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Crow Flight Lib/E
The curious flight patterns of crows lead a teen computer programmer down a path of mystery and romance.
Gin trusts logic a little too much. She even designs programs to decide what to eat and how to spend her time. All that changes when she’s paired with a new transfer student, Felix, on a computer modeling assignment to explain certain anomalies in the behavior of crows.
As she enters Felix’s world and digs further into the data behind crow behavior, Gin uncovers a terrible secret. And the wrong decision could equal disaster squared . . .
Gin trusts logic a little too much. She even designs programs to decide what to eat and how to spend her time. All that changes when she’s paired with a new transfer student, Felix, on a computer modeling assignment to explain certain anomalies in the behavior of crows.
As she enters Felix’s world and digs further into the data behind crow behavior, Gin uncovers a terrible secret. And the wrong decision could equal disaster squared . . .
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First published December 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
December 10, 2018
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I requested this book, I thought it sounded cute and the idea of a book about studying the flight patterns of crows intrigued me for some reason. I ended up liking this book so much more than I expected and what a pleasant surprise! This book was exciting, romantic, clever and so much more!
It is told from the point of view of an extremely intelligent girl named Gin who loves to create computer programs for her every day life from what to wear, to how to spend her time, everything is meticulously planned from the programs she has created to eliminate the normal stress of decision making. Without the little problems, Gin is able to focus all her efforts on school and getting into Harvard where she can become the computer programmer she has always dreamed of becoming. So with her senior year planned out perfectly to get her into her dream college and with everything going as planned, leave it to her best friend and a class that should have been her easiest yet to throw her a curve ball that could change all her plans and programs. Life has a funny way of giving us all the unpredictable, and poor Gin wasn't ready for what life had in store for her. Be it good or bad, she has to choose whether to throw her programs aside and go with her heart. Or forever wonder what could have been if she had only taken that chance.
The most important part of this book are its fantastic characters. I loved Gin and her brainy outlook on life. I also really appreciated the fact that even though Gin was constantly focused on school and work and her computer programs, she still had a beautiful best friend who kept Gin active in school and getting a social life even against all computer program odds. And my gosh did I love Felix. These characters were all so well fleshed out. I felt like I was a student in school watching the drama unfold before my very eyes they were so real to me.
The technical terms that usually tend to bog down stories with so much computer science in them such as this book weren't as overwhelming as I thought they would be. I am by no means a computer genius, hell I feel accomplished when I can figure out how to get HTML formatting to work, much less creating entire computer programs to run my life. So when things start to get too technical I can usually feel my eyes beginning to glaze over and my mind starts to wander to different realms and I find myself rehashing what I had for lunch and wondering whats for dinner... its a long and constant struggle this love for food that I have... I digress. I'm happy to say that there were no wandering food thoughts in this book though because there was a happy balance of technical talk with a lot of simple explanations that helped the reader know without having to be in the know. I felt like at the end of this book I could jump right into computer hacking 101 and do pretty good! Just kidding.. I'm still struggling with the italics in the first part of this review. But we'll just pretend like I learned something because I sure felt like I did!
I couldn't put this book down from the sweet love story, the ever interesting crows, the family drama and so much more there was never a slow or dull moment. I was so wrapped up in the characters and all that was going on it was easy to find that I'd read most of the book in one sitting. I definitely think that this will be a book that can be enjoyed by all types of readers in all types of genres. It was different from everything I've been reading lately but it was still such a fun and refreshing read.
When I requested this book, I thought it sounded cute and the idea of a book about studying the flight patterns of crows intrigued me for some reason. I ended up liking this book so much more than I expected and what a pleasant surprise! This book was exciting, romantic, clever and so much more!
It is told from the point of view of an extremely intelligent girl named Gin who loves to create computer programs for her every day life from what to wear, to how to spend her time, everything is meticulously planned from the programs she has created to eliminate the normal stress of decision making. Without the little problems, Gin is able to focus all her efforts on school and getting into Harvard where she can become the computer programmer she has always dreamed of becoming. So with her senior year planned out perfectly to get her into her dream college and with everything going as planned, leave it to her best friend and a class that should have been her easiest yet to throw her a curve ball that could change all her plans and programs. Life has a funny way of giving us all the unpredictable, and poor Gin wasn't ready for what life had in store for her. Be it good or bad, she has to choose whether to throw her programs aside and go with her heart. Or forever wonder what could have been if she had only taken that chance.
The most important part of this book are its fantastic characters. I loved Gin and her brainy outlook on life. I also really appreciated the fact that even though Gin was constantly focused on school and work and her computer programs, she still had a beautiful best friend who kept Gin active in school and getting a social life even against all computer program odds. And my gosh did I love Felix. These characters were all so well fleshed out. I felt like I was a student in school watching the drama unfold before my very eyes they were so real to me.
The technical terms that usually tend to bog down stories with so much computer science in them such as this book weren't as overwhelming as I thought they would be. I am by no means a computer genius, hell I feel accomplished when I can figure out how to get HTML formatting to work, much less creating entire computer programs to run my life. So when things start to get too technical I can usually feel my eyes beginning to glaze over and my mind starts to wander to different realms and I find myself rehashing what I had for lunch and wondering whats for dinner... its a long and constant struggle this love for food that I have... I digress. I'm happy to say that there were no wandering food thoughts in this book though because there was a happy balance of technical talk with a lot of simple explanations that helped the reader know without having to be in the know. I felt like at the end of this book I could jump right into computer hacking 101 and do pretty good! Just kidding.. I'm still struggling with the italics in the first part of this review. But we'll just pretend like I learned something because I sure felt like I did!
I couldn't put this book down from the sweet love story, the ever interesting crows, the family drama and so much more there was never a slow or dull moment. I was so wrapped up in the characters and all that was going on it was easy to find that I'd read most of the book in one sitting. I definitely think that this will be a book that can be enjoyed by all types of readers in all types of genres. It was different from everything I've been reading lately but it was still such a fun and refreshing read.
December 30, 2019
Gin has loved numbers and computer modeling her whole life. When the opportunity of a lifetime comes up, Gin jumps at the chance to learn from one of her role models. Being in Ms. Sandalinn's class will surely help her get into Harvard, not to mention the chance to be an intern with her. As Gin dives into the world of modeling with the new kid Felix at her side, the uncover something more sinister than they ever expected.
Gin was such a nerdy girl and I absolutely love her. Now I'm not a computer scientist, but freaking love hackers/coders/modelers. ALL OF IT. Gin was no exception. Gin had a model for everything, it was pretty impressive. I loved seeing her continue to perfect her newest model, Love Fractal, throughout the story.
The side characters were also amazing. I loved Gin and Hanna's friendship. Hanna was such a fun person to be around and she was always there to support Gin even if she didn't quite understand her passion for coding. Then there was Felix. He was quite the mystery, but I really loved his character. He was so soft and adorable all the damn time. Plus he had pet crows, how cool!!
The mystery was woven really nicely into this everyday life. I loved seeing Gin puzzle through the crow model trying to figure out what was wrong. Her discovery wasn't too far fetched, but damn did it make her life very tense! The ending was nicely wrapped up, but I still need more of these characters!!
Gin was such a nerdy girl and I absolutely love her. Now I'm not a computer scientist, but freaking love hackers/coders/modelers. ALL OF IT. Gin was no exception. Gin had a model for everything, it was pretty impressive. I loved seeing her continue to perfect her newest model, Love Fractal, throughout the story.
The side characters were also amazing. I loved Gin and Hanna's friendship. Hanna was such a fun person to be around and she was always there to support Gin even if she didn't quite understand her passion for coding. Then there was Felix. He was quite the mystery, but I really loved his character. He was so soft and adorable all the damn time. Plus he had pet crows, how cool!!
The mystery was woven really nicely into this everyday life. I loved seeing Gin puzzle through the crow model trying to figure out what was wrong. Her discovery wasn't too far fetched, but damn did it make her life very tense! The ending was nicely wrapped up, but I still need more of these characters!!
March 25, 2019
Very geeky and tech packed thriller. Cute and simple. A quick read.
I'd say that this actually one of those YA books that's really for YA, and in this case also IT lovers, than just those young in heart.
It has become common practice that a YA narrative sounds very smart, almost smarter than an adult one sometimes, and makes you wonder if you also had all those big questions about life and the world in your head at that age. This story, on the contrary, really felt like told by someone who's a teenager. Like you're reading actual teenage way of thinking about each other, parents, their world etc. Fantastic insight!
Thank you Amberjack Publishing for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
I'd say that this actually one of those YA books that's really for YA, and in this case also IT lovers, than just those young in heart.
It has become common practice that a YA narrative sounds very smart, almost smarter than an adult one sometimes, and makes you wonder if you also had all those big questions about life and the world in your head at that age. This story, on the contrary, really felt like told by someone who's a teenager. Like you're reading actual teenage way of thinking about each other, parents, their world etc. Fantastic insight!
Thank you Amberjack Publishing for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2019
I received this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this story about a senior girl in high school named Gin, and this boy she meets named Felix. Gin is a whiz at computers and has developed a lot of her own programs already. When the teacher assigns Felix as her partner in a special programming class, they spend a lot of time together. There are also a bunch of crows, FBI agents, espionage and gamers.
December 10, 2018
*2.75 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gin is starting her senior year in high school and the only class she's excited for is computer modelling. She is already very good in it, since her father has been making models since forever and so has she. Her models tell her how to dress and what to do, they dictate every part of her life. Everything changes when she runs into Felix. She is immediately attracted to this strange popular boy, who seems to hang out with crows. When her modelling teacher partner them up, Gin can't believe it, she's so sure she'll never be able to focus with him around.
This was a hit and miss for me. I didn't really like Gin, nor did I relate with her. The only characters I somehow empathized with was her friends, Lucas and Hannah, and then again, not really. I really didn't like Felix, and was very disappointed with the ending.
I was mostly bored throughout the book. I didn't really care about most of what was happening. It felt slow and a bit messy. I guess that must have been because I couldn't find it in me to like Felix. Everything would have been fine had I liked him.
Since I didn't like him, I really wasn't rooting for their relationship and I found it a bit rushed and unnatural... And I found myself not being interesting in the computer parts all that much either...
I guess this really wasn't for me but I'm sure others would love it.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gin is starting her senior year in high school and the only class she's excited for is computer modelling. She is already very good in it, since her father has been making models since forever and so has she. Her models tell her how to dress and what to do, they dictate every part of her life. Everything changes when she runs into Felix. She is immediately attracted to this strange popular boy, who seems to hang out with crows. When her modelling teacher partner them up, Gin can't believe it, she's so sure she'll never be able to focus with him around.
This was a hit and miss for me. I didn't really like Gin, nor did I relate with her. The only characters I somehow empathized with was her friends, Lucas and Hannah, and then again, not really. I really didn't like Felix, and was very disappointed with the ending.
I was mostly bored throughout the book. I didn't really care about most of what was happening. It felt slow and a bit messy. I guess that must have been because I couldn't find it in me to like Felix. Everything would have been fine had I liked him.
Since I didn't like him, I really wasn't rooting for their relationship and I found it a bit rushed and unnatural... And I found myself not being interesting in the computer parts all that much either...
I guess this really wasn't for me but I'm sure others would love it.
March 9, 2020
Very interesting premise, somewhat science fiction. I always knew that crows were clever, but didn't consider the idea of training them for specific purposes. Gin seems to be a wiz at modelling, I wish I was at least half as good.
April 16, 2021
I was debating whether to give this book 4 or 5 Stars, and it basically came down to: would I read it again? To which the answer is yes. This book was so intriguing and thought-provoking and I would definitely reread it. It was a little romance-heavy, but overall it was a really interesting story about crow flight patterns, and I loved it. 5 stars ⭐
November 21, 2018
This story was beautifully written and poetic with spiritual mystery weaved in throughout. I loved how it combines several disciplines of science (including biology and computer science) to take you on an exciting journey through the eyes of a self proclaimed "nerdy" teenage girl trying to overcome her logical tendencies. She dives in to the mysterious and becomes fascinated and absorbed by the unknown and finding true love. I loved the aspect with the crows also, very intriguing and edgy. I found this story to be intellectually stimulating yet humble at the same time if that makes sense. I learned quite a few cool new scientific facts which was awesome as well.
As a female in the field of IT I really liked reading a book where the main character was female and into computers/data analytics. This was very refreshing. I highly recommend this book for encouraging females to go into STEM or any females in STEM. I loved the cover also. Some of the computer science/computer hacker books have cheesy covers but this was really elegant. Overall fantastic book I highly recommend this for everyone, again especially for other females curious or involved with Computer science and other scientific disciplines. Great read!
As a female in the field of IT I really liked reading a book where the main character was female and into computers/data analytics. This was very refreshing. I highly recommend this book for encouraging females to go into STEM or any females in STEM. I loved the cover also. Some of the computer science/computer hacker books have cheesy covers but this was really elegant. Overall fantastic book I highly recommend this for everyone, again especially for other females curious or involved with Computer science and other scientific disciplines. Great read!
February 14, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
DNF @ 50%
I wanted to love this book so bad, I'm so disappointed I didn't.
When I read this synopsis I was like: "Now, this is a book for me!" I mean an MC who's into CS and modeling? I was sold.
I was so excited when I got the email saying I was accepted to get an ARC of this book.
But unfortunately it just didn't do it for me.
When I first started this book I was quite meeeh with it but I was waiting for it to get better, which -in my opinion- it did not. I felt no connection whatsoever to the MC despite her sharing my love for CS and everything related to it, I didn't really like her that much; she was a pretty forgettable character and I just did not feel her passion I guess?
Felix was a teeny tiny little bit more interesting than Meg; but that doesn't say much since saying that is the equivalent of saying a tiny black dot is more interesting than the whole white paper.
The story line felt kinda boring to me, I wasn't attached, I was not gripped nor was I interested in what would happen next and the more I read the more indifferent I felt toward the whole thing.
In general, I felt like this book promised too much but failed to deliver even half of it. It was unfortunately not for me, and I overall did not enjoy it.
I do however suggest for whoever finds the synopsis interesting to give it a shot, you may enjoy it far more than I did.
DNF @ 50%
I wanted to love this book so bad, I'm so disappointed I didn't.
When I read this synopsis I was like: "Now, this is a book for me!" I mean an MC who's into CS and modeling? I was sold.
I was so excited when I got the email saying I was accepted to get an ARC of this book.
But unfortunately it just didn't do it for me.
When I first started this book I was quite meeeh with it but I was waiting for it to get better, which -in my opinion- it did not. I felt no connection whatsoever to the MC despite her sharing my love for CS and everything related to it, I didn't really like her that much; she was a pretty forgettable character and I just did not feel her passion I guess?
Felix was a teeny tiny little bit more interesting than Meg; but that doesn't say much since saying that is the equivalent of saying a tiny black dot is more interesting than the whole white paper.
The story line felt kinda boring to me, I wasn't attached, I was not gripped nor was I interested in what would happen next and the more I read the more indifferent I felt toward the whole thing.
In general, I felt like this book promised too much but failed to deliver even half of it. It was unfortunately not for me, and I overall did not enjoy it.
I do however suggest for whoever finds the synopsis interesting to give it a shot, you may enjoy it far more than I did.
January 20, 2019
What is it about mysterious boy with shaggy hair that attracted girl, even the sane one. One of YA mystery I guess or is it just a product writers like to recycle because it have an attraction to it.
The story was about Gin, who got put together with Felix to work as a team in their computer modeling class, they start spending a lot of time together. This is where the love story begins, but sometimes their relationship felt a bit unrealistic.
The story and writing was decent. Not enough to pull me in, just enough for me to finish reading it. The plot surrounding the crows was new to me. Usually people use pigeon. Nothing new to me when it came to technical stuff being an IT graduate and all.
Okay, to be honest, I was more interested in Hannah finding a boyfriend via Love Fractal, an app Gin was working on.
The story was about Gin, who got put together with Felix to work as a team in their computer modeling class, they start spending a lot of time together. This is where the love story begins, but sometimes their relationship felt a bit unrealistic.
The story and writing was decent. Not enough to pull me in, just enough for me to finish reading it. The plot surrounding the crows was new to me. Usually people use pigeon. Nothing new to me when it came to technical stuff being an IT graduate and all.
Okay, to be honest, I was more interested in Hannah finding a boyfriend via Love Fractal, an app Gin was working on.
February 19, 2019
Gin has her whole life planned out by logic, but can she survive life without it?
I thoroughly plowed through this novel regardless of the personal pain I’m going through after wisdom teeth removal. At first, I expected this to be a sci-fi action packed novel, but it turned out to be a form of mathematical and logical contemporary. I connected a lot to our main character Gin who always relies on certain apps and schedules to feel comfortable and satisfied. Then our mysterious, love interest Felix transfers to Gin’s school and captures her attention with his skills and his obsession with crows?! Utterly mind-boggling, yet clever with the amount of statistics used. For math lovers and those who are seeking more of a companion in life to totally geek over interests with, this book will have you begging for a pet crow and feeling so much smarter.
I thoroughly plowed through this novel regardless of the personal pain I’m going through after wisdom teeth removal. At first, I expected this to be a sci-fi action packed novel, but it turned out to be a form of mathematical and logical contemporary. I connected a lot to our main character Gin who always relies on certain apps and schedules to feel comfortable and satisfied. Then our mysterious, love interest Felix transfers to Gin’s school and captures her attention with his skills and his obsession with crows?! Utterly mind-boggling, yet clever with the amount of statistics used. For math lovers and those who are seeking more of a companion in life to totally geek over interests with, this book will have you begging for a pet crow and feeling so much smarter.
Read
February 27, 2019Gin has her whole life planned out by logic, which for me was totally relatable. She takes it to an extreme though, even designing her own programs and apps to help her make decisions. Her best friend Hannah is often reminding her that life is actually lived outside of the computer.
A new popular guy, Felix, starts at school and is paired with Gin in a computer simulation class. Their friendship starts easy, and turns to romance. Felix has a weird obsession with crows which could be creepy, but once they were explained more they made sense. Gin and Felix end up using the crows and all their data from over the years for their final project, and things get really interesting. There is a ~DaRk SeCrEt~ and you’ll probably have guessed the bad guy already, but it’s still pretty fun.
A new popular guy, Felix, starts at school and is paired with Gin in a computer simulation class. Their friendship starts easy, and turns to romance. Felix has a weird obsession with crows which could be creepy, but once they were explained more they made sense. Gin and Felix end up using the crows and all their data from over the years for their final project, and things get really interesting. There is a ~DaRk SeCrEt~ and you’ll probably have guessed the bad guy already, but it’s still pretty fun.
December 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this little story about Gin and Felix, it was very cute and geeky. I thought it would just be an average romance book but it turned out to be really interesting and kept me gripped at all times. If I had a complaint, it would be that it was slightly too tech-filled but that's just because I don't understand computers very well lol.
December 13, 2018
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Abandoned after 10 chapters
It's a bit intriguing, and I like how it has a contemporary feel despite being kinda futuristic/sci-fi, but it just doesn't really draw me in, and I don't really care about what's going to happen
Abandoned after 10 chapters
It's a bit intriguing, and I like how it has a contemporary feel despite being kinda futuristic/sci-fi, but it just doesn't really draw me in, and I don't really care about what's going to happen
January 2, 2019
I received a copy of this book to review. I read this book in one setting!!! The characters were great and believable. I highly recommend this book!!! Now I want to research crows and see if they are trainable!
Want to read
January 7, 2019It's an interesting read. I enjoyed the dynamic between Gin and Felix. I have not read many books about programming, so this was different for me. Overall, a good story.
February 4, 2019
An interesting and well thought out novel about teenage computer savants, and what happens when you know something you shouldn't.
Thanks to NetGalley, Susan Cunningham, and Amberjack Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, Susan Cunningham, and Amberjack Publishing for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2019
Gin was an interesting character. She lives her life by logic and rules and she knows what her plan is for her life. She even designs programs to help her decision making process go smoothly.
I found it hard to relate to her when it came to that, although the idea of having a program design outfits for me without thinking about it sounds pretty nice.
Her best friend Hannah was awesome and probably my favorite character in this book. She doesn't mind giving Gin crap about living her life by computer programs and reminding her life doesn't need to be lived by an app.
In comes Felix, a new student at school. He and Gin are paired up in computer simulation class and they start an easy friendship that quickly turns romantic. I thought their romance was interesting and found myself rooting for them throughout the story.
Felix's interest in crows is weird at first. It definitely came off as creepy during the first part of the story. But once we are introduced to the crows and learn more about them, I loved them more and more.
The scientific aspect/computer programming parts of this story were well laid out and I understood them, which was nice. Because I literally have almost zero coding/programming knowledge. And the way this was written I was easily able to follow along and understand what was happening.
There were some twists in this book, but the overarching plot about the crows wasn't a surprise. Basically who the bad guy is implied to be fairly early on is, in fact, the bad guy. The other twists threw me a bit though, and that's what kept me engaged and thus rating this book 4 stars (realistically 3.5 but I don't do half stars so I rounded up).
Overall, this is a good read and I did enjoy it!
I found it hard to relate to her when it came to that, although the idea of having a program design outfits for me without thinking about it sounds pretty nice.
Her best friend Hannah was awesome and probably my favorite character in this book. She doesn't mind giving Gin crap about living her life by computer programs and reminding her life doesn't need to be lived by an app.
In comes Felix, a new student at school. He and Gin are paired up in computer simulation class and they start an easy friendship that quickly turns romantic. I thought their romance was interesting and found myself rooting for them throughout the story.
Felix's interest in crows is weird at first. It definitely came off as creepy during the first part of the story. But once we are introduced to the crows and learn more about them, I loved them more and more.
The scientific aspect/computer programming parts of this story were well laid out and I understood them, which was nice. Because I literally have almost zero coding/programming knowledge. And the way this was written I was easily able to follow along and understand what was happening.
There were some twists in this book, but the overarching plot about the crows wasn't a surprise. Basically who the bad guy is implied to be fairly early on is, in fact, the bad guy. The other twists threw me a bit though, and that's what kept me engaged and thus rating this book 4 stars (realistically 3.5 but I don't do half stars so I rounded up).
Overall, this is a good read and I did enjoy it!
August 1, 2021
fun and cute
October 29, 2018
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love this book so much! The characters are rich and real, the plot is intense. The intrigue and conflict in the story is what really hooked me. This wasn’t just another cute, fluffy contemporary love story. This book has some serious conflict. And while I maybe had hoped for a little more action, the exposition and ultimate resolution were still nerve wracking to read. I seriously could not stop reading.
I love this book so much! The characters are rich and real, the plot is intense. The intrigue and conflict in the story is what really hooked me. This wasn’t just another cute, fluffy contemporary love story. This book has some serious conflict. And while I maybe had hoped for a little more action, the exposition and ultimate resolution were still nerve wracking to read. I seriously could not stop reading.
March 20, 2019
*View my reviews at www.drinkreadrepeat.com*
Despite the fact that I do tend to prefer reading and the arts over maths and sciences, I have always found comfort in the logic of these rigid subjects.
It’s comforting to feel like there is a definitive answer.
A right and a wrong.
A black and a white.
Because, in truth, shades of gray are scary as fuck.
But even though I appreciate the inflexibility of diametric relationships and logic-driven decision making, I know that there are some areas in which logic simply can’t be applied.
Love — as I know from first-hand experience and the protagonist of this novel ultimately comes to find — is one of those areas.
Early in this novel, as almost a nothing aside, the character marvels on the inconceivability of love at first sight — the absurdity of believing that you can see someone and just… know… that you are meant to be with him or her.
While I might, too, have argued that this notion was ridiculous when I, like the protagonist, was an inexperienced high schooler, I now feel quite the opposite.
Because it’s what I experienced.
Awkward and perpetually single, I spent my college years focusing more on my studies than on guys. Given my singular academic focus, I was all but certain I would exit college just as I had entered it — single as fuck.
But then, I made a new friend.
And, one day, this friend came over my apartment and, before deciding to join me for dinner, called his roommate, Eric, and inform him that he wouldn’t be home as soon as he had planned.
So I stood there, listening to him make his call.
And the moment I heard Eric’s voice, faint and tinny, on the other side of the phone, I was struck with one thought: I’m going to marry that man.
And then I met Eric.
And I decided I definitely wouldn’t marry him.
He was loud and impossibly tidy and goofy — all things I most certainly was not.
And so we became friends.
Until one night when, emboldened by a shit ton of vodka, we became more.
Now nearly 13 years and two sons later, I have no choice but to believe that fate is real.
That love is complicated.
And that logic, while comforting, can only get you so far.
And that’s bad news for Gin, the protagonist of this STEM-rich YA novel.
While many people find comfort in logic, Gin absolutely cannot operate even in the most basic sense outside of the matrix of yes and no decisions.
She’s so dependent on logic, in fact, that she has dedicated a tremendous amount of time to building computer models to help her decide everything from what to wear to what she should eat.
As she starts her senior year, she — like college-aged me — is absolutely focused on her academics. Unlike me, though, Gin has an exceedingly lofty goal: to gain admission to Harvard.
Though she knows that this will be a difficult feat to accomplish, she’s been painstakingly careful in putting herself on the right path. She’s stacked her schedule to impress, including securing a spot in an advanced modeling class taught by a visiting professor, Dr. Sandlin. Not only will performing well in this class prove impressive to Harvard recruiters, it might also help Gin secure an almost-impossible-to-come-by spot as a summer intern working under Dr. Sandlin.
But then, things get complicated.
On the first day of school, Gin meets a magnetic new student, Felix.
Logical and focused, Gin tries to ignore the confusing and potentially disruptive feelings she starts to experience when Felix is in her sights.
But when she is, by some joke of fate, assigned to partner with Felix, the intricate system of logic by which she has lived her life starts to feel woefully inadequate to address her current issues.
Then, to make matters worse, what starts out as a simple modeling project focusing on the behavior of crows — a particular area of interest for Felix and his family — becomes complicated by the discovery of something more important than Gin ever could have expected.
The discovery is so significant, in fact, that it threatens to derail all of Gin’s carefully laid plans.
Crow Flight was inarguably a distinctive book.
Rather surprisingly, given the push within the field of education to increase the focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering & math), there isn’t much YA literature that really is truly STEM-rich.
And the literature that exists that does have STEM elements almost never goes into as much technical depth as this novel did.
Despite the author’s decision to explore some complex technical topics, however, the novel never felt clunky or boring or unreadable.
By maintaining a focus on the characters — and, more importantly, their relationships — Cunningham prevented what could have become an arduous read from veering off into the weeds.
But while she developed her lead character, Gin, relatively well, secondary characters didn’t receive the same attention. As a result, many of the secondary characters, including Gin’s best friend and even her parents, appearing flat and artificial. This was… disappointing… particularly because the problem could have been solved with the addition of just a few new scenes focusing on this secondary cast and giving them more of the independent ambitions and personal attributes that would have been necessary for them to be juicy, round, dynamic characters that we as readers would care about.
As I let this novel settle in my brain and tried to decide how I felt about it as an overall work, not as a bunch of component parts, one element of the book popped into my head: the concept of soul bits.
In the novel, our love interest, Felix, explains that one of the things that distinguishes a merely functioning model from a truly amazing one is a soul bit.
A soul bit is that little something special.
It’s that magic ingredient that isn’t founded in logic like the other components of the model. And because the soul bit isn’t logical, it allows the model to more closely replicate real life.
With the concept of a soul bit in my mind, I realized what this book was missing.
It was missing its soul bit.
I would guess that the author herself tends towards the linear thinking that computer programmers and modelers favor.
Because this novel, like a computer program, gets the job done in the most basic sense of the word.
This novel is complete.
The story is sound.
The plot is cohesive.
Were it a model, it would be fully functional.
But would it be amazing, special, world-altering?
Sadly, no.
While absolutely a take on an oft-ignored topic, it is missing some of the… sparkle… that I believe the addition of some soul bits… some personality… some life… would truly add.
As it stands, it earns 3 out of 5 cocktails.
Despite the fact that I do tend to prefer reading and the arts over maths and sciences, I have always found comfort in the logic of these rigid subjects.
It’s comforting to feel like there is a definitive answer.
A right and a wrong.
A black and a white.
Because, in truth, shades of gray are scary as fuck.
But even though I appreciate the inflexibility of diametric relationships and logic-driven decision making, I know that there are some areas in which logic simply can’t be applied.
Love — as I know from first-hand experience and the protagonist of this novel ultimately comes to find — is one of those areas.
Early in this novel, as almost a nothing aside, the character marvels on the inconceivability of love at first sight — the absurdity of believing that you can see someone and just… know… that you are meant to be with him or her.
While I might, too, have argued that this notion was ridiculous when I, like the protagonist, was an inexperienced high schooler, I now feel quite the opposite.
Because it’s what I experienced.
Awkward and perpetually single, I spent my college years focusing more on my studies than on guys. Given my singular academic focus, I was all but certain I would exit college just as I had entered it — single as fuck.
But then, I made a new friend.
And, one day, this friend came over my apartment and, before deciding to join me for dinner, called his roommate, Eric, and inform him that he wouldn’t be home as soon as he had planned.
So I stood there, listening to him make his call.
And the moment I heard Eric’s voice, faint and tinny, on the other side of the phone, I was struck with one thought: I’m going to marry that man.
And then I met Eric.
And I decided I definitely wouldn’t marry him.
He was loud and impossibly tidy and goofy — all things I most certainly was not.
And so we became friends.
Until one night when, emboldened by a shit ton of vodka, we became more.
Now nearly 13 years and two sons later, I have no choice but to believe that fate is real.
That love is complicated.
And that logic, while comforting, can only get you so far.
And that’s bad news for Gin, the protagonist of this STEM-rich YA novel.
While many people find comfort in logic, Gin absolutely cannot operate even in the most basic sense outside of the matrix of yes and no decisions.
She’s so dependent on logic, in fact, that she has dedicated a tremendous amount of time to building computer models to help her decide everything from what to wear to what she should eat.
As she starts her senior year, she — like college-aged me — is absolutely focused on her academics. Unlike me, though, Gin has an exceedingly lofty goal: to gain admission to Harvard.
Though she knows that this will be a difficult feat to accomplish, she’s been painstakingly careful in putting herself on the right path. She’s stacked her schedule to impress, including securing a spot in an advanced modeling class taught by a visiting professor, Dr. Sandlin. Not only will performing well in this class prove impressive to Harvard recruiters, it might also help Gin secure an almost-impossible-to-come-by spot as a summer intern working under Dr. Sandlin.
But then, things get complicated.
On the first day of school, Gin meets a magnetic new student, Felix.
Logical and focused, Gin tries to ignore the confusing and potentially disruptive feelings she starts to experience when Felix is in her sights.
But when she is, by some joke of fate, assigned to partner with Felix, the intricate system of logic by which she has lived her life starts to feel woefully inadequate to address her current issues.
Then, to make matters worse, what starts out as a simple modeling project focusing on the behavior of crows — a particular area of interest for Felix and his family — becomes complicated by the discovery of something more important than Gin ever could have expected.
The discovery is so significant, in fact, that it threatens to derail all of Gin’s carefully laid plans.
Crow Flight was inarguably a distinctive book.
Rather surprisingly, given the push within the field of education to increase the focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering & math), there isn’t much YA literature that really is truly STEM-rich.
And the literature that exists that does have STEM elements almost never goes into as much technical depth as this novel did.
Despite the author’s decision to explore some complex technical topics, however, the novel never felt clunky or boring or unreadable.
By maintaining a focus on the characters — and, more importantly, their relationships — Cunningham prevented what could have become an arduous read from veering off into the weeds.
But while she developed her lead character, Gin, relatively well, secondary characters didn’t receive the same attention. As a result, many of the secondary characters, including Gin’s best friend and even her parents, appearing flat and artificial. This was… disappointing… particularly because the problem could have been solved with the addition of just a few new scenes focusing on this secondary cast and giving them more of the independent ambitions and personal attributes that would have been necessary for them to be juicy, round, dynamic characters that we as readers would care about.
As I let this novel settle in my brain and tried to decide how I felt about it as an overall work, not as a bunch of component parts, one element of the book popped into my head: the concept of soul bits.
In the novel, our love interest, Felix, explains that one of the things that distinguishes a merely functioning model from a truly amazing one is a soul bit.
A soul bit is that little something special.
It’s that magic ingredient that isn’t founded in logic like the other components of the model. And because the soul bit isn’t logical, it allows the model to more closely replicate real life.
With the concept of a soul bit in my mind, I realized what this book was missing.
It was missing its soul bit.
I would guess that the author herself tends towards the linear thinking that computer programmers and modelers favor.
Because this novel, like a computer program, gets the job done in the most basic sense of the word.
This novel is complete.
The story is sound.
The plot is cohesive.
Were it a model, it would be fully functional.
But would it be amazing, special, world-altering?
Sadly, no.
While absolutely a take on an oft-ignored topic, it is missing some of the… sparkle… that I believe the addition of some soul bits… some personality… some life… would truly add.
As it stands, it earns 3 out of 5 cocktails.
October 22, 2018
Crow Flight is exciting and well-written young adult fiction. It's a book I would gladly add to my classroom shelf and use for independent reading...and I'm sure some hungry readers would gobble it up quickly. Cunningham has created an interesting character in Gin, and one I'm sure students would relate to in many ways.
October 18, 2018
With a cover like that, I seriously wasn't expecting something like this, to be honest. I was sure it had something to do with coding, but this book honestly surprised me.
Spy crows (my patronus and some of the best animals on Earth? Check. Cute romance? Check. Being a badass coder? Check. Being a badass coder who accidentally brought someone to justice? Check.
Honestly, this was all I wanted and more. The only complaint I have is that maybe the relationship moved a bit too fast.
Spy crows (my patronus and some of the best animals on Earth? Check. Cute romance? Check. Being a badass coder? Check. Being a badass coder who accidentally brought someone to justice? Check.
Honestly, this was all I wanted and more. The only complaint I have is that maybe the relationship moved a bit too fast.
December 16, 2018
I received a free digital copy of this book from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
Real Rating: 2.5 Stars
To be honest, I couldn't really find many faults with this book other than the fact that it's very average. The plot felt very lackluster and plain, and I had trouble getting into the story and connecting with the characters. The main character was annoyingly anal about everything and the love interest had no interesting qualities whatsoever aside from the fact that he trains crows. The romance felt contrived and awkward, and I found myself trying really, really hard to push through and finish the story even though I started getting really bored about 100 pages in. Unfortunately, I had to drop this.
Things I Liked:
I really liked Hannah. A lot of times with YA, authors tend to make the protagonist's best friend bitchy or borderline annoying, but this time I ended up liking the best friend more than the main character. To be honest, I think this story would have been so much better if told from Hannah's perspective as she tried to find love using Gin's matchmaking system.
The cover is fitting for the book and is the main reason I actually picked this one up. It's very visually appealing.
I liked the concept of the crows and trying to figure out what they were doing and why they kept appearing around Felix but I was just a little disappointed when I found out it was because he trains crows and not for some other cool mysterious reason.
The writing was very descriptive and easy to read.
Things I Didn't Like:
The pacing was way too fast. One day would go by and then suddenly it was a month later. And nothing would happen. The pacing was fast, but absolutely nothing would happen in the story so it also felt extremely slow.
Felix. Oh goodness, Felix. I didn't like him at all. The way he dresses seems very juvenile (beaded necklace and flip-flops) which I know seems like a weird thing to complain about considering it's YA but it bothered me all the same. The romance was just weird. Felix had virtually nothing to do with Gin outside of class for months and then the one day she spots him outside of school he's suddenly into her? No. There's no chemistry and it wasn't clear to me why exactly Felix started to like her in the first place. It felt so contrived and random, and it progressed awkwardly.
Gin was sort of annoying. I know her character is supposed to be anal but there's a difference between being anal and being obsessive. Her best friend was much more interesting and relatable.
It was boring. I feel awful for saying it but I just couldn't get interested in what was going on. I'm sure it's a great book for some people but it's just not my cup of tea.
Overall, I would recommend this to teens that like contemporary romance. I wouldn't recommend this to people that like fast-paced stories with a lot of action & mystery because you'll be disappointed. I didn't hate this book per se but I definitely won't be rereading this or trying to finish it.
Real Rating: 2.5 Stars
To be honest, I couldn't really find many faults with this book other than the fact that it's very average. The plot felt very lackluster and plain, and I had trouble getting into the story and connecting with the characters. The main character was annoyingly anal about everything and the love interest had no interesting qualities whatsoever aside from the fact that he trains crows. The romance felt contrived and awkward, and I found myself trying really, really hard to push through and finish the story even though I started getting really bored about 100 pages in. Unfortunately, I had to drop this.
Things I Liked:
I really liked Hannah. A lot of times with YA, authors tend to make the protagonist's best friend bitchy or borderline annoying, but this time I ended up liking the best friend more than the main character. To be honest, I think this story would have been so much better if told from Hannah's perspective as she tried to find love using Gin's matchmaking system.
The cover is fitting for the book and is the main reason I actually picked this one up. It's very visually appealing.
I liked the concept of the crows and trying to figure out what they were doing and why they kept appearing around Felix but I was just a little disappointed when I found out it was because he trains crows and not for some other cool mysterious reason.
The writing was very descriptive and easy to read.
Things I Didn't Like:
The pacing was way too fast. One day would go by and then suddenly it was a month later. And nothing would happen. The pacing was fast, but absolutely nothing would happen in the story so it also felt extremely slow.
Felix. Oh goodness, Felix. I didn't like him at all. The way he dresses seems very juvenile (beaded necklace and flip-flops) which I know seems like a weird thing to complain about considering it's YA but it bothered me all the same. The romance was just weird. Felix had virtually nothing to do with Gin outside of class for months and then the one day she spots him outside of school he's suddenly into her? No. There's no chemistry and it wasn't clear to me why exactly Felix started to like her in the first place. It felt so contrived and random, and it progressed awkwardly.
Gin was sort of annoying. I know her character is supposed to be anal but there's a difference between being anal and being obsessive. Her best friend was much more interesting and relatable.
It was boring. I feel awful for saying it but I just couldn't get interested in what was going on. I'm sure it's a great book for some people but it's just not my cup of tea.
Overall, I would recommend this to teens that like contemporary romance. I wouldn't recommend this to people that like fast-paced stories with a lot of action & mystery because you'll be disappointed. I didn't hate this book per se but I definitely won't be rereading this or trying to finish it.
February 25, 2019
‘The curious flight patterns of crows lead a teen computer programmer down a path of mystery and romance.
Gin trusts logic a little too much. She even designs programs to decide what to eat and how to spend her time. All that changes when she's paired with a new transfer student, Felix, on a computer modeling assignment to explain certain anomalies in the behavior of crows.
Speaking of anomalies, why is Gin so disappointed that Felix isn't a match for her in the dating app she’s designing with local gamers?
As she enters Felix's world and digs further into the data behind crow behavior, Gin uncovers a terrible secret. And the wrong decision could equal disaster squared . . .’
Cunningham's Crow Flight was a captivating read! I love crows and ravens in general, so this was an especially fun read. The crows Gin gets to interact with each have different quirks and personalities. I especially loved Catherine, a matriarchal figure of the group. Corvids are exceptionally intelligent creatures, and the Gartners’ crows are no exception. I figured out their purpose when we first learned they were trained with shiny, yet silent, blue bells. My exact theory wasn't verified, but I'm feeling pretty confident. I'm not gonna spoil that mystery though!
Gin got on my nerves sometimes, but I think it was because she reminded me of myself- shy, not necessarily popular, and with low self-esteem that made her feel unworthy of Felix's affections, and unable to believe someone like him could ever love her. Her anxiety and uncertainty rang true to me though. Felix, I adored. I thought he was kind and sweet, and I felt so bad about how his father must have treated him. Mr Gartner just seemed too aloof. Not that he was physically abusive, but he certainly seemed capable of neglect or emotional abuse. The fact he shut Felix away from contact with the outside world and all technology doesn't help that impression.
I enjoyed learning about computer modeling, which wasn't something I was familiar with. I'm glad Gin finally realised that it wasn't necessary, or even healthy, to rely so heavily on the programs she used to help determine when and what to eat, what to wear, and when to do certain things, like call Hannah. I felt so bad for Hannah, who had developed the habit of asking Gin if the only reason she was calling was because Decider prompted it. Hannah was a good, patient friend, and I don't think she deserved the silent treatment from Gin for weeks. She tried to apologise and make up, but Gin rebuffed every try, until Hannah simply gave up. I'm glad Gin's mom helped fix that, but maybe Hannah deserves better. I can be forgiving, but generally if someone treats me like that I prolly wouldn't still be their friend.
Overall, an awesome read with an interesting mystery. And crows! Recommended for those who like nifty mysteries, computer modeling, or animal training stories.
***Many thanks to the author for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for JBN Blog Tours.
Gin trusts logic a little too much. She even designs programs to decide what to eat and how to spend her time. All that changes when she's paired with a new transfer student, Felix, on a computer modeling assignment to explain certain anomalies in the behavior of crows.
Speaking of anomalies, why is Gin so disappointed that Felix isn't a match for her in the dating app she’s designing with local gamers?
As she enters Felix's world and digs further into the data behind crow behavior, Gin uncovers a terrible secret. And the wrong decision could equal disaster squared . . .’
Cunningham's Crow Flight was a captivating read! I love crows and ravens in general, so this was an especially fun read. The crows Gin gets to interact with each have different quirks and personalities. I especially loved Catherine, a matriarchal figure of the group. Corvids are exceptionally intelligent creatures, and the Gartners’ crows are no exception. I figured out their purpose when we first learned they were trained with shiny, yet silent, blue bells. My exact theory wasn't verified, but I'm feeling pretty confident. I'm not gonna spoil that mystery though!
Gin got on my nerves sometimes, but I think it was because she reminded me of myself- shy, not necessarily popular, and with low self-esteem that made her feel unworthy of Felix's affections, and unable to believe someone like him could ever love her. Her anxiety and uncertainty rang true to me though. Felix, I adored. I thought he was kind and sweet, and I felt so bad about how his father must have treated him. Mr Gartner just seemed too aloof. Not that he was physically abusive, but he certainly seemed capable of neglect or emotional abuse. The fact he shut Felix away from contact with the outside world and all technology doesn't help that impression.
I enjoyed learning about computer modeling, which wasn't something I was familiar with. I'm glad Gin finally realised that it wasn't necessary, or even healthy, to rely so heavily on the programs she used to help determine when and what to eat, what to wear, and when to do certain things, like call Hannah. I felt so bad for Hannah, who had developed the habit of asking Gin if the only reason she was calling was because Decider prompted it. Hannah was a good, patient friend, and I don't think she deserved the silent treatment from Gin for weeks. She tried to apologise and make up, but Gin rebuffed every try, until Hannah simply gave up. I'm glad Gin's mom helped fix that, but maybe Hannah deserves better. I can be forgiving, but generally if someone treats me like that I prolly wouldn't still be their friend.
Overall, an awesome read with an interesting mystery. And crows! Recommended for those who like nifty mysteries, computer modeling, or animal training stories.
***Many thanks to the author for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for JBN Blog Tours.
September 21, 2018
I VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEW THIS ADVANCE COPY FROM NETGALLEY. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE MY OWN, THANK YOU.
I'm very very VERY thrilled that I gave this book a chance. No mystical creatures, no royal families trying to take over the world its just a smooth read from the beginning to the very end. I could not put this book down. This is my first Susan Cunningham book I read from her and she brought it all in this lovely gem.
I was a bit nervous about getting into the book, I was thinking this was going to be like the Matrix with a little twist with some Crows into it. I was totally wrong and that's a good thing! The beginning of the book hooked me and I needed to know more of what was going to happen and therefore I could not wast any time with anything else besides reading the whole book to find out.
From the beginning, we are introduced to a very intelligent young girl name Gin. Gin has a dream to get into Harvard University. She has a talent for designing programs. Programs that help you on what to wear, what to eat, when to be social, and possibly who you should date.
Going to Harvard is not her only goal. Gin is taking a computer simulations class that is a college-level course. The mentor of the class is Ms. Sandlin who is offering a summer internship to the best modeler. Gin who is determined to get this internship and put her talents to the test to achieve this goal.
Gin meets a boy in her class name Felix. Felix is also very intelligent with computers and designing programs. They are partners where they have to work together and design models. Gin starts to fall for Felix and learns that he and his father like to train Crows as a hobby.
"A plane flew across the sky and for a second, she imagined the rows of people tucked neatly inside, watching movies and sipping sodas. No idea they were flying over a boy training crows."
For their final project, they decided to use the Crows and all the data over the years. Felix's father who owns one of the biggest tech companies is not too excited about learning that his son and his partner are using the Crows for their project. With that being said things get really interesting and a dark secret that Gin will soon discover.
Susan Cunningham was detailed with her writing and I enjoyed every second of it. She did a wonderful job putting this story together and the pace of the story was perfect where I just wanted to know what was going to happen. I adore Gin's and her best friend Hannah relationship (We all need a Hannah in our life's) The ending was great! Highly recommend this lovely gem. I am not big on computers or designing but this story was just too good where you don't have to be into computers or programming to have an understanding of the story.
Unique story, mystery vibes, a little romance! 5/5
I'm very very VERY thrilled that I gave this book a chance. No mystical creatures, no royal families trying to take over the world its just a smooth read from the beginning to the very end. I could not put this book down. This is my first Susan Cunningham book I read from her and she brought it all in this lovely gem.
I was a bit nervous about getting into the book, I was thinking this was going to be like the Matrix with a little twist with some Crows into it. I was totally wrong and that's a good thing! The beginning of the book hooked me and I needed to know more of what was going to happen and therefore I could not wast any time with anything else besides reading the whole book to find out.
From the beginning, we are introduced to a very intelligent young girl name Gin. Gin has a dream to get into Harvard University. She has a talent for designing programs. Programs that help you on what to wear, what to eat, when to be social, and possibly who you should date.
Going to Harvard is not her only goal. Gin is taking a computer simulations class that is a college-level course. The mentor of the class is Ms. Sandlin who is offering a summer internship to the best modeler. Gin who is determined to get this internship and put her talents to the test to achieve this goal.
Gin meets a boy in her class name Felix. Felix is also very intelligent with computers and designing programs. They are partners where they have to work together and design models. Gin starts to fall for Felix and learns that he and his father like to train Crows as a hobby.
"A plane flew across the sky and for a second, she imagined the rows of people tucked neatly inside, watching movies and sipping sodas. No idea they were flying over a boy training crows."
For their final project, they decided to use the Crows and all the data over the years. Felix's father who owns one of the biggest tech companies is not too excited about learning that his son and his partner are using the Crows for their project. With that being said things get really interesting and a dark secret that Gin will soon discover.
Susan Cunningham was detailed with her writing and I enjoyed every second of it. She did a wonderful job putting this story together and the pace of the story was perfect where I just wanted to know what was going to happen. I adore Gin's and her best friend Hannah relationship (We all need a Hannah in our life's) The ending was great! Highly recommend this lovely gem. I am not big on computers or designing but this story was just too good where you don't have to be into computers or programming to have an understanding of the story.
Unique story, mystery vibes, a little romance! 5/5
May 4, 2019
Synopsis: Gin is the kind of girl who dreams big. As far back as she can remember she has wanted to go to Harvard and has put all her energy so far into making this her reality. She is all about logic, data and probability; a computer program she made decides even her wardrobe for her. But when she meets Felix, the new boy in school, she begins to wonder if there is more to life than her data could show. Who is he? Why can’t she explain her attraction to him? Moreover, perhaps most importantly, what’s his deal with the crows?
I really liked this book. It was a good length for a YA novel, enjoyable to read and had a healthy dose of mystery to keep me intrigued. It turns you into quite the conspiracy theorist! What’s going on with these crows?
I was shocked to realise that this might be the first novel I’ve read with a female scientist as the protagonist (despite being an avid reader). I loved Gin’s character, and felt empowered by her intelligence. More books should explore characters like this, as I’d be excited to read them.
I have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of romances where the female protagonist inexplicably falls in love with the new kid (with messy hair and a crooked smile); it just feels unrealistic and cheesy. In Crow Flight, it certainly starts that way, but it does get a bit better. I liked how Gin and Felix found common ground in their computer science class and the way Felix introduced Gin to a new fascination with crows. Their modelling project helped them to bond and the romance became more plausible as the story goes on. I remember drawing nearer to the end of the novel and worrying that all the loose ends mightn’t be addressed in time. They were, thankfully, and the ending brought with it a sense of closure.
I liked how the story touched on ideas of the logical and the illogical, and how both are valuable. It was lovely to follow Gin on what ended up being a bit of a philosophical journey for her.
To be completely honest, the exposition at the beginning was very explicit and almost put me off. It felt a bit awkward and I was noticeably relieved when things picked up. The writing is immersive and easy to get into. I really like books like this that are relaxing to read and compel you to turn the pages.
Despite my minor complaints, I still really liked this book as a whole. I find that sometimes I’ll finish a book with nothing bad to say about it, but also feel indifferent to closing it and moving on. Crow Flight was different in this sense. I was sad when it was over, and would have loved if this book had a sequel. I’m certainly going to be keeping an eye on Cunningham’s writing career from now on to see what other gems she comes out with.
I really liked this book. It was a good length for a YA novel, enjoyable to read and had a healthy dose of mystery to keep me intrigued. It turns you into quite the conspiracy theorist! What’s going on with these crows?
I was shocked to realise that this might be the first novel I’ve read with a female scientist as the protagonist (despite being an avid reader). I loved Gin’s character, and felt empowered by her intelligence. More books should explore characters like this, as I’d be excited to read them.
I have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of romances where the female protagonist inexplicably falls in love with the new kid (with messy hair and a crooked smile); it just feels unrealistic and cheesy. In Crow Flight, it certainly starts that way, but it does get a bit better. I liked how Gin and Felix found common ground in their computer science class and the way Felix introduced Gin to a new fascination with crows. Their modelling project helped them to bond and the romance became more plausible as the story goes on. I remember drawing nearer to the end of the novel and worrying that all the loose ends mightn’t be addressed in time. They were, thankfully, and the ending brought with it a sense of closure.
I liked how the story touched on ideas of the logical and the illogical, and how both are valuable. It was lovely to follow Gin on what ended up being a bit of a philosophical journey for her.
To be completely honest, the exposition at the beginning was very explicit and almost put me off. It felt a bit awkward and I was noticeably relieved when things picked up. The writing is immersive and easy to get into. I really like books like this that are relaxing to read and compel you to turn the pages.
Despite my minor complaints, I still really liked this book as a whole. I find that sometimes I’ll finish a book with nothing bad to say about it, but also feel indifferent to closing it and moving on. Crow Flight was different in this sense. I was sad when it was over, and would have loved if this book had a sequel. I’m certainly going to be keeping an eye on Cunningham’s writing career from now on to see what other gems she comes out with.
February 27, 2019
Crow Flight was a mystery combined with a teen romance, combines with technology. Gin is in her Senior year of high school and she has gotten this far by focusing and using programs to get her through. She uses them to make sure she gets everything done, to ask what to wear, everything is organized and coded. But then she meets a guy that is weird and smart and she completely falls for him. Her coded days fall behind her, but she develops something even better - together they are working on an assignment to model crows. The data that they are using though has some weird issues and Gin is determined to figure out what they mean.
I really enjoyed this book, it was wonderfully paced and the characters were fun to follow. The plot was a mystery that all came together so nicely. I really liked the build up and how it eventually all blended in the end and all made sense. There were no weird clues that a reader would have missed like some mysteries.
I liked to see a character that was female and into tech, that was very refreshing. My only issue is how quickly Gin loses herself when she falls for Felix, I know that it happens in a lot of teen books, and in real like for teen girls, but she completely abandons a lot of things that make her who she is. She does grow in the programming world, but she takes a lot of hits because of her feelings for Felix.
The author did a great job with this book though. I loved the crows and how interesting that was. I am also from the Northern VA/ DC/ Fairfax county area and I can honestly say that she did it justice. Overall, if you are looking for something mysterious, and not a series, this is a really fun read and I think many different types of readers will enjoy it. That being said, it is also a romance and gin does fall pretty hard for this guy, so if that isn't your style there is a good portion of this book that you might not love. I had a good time with it though and would recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book, it was wonderfully paced and the characters were fun to follow. The plot was a mystery that all came together so nicely. I really liked the build up and how it eventually all blended in the end and all made sense. There were no weird clues that a reader would have missed like some mysteries.
I liked to see a character that was female and into tech, that was very refreshing. My only issue is how quickly Gin loses herself when she falls for Felix, I know that it happens in a lot of teen books, and in real like for teen girls, but she completely abandons a lot of things that make her who she is. She does grow in the programming world, but she takes a lot of hits because of her feelings for Felix.
The author did a great job with this book though. I loved the crows and how interesting that was. I am also from the Northern VA/ DC/ Fairfax county area and I can honestly say that she did it justice. Overall, if you are looking for something mysterious, and not a series, this is a really fun read and I think many different types of readers will enjoy it. That being said, it is also a romance and gin does fall pretty hard for this guy, so if that isn't your style there is a good portion of this book that you might not love. I had a good time with it though and would recommend it.
November 16, 2018
I was able to read this book through Netgalley to provide feedback and my honest review.
Gin is quite possibly a computer genius. She is able to make complex computer models and her dream is to attend Harvard some day. When a new boy, Felix, shows up at school her focus is turned. Felix winds up in her modeling class and becomes her new partner. As they work through their final project terrible secrets are found and Gin has to make a tough decision.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. There was an element of mystery that kept me intrigued. The arrival of Felix and the strange crows he seemed to always be around was so mysterious I didn’t want to put it down until I knew more. Unfortunately it took over half the book to get that answer. Usually that wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me, but the story seemed to drag on without much happening.
The relationship between Felix and Gin was unusual to me. His character never seemed interested in her even when he actually was. I had a hard time seeing why they were interested in each other, other than the fact that they both enjoyed computer models.
If you enjoy computer sciences and modeling I think you would really enjoy this book. There were specifics related to how a computer model works in great detail. I found those bits to be interesting at times and a little boring at other times. Sadly my interests don’t involve computer sciences so I was probably not the right audience for this story.
The biggest problem I had with this book was the ending. The entire storyline was moving so slow and then right at the end every conflict happened one after another. It felt rushed and forced on the reader. I wish the conflict and resolution had been better fleshed out.
I think the concept behind this book was unique. It was an interesting read, but the story didn’t flow for me and was hard to get through.
Gin is quite possibly a computer genius. She is able to make complex computer models and her dream is to attend Harvard some day. When a new boy, Felix, shows up at school her focus is turned. Felix winds up in her modeling class and becomes her new partner. As they work through their final project terrible secrets are found and Gin has to make a tough decision.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. There was an element of mystery that kept me intrigued. The arrival of Felix and the strange crows he seemed to always be around was so mysterious I didn’t want to put it down until I knew more. Unfortunately it took over half the book to get that answer. Usually that wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me, but the story seemed to drag on without much happening.
The relationship between Felix and Gin was unusual to me. His character never seemed interested in her even when he actually was. I had a hard time seeing why they were interested in each other, other than the fact that they both enjoyed computer models.
If you enjoy computer sciences and modeling I think you would really enjoy this book. There were specifics related to how a computer model works in great detail. I found those bits to be interesting at times and a little boring at other times. Sadly my interests don’t involve computer sciences so I was probably not the right audience for this story.
The biggest problem I had with this book was the ending. The entire storyline was moving so slow and then right at the end every conflict happened one after another. It felt rushed and forced on the reader. I wish the conflict and resolution had been better fleshed out.
I think the concept behind this book was unique. It was an interesting read, but the story didn’t flow for me and was hard to get through.
April 8, 2019
I'll be the first to admit, I'm usually one of the last people to pick up YA novels, but the premise of Crow Flight caught my attention. The story follows the hyper-logical, highly intelligent programmer Regina "Gin" Hartson. Crow Flight begins as Gin starts her senior year of high school, gunning for Harvard and unwilling to let anything get in her way. In her exclusive computer modeling class, she is partnered with the new kid at school, Felix Gartner. Gin's logic-based approach to life begins to falter as her relationship with Felix begins to flourish, until it all comes crashing down with a dark secret hiding in their data.
I enjoyed the third act of this book, but I made it there by sheer will alone. The characters initially felt like caricatures of teen stereotypes that have been played out in this genre. Relationships and conflicts in this book flow with ease at some points and seem forced and wedged in at others (e.g. ). I struggled with the pacing of this book as well. Much of the book passes slowly, uneventfully, with the final act jammed full of action I wish had been expanded upon or at least kicked off earlier in the book.
The saving grace of Crow Flight, for me, was Gin and Felix's relationship. Despite the clichés, their friendship and the relationship that bloomed from it had a depth and genuine quality that is hard to capture. Overall, a really solid YA read, but not for me.
I received my copy of Crow Flight from Amberjack Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the third act of this book, but I made it there by sheer will alone. The characters initially felt like caricatures of teen stereotypes that have been played out in this genre. Relationships and conflicts in this book flow with ease at some points and seem forced and wedged in at others (e.g. ). I struggled with the pacing of this book as well. Much of the book passes slowly, uneventfully, with the final act jammed full of action I wish had been expanded upon or at least kicked off earlier in the book.
The saving grace of Crow Flight, for me, was Gin and Felix's relationship. Despite the clichés, their friendship and the relationship that bloomed from it had a depth and genuine quality that is hard to capture. Overall, a really solid YA read, but not for me.
I received my copy of Crow Flight from Amberjack Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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