Description

Migrations: A Novel

In Migrations Franny Stone possesses a unique disposition, characterized by her ability to love deeply but her inability to commit. With a singular purpose in mind, she ventures on an expedition to Greenland, leaving behind all but her research equipment. Her mission is to track the last remaining Arctic terns on what could potentially be their final migration to Antarctica. To achieve this, Franny skillfully persuades her way onto a fishing vessel, setting sail with the crew into the vast unknown, venturing further away from the safety of the shore.

However, as Franny’s personal history gradually unravels, revealing a passionate love affair, a fractured family, and a haunting crime, it becomes evident that her pursuit extends beyond the mere observation of birds. The question arises: when Franny’s concealed secrets inevitably catch up with her, how much is she willing to jeopardize to attain a chance at redemption?

Charlotte McConaghy

Charlotte McConaghy’s Migrations is an outstanding blend of grandeur and intimacy, evoking both heartbreak and inspiration. It serves as a poignant tribute to a world on the brink of disappearance, while simultaneously fascinating readers with its gripping narrative.

The novel explores the concept of hope against seemingly insurmountable odds, weaving a compelling and thought-provoking tale. As Franny’s journey unfolds, readers are transported into a realm where the fragility of existence is laid bare, and the possibility of redemption becomes a driving force. McConaghy’s masterful storytelling and vivid prose create an immersive experience, allowing readers to witness the beauty and devastation of a world in flux.

Franny Stone

Migration is a testament to the power of literature to shed light on pressing environmental issues. Through Franny’s quest to track the Arctic terns, the novel raises awareness about the imminent threat of extinction faced by various species. It serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to contemplate the consequences of human actions on the delicate balance of nature.

McConaghy’s portrayal of Franny as a complex and flawed protagonist adds depth to the narrative, emphasizing the interconnectedness between personal struggles and the broader environmental crisis. Ultimately, Migrations serve as a reminder that hope can be found even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges and that individual actions can make a difference in preserving the natural world for future generations.

Reviews

“At a time when it feels like we’re at the end of the world, this novel about a different kind of end of the world serves as both catharsis and escape.”
―Harper’s Bazaar

“An ode to our disappearing natural world.”
―Newsweek

“Migrations is a gripping tale that ultimately celebrates the beauty and resilience of the creatures―human and animal―that endure.”
―Sierra Magazine

“An exceptional novel that is both elegy and page-turning thriller.”
―Maclean’s Magazine

Praise

“Migrations could be taking place in two years or 20 years, but it could just as well be happening today…A consummate blend of issue and portrait, warning and affirmation, this heartbreaking, lushly written work is highly recommended.”
―Library Journal (starred review)

“Transfixing, gorgeously precise…[The] evocation of a world bereft of wildlife is piercing; Franny’s otherworldliness is captivating, and her extreme misadventures and anguished secrets are gripping.”
―Booklist (starred review)

“Migrations is as beautiful and as wrenching as anything I’ve ever read. This is an extraordinary novel by a wildly talented writer.”
―Emily St. John Mandel, author of The Glass Hotel and Station Eleven

“This novel is enchanting, but not in some safe, fairy-tale sense. Charlotte McConaghy has harnessed the rough magic that sears our souls. I recommend Migrations with my whole heart.”
―Geraldine Brooks, author of The Secret Chord and March

“Migrations is a wonder. I read it in a gasp. There is hope in these pages; a balm for these troubled times. Charlotte McConaghy’s words cut through to the bone.”
―Lara Prescott, author of The Secrets We Kept

“An elegiac meditation on human and nonhuman loss…Immersive and haunting and quietly arresting.”
―Jeff VanderMeer, author of Annihilation

“An astounding meditation on love, trauma, and the cost of survival. A true force of a book that I read holding my breath from its start to its symphonic finish.”
―Julia Fine, author of What Should Be Wild

“Migrations is indeed about loss―but what makes it miraculous is that it is also about hope. Written in prose as gorgeous as the crystalline beauty of the Arctic, Migrations is deeply moving, haunting, and, yes, important.”
―Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You and Cruel Beautiful World

“At times devastating and, at others, surprisingly, undeniably hopeful…Brimming with stunning imagery and raw emotion, Migrations is the incredible story of personal redemption, self-forgiveness, and hope for the future in the face of a world on the brink of collapse.”
―Shelf Awareness