story aspect is adorable and written so honestly from the perspective of a boy with a big crush, and the main character, Mercer, is witty and teen-boy funny. There is humor from beginning to end which makes it fun to read. I loved it. I would recommend this to any tween or teen reader for a story that will be different than anything they've ever read. There is a great message in it to "Be True to Yourself" that in these times couldn't be more perfect.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Flip the Bird delivers on so many fronts! Not only does it offer up tons of laughs and page-turning suspense, but it also introduces readers to what has to be one of the coolest hobbies ever, falconry. The glimpses into this world are fantastic, and I have no doubt Brunner will whet many readers’ appetite to explore this topic more fully and, who knows, maybe even give it a try themselves.

But the author doesn’t stop there. Even better, she uses the burgeoning attraction between aspiring falconer Mercer Buddie and animal rights activist Lucy to explore how the compassionate treatment of animals is often pitted against the wants and needs of humans. Brunner does a commendable job highlighting the many nuances of this thorny, ethical dilemma, while also revealing the toll that lies can take on our relationships with family and friends, and also our sense of self.

If you like stories that entertain and enlighten, then Flip the Bird is for you.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from the Goodreads giveaways.

This is a great YA book! I love the narrator, Mercer Buddie, and his sense of humor. I learned a lot about falconry and found it fascinating. Mercer learns a lot about a fanatical animal-rights organization called HALT.

I never wanted to put this book down. I like most of the characters and I hope the author, Kym Brunner writes another Mercer Buddie book or writes one from one of his siblings' point-of-view.

[Rachel's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!

While there is a noticeable slump in the middle, this novel is such a little gem!! It was one of my most anticipated books to receive at ALA and luckily I found a small stack of them on Sunday.

It was adorable, the detail was flippin amazing (pun totally intended) and it actually made me laugh.

Full review soon!!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page to the last, I couldn't put this book down! I loved the characters and loved the suspenseful plot. I never really knew much about falconry, but I think it's super cool. I live in Wisconsin so I especially loved all the details about Wisconsin life.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I can see this being a hit with 7th and 8th grade guys (and girls?).

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A falconer apprentice falls for the daughter of crazed animal rights activists. This should end well.

[Sarah Bauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book theme song: O/Fly On by Coldplay (First State & Jochen Miller remix). Why remix? Because the meaning of the song fits but the original is a bit melancholic. This one's a bit more upbeat.
I'd recommend this book to any animal lovers (who aren't squeamish; there is some gore). Though it did get a bit soapboxy at some points and the pacing was weird, it was an enjoyable read. The family dynamic between the Buddies is believable and entertaining. Mercer is kind of an ass for most of the book and I found it somewhat difficult to sympathize with him sometimes. But the relationship between him and Lucy is cute. The falconry parts were easily the best parts of the book IMO and I found myself getting emotionally attached to the birds. There's a plot twist that causes a major tonal shift, and it comes out of nowhere. Though it wasn't a bad plot twist and actually works really well in hindsight, it was very jarring. That might have been the intention though.

[Nicolas Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Flip the Bird by Kym Brunner is a realistic fiction novel. In Flip the Bird, there is a kid named Mercer Buddie, and his love for falconry is unmatched by anyone. His Mom works at a college supposedly doing experiments with animals as the test subject, and his Dad is a master falconer who houses injured birds until they are ready to be in the wild again. When going to catch his first hawk, he realizes he left his mouse at home, so he stops at a local pet store to get one. In the pet store, he meets a girl named Lucy who thinks he is getting a pet. In time, he realizes she is part of an animal rights group named HALT. Mercer joins the group and realizes that if he wants to continue the friendship, he need to keep his parents jobs and falconry away from her and the club away from his parents. I really liked this book and thought the author developed every character even the minor ones very well. I would recommend this too all ages boys or girls.

[riding_the_pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!
I had so much fun reading this. Mercer is one heck of a character. I don't know what was better, his witty remarks or his character growth.
Flip was amazing too! I never would have guessed there was so much to Falconry. They honestly make it look so easy. You never think about the time and dedication that goes into building a trusting relationship with a wild Falcon.
Brunner did a very good job writing a book about something as serious as finding oneself in a way that will have you laughing and wanting more in the end.

You can read my full review here :)
https://itsmisselizabeth.wordpress.co...

[Mark Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book would be funny, but it isn't really. This is really a book about finding your way. Mercer decides to change who he is to try and get the girl. We all know how that works out. Fortunately, he figures it out, but not before bad things happen. Great descriptions of falconry here along with a smattering of positive and not so positive role models. The family feels very real and the struggle is definitely one anyone can relate to. Some slightly mature content makes this book a good choice for 6-7th grade boys.

[J.A. McLachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. An engaging and sympathetic, if flawed, protagonist with realistic motives and goals. Told with humopur and sympathy, it isd a good story. I will be recommending it to my granddaughter! Alosa a fascinating look at the world of falconry and the moral issues of cruelty to animals and human intervention in their lives - for good and ill. Emotionally engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of YA novels, but Kym came to our school's Writer's Day, so I bought a signed copy to support our school's poetry club. The information about falconry was somewhat interesting, but the characters were a bit flat. Saving grace is that it had a positive theme for kids. I wouldn't recommend this for an adult, but I think teens might like it.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kid brought me this book one day, said try this book (showing me the title). It isn't my usual genre, but my kid picked it so I'll try it.
And I LOVED IT. It was a great entertaining story. Enjoyed it 100%.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and easy read. Accurate falconry terms and information. Main character and his friends seemed a bit immature.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny book. I liked seeing both sides of an issue and not to jump to conclusions. People can go to far sometimes. There is more to the issue than appears.