Mercer Buddie wants two things in this world: a girlfriend and the chance to prove to his master falconer father that he’s not a flake. With hunting season fast approaching, fourteen-year-old Mercer has only a short time to work with Flip, a red-tailed hawk he irreverently named to show his dad that falconers don’t have to be so serious all the time.

When Mercer meets Lucy, he falls hard for her gorgeous looks and bubbly personality. He thinks his love life is about to take flight, until he discovers that Lucy and her family belong to a fanatical animal-rights organization called HALT—a group that believes imposing any sort of restrictions on animals is a form of cruelty. Mercer soon realizes that if he wants to keep seeing Lucy, he’ll need to keep his love of falconry and his family’s raptor rehabilitation center a secret from her, and Lucy’s involvement with HALT from his family.

With humor and honesty, Mercer’s story shows how growing up means making difficult choices…and sometimes, being rewarded in unexpected ways.

He’s a hunter from a family of falconers. She thinks keeping animals is a form of cruelty. What could possibly go wrong?

Star-Crossed Lovers: He hunts with hawks, she protests for animal rights. To win Lucy’s heart, Mercer has to hide everything about his life, from his master falconer father to his family’s raptor rehab center.
Funny YA Romance: Full of hilarious dialogue and awkward teenage moments, this young adult novel captures the humor and heart of a boy trying to navigate his first real crush.
Falconry and Feathered Friends: Meet Flip, a rebellious red-tailed hawk who might be Mercer’s only chance to prove he’s not a total flake—if he can train him in time for hunting season.
Family Expectations: Beyond the secrets he keeps from Lucy, Mercer must also navigate a challenging father-son relationship and the pressure to live up to his family’s legacy.

Kym Brunner