Owl in Love (edition 2004)

morphing girl turns owl by night; crush on science teacher reveals secrets

7.99 ( )

Maybe some of you may recall my tweet about this book being a creeper. I still stand by that tweet. I will say, I did warm up to Owl In Love a bit, but definitely feel a little too old for it. Owl In Love by Patrice Kindl is about this 14 year old girl named Owl who is -get this- a wereowl. She has a creeper crush on her teacher Mr. Lindstrom, who is pushing mid-forties, and somewhat balding. Basically she turns into an owl and watches him from the window. I know gross, right! Anyhoo, I spent most of the book creeped out until she met someone her own age.I guess by virtue of my ripe old age (as of 3/10 -22), I couldn't connect with the main character. She had this odd way of speaking, and was condescending towards humans. She didn't eat normal food. She didn't have friends. Her parents don't have electricity, and are like, yes honey please marry your teacher. For realz. As a grown-up reading this, might I mention a grown up who is an educator, I just have to say EW. I know adults don't say EW. Let me tell you, any kid starts watching me through the window, I will send my boyfriend after you/let the dog loose on you. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand adolescent crushes and projecting lust on older people. I do know what it's like to be young and get crushes, and how consuming they can be, but I guess being on the other end of the spectrum has changed my mind a bit.Now, I will say this, Owl In Love has a rather unique voice. Also, the concept of wereowls -- I've never heard of that before, so yay for originality. Oh, and Owl In Love was a quick read, I read it in about one sitting. Plus there was a friendship theme underlying the book, and I am a sucker for friendships. I guess, I recommend this book to the younger set. ( )

I absolutely loved this book. I read it many years ago (and as is the point of all this had forgotten it). A wonderful, quirky coming-of-age love story.

Owl is a werechild. Spending her nights as an owl, and going to high school during the day, Owl's strange looks and abrupt habits keep her from making friends. Luckily for her, the fey child rarely feels any need for human companionship. Unfortunately, Owl is not immune to adolescent crushes. Her desire for one of her teachers complicates her life, tangles her previously simple motivations, forces her to interact with other teenagers, adults and birds. It was wierd in the beginning but it was good till the end. ( )

This book is quirky, unique, and surprisingly touching. I wondered how the author was going to pull off the were-owl aspect, but as Kindl seems to have created a sort of alternate Earth where magic is possible and shapeshifting occasionally crops up in families, it wasn't nearly as farfetched (in terms of the story's internal logic, that is) as I'd thought. Certainly Kindl does an excellent job of conveying Owl's detached, alien perspective on human life while still making her a sympathetic character. I can see how some readers (especially some teens) might be instantly put off by Owl's crush on her forty-year-old science teacher and want to put the book down right there, but Kindl actually gives us a logical explanation for the attraction and handles it sensitively and well. On the whole, I really enjoyed this book and might even pick it up and read it again sometime. ( )