Song of the Crow

April 24, 2006
In a surprising take on the tale of Noah's ark and the flood, Maheu's beguiling debut unfolds from the perspective of a crow. The crow-narrator (named "I Am") first spies Noah (the beastman) from his nest in a tree (the Giant) that Noah is trying to chop down. From the start, I Am does not trust or understand the Man who lives in the "underworld." As I Am grows up, orphaned by his parents, his survival is a daily challenge: he flies to elude predators and rummage for food, often with another bird called Plum Black, sometimes consulting with elder Old Bone. I Am soon discovers that he can recognize the words of the God Crow, who speaks to Noah with zeal and commands him to continue building the ark. Suddenly, I Am realizes that he can also understand human speech, and eventually, just before the floods, he sneaks onto Noah's ark. The names sometimes confuse, but Maheu's fable works beautifully, probing the relationship between creatures of the heavens and those of the underworld.

Starred review from April 1, 2006
This debut novel is an enchanting account of the natural history of a crow named -I AM - and his observations on a peculiar mammal called Keeyaw, especially one named Noah, who is intent on cutting down tall trees where the crows nest to build an ark. The close relationship of the crows with nature contrasts with the destructive behavior of the Keeyaws. The daily activities of I AM are mixed with an imaginative raptor lore, including the cycle of life, where the spirits of the dead cohabit the bodies of the living. I AM discovers the secrets of life from a variety of characters, including his mother, named Our Many; an elderly, deformed mystic called Hookbill the Haunted; and the mighty God Crow. Hookbill's death facilitates I AM's rescue during the Great Flood, his important role in the discovery of land, and the beginning of a new world. This engrossing story includes the unimaginable realities surrounding the living conditions on Noah's ark during the flood. After reading this remarkable book, you will marvel at every crow you see along the side of the road and maybe even begin to listen to their songs. Highly recommended for all collections." -David A. Beronä , Plymouth State Univ., NH"

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