Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. Her father understands—Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does. 

And her mother? Lottie’s mother died long ago. And Lottie is searching for a way to be close to her.

The Art of Taxidermy is a heartbreaking verse novel exploring love and death, grief and beauty, and the ways we try to make sense of it all.

Thank you so much to Edelweiss for this eARC! I don’t read many books in verse, and when I originally requested it I had no idea that’s how it was written, but it added SO. MUCH. to the narrative. It was like we were in Lottie’s head and seeing her thoughts as they came to her; beautiful, broken, and haunting.

I loved that not only was this an exploration of grief, but also the pressure that is put on girls to act, dress, and speak a certain way. Lottie broke through all of the gender norms her aunt was desperate to push onto her, and found a way to celebrate the ache inside of her instead of bottling it up.

I have never thought of taxidermy as beautiful until I finished this book. I’ve seen it as macabre; destroying life and putting it on display as a type of boast. Through Lottie’s eyes, I see it now for the rebirth that it is. These creatures are given second life, holding together for generations in order for us to get a closer look at beings that we would normally not be able to get so close to.

This book was just as uplifting as it was painful, just like any journey through life. I’m so thankful I had the chance to experience it.

5/5 Stars