for short, who was raised by a man he calls Big Jim. The story is told by a domesticated crow named Shit Turd, or S.T. (Note: keep reading for some important trigger warnings) Not all readers will have my experience, I’m sure, but if you are an animal lover like I am, I strongly suggest you give this a try. I cursed her in one breath for doing something unthinkable, then praised her a moment later for writing one of the loveliest and heartfelt sentences I’ve ever read. Kira Jane Buxton’s debut made me sob and laugh and yell out loud.

And let me tell you, of all the books I read this year, this one has enriched my life and opened my eyes more than any other.

Hollow Kingdom did not hit my radar until it was already out in the world, and so for the first time all year, I read a book months past its release date, not a review book but one I purchased. I wanted to be perceived, to look and sound and act, like I felt inside. I was sick of being a patchwork of puzzle pieces, parts of this and bits of that. I fluttered my gular, hating the part of me that they recognized, desperately wanting to pluck off my wings and walk on two legs and have a limitless imagination. This book will change the way you think about animals, life and death, and may even give you a deeper appreciation of Cheetos® The nitty-gritty: The zombie apocalypse meets Watership Down in Kira Jane Buxton’s glorious, emotional and hysterically funny debut. Published by Grand Central Publishing on August 6 2019

Hollow kingdom buxton