Duet: Our Journey in Song with the Northern Mockingbird

In an accessible volume, Hoose (The Race to Save the Lord God Bird) chronicles the scientific and cultural interconnectedness of humankind and versatile avian songsmith the northern mockingbird. The fowl—whose scientific name, Mimus polyglottos, means “many-tongued mimic”—can learn over 200 songs in its lifetime; its singing prowess is facilitated by the syrinx, an organ “not much bigger than a raindrop,” which enables complex vocalizations inimitable by humans. The opening chapter, “Four Hundred Tongues,” sets the stage for some of the earliest tales featuring the mockingbird, outlining myriad Indigenous stories from Cherokee, Hopi, Maricopa, and Zuñi peoples, among others. Some purport that specific languages were developed via mockingbird vocals; others indicate that the birds watch over the dead. The bird’s singing ability also made it highly revered by many historical figures, including Charles Darwin, Harriet Hemenway, and Thomas Jefferson. Through loosely connected historical vignettes, Hoose capably paints a straightforward picture of the northern mockingbird, its species history, and its impact on the world, positing that “to kill a mockingbird would be to destroy a duet.” Color photographs feature throughout; source notes and further information conclude. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jennie Dunham, Dunham Literary. (Sept.) ■