This is mostly nonfiction graphic novel about John James Audubon, a prominent ecologist with a focus on birds. I saw mostly nonfiction because we are told that there are events in the book that are fiction but are based on things Audubon claimed, but he was known to exaggerate. Sometimes it worked metaphorically but other times it felt out of place.

My favorite scenes were when Audubon was in the forest. These pages channeled an appreciation for nature which is what I ultimately wanted from this book. However the scenes with heavy dialogue I felt were less interesting but this could be my own bias.

It may be worth mentioning that Audubon does not seem like a good person. He abandoned his wife and kids for 30+ years if I am not mistaken and regularly shot large quantities of the birds he admires so much. This second point can be attributed to society’s view of hunting at the time but it did feel rather jarring within the novel.

Ultimately I liked this book but didn’t love it, however I would still recommend giving it a try if you are interested because it is a pretty book and a relatively short time investment compared to a traditional novel.

As an added bonus I’m using it as reference for some illustrations while I am trying to practice my art skills!