First published 2020
Aimee Nezhukumatathil was a nomadic child, transplanted across landscapes from Kansas to Arizona. But wherever she landed, she found kinship in the fierce, funny creatures of the natural world. In this lyrical essay collection, Nezhukumatathil reveals how the axolotl's smile, the peacock's proud display, and the touch-me-not plant's shy withdrawal can inspire us to face life's challenges with resilience and wonder. Through vivid portraits of the overlooked and the uncanny, she illuminates the profound lessons the living world has to offer.
Genres: nature, animals, essays, memoir
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Kansas, Arizona
177 pages · Kindle Edition · Milkweed Editions