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You could say The Language of Seabirds is a departure from what Will Taylor had written to that point in his career, but venturing beyond one's comfort zone is often the most rewarding part of being an artist. Twelve-year-old Jeremy Ryden's parents recently divorced, but that isn't the only matter he's stressed about. Jeremy has realized he's attracted to boys, not girls, and though he doesn't believe his parents will be upset about that, he isn't ready to tell anyone. For the next two weeks Jeremy is staying with his dad at a rental house by the Pacific Ocean in Rosemont, Oregon, while Jeremy's mother moves out of their house. For those two weeks he just wants to get along with his dad and not let it slip that he's gay.

"Knowing your own secret was one thing, but speaking it, opening your mouth and saying those words to the huge, cold, crashing world, that was dangerous. That could hurt. And there would be no turning back."

�The Language of Seabirds, P. 141

Jeremy's uncle Becker, who owns the beach house they're staying at, seems to keep his dad from falling into depression, though Jeremy notices his dad drinking more alcohol than before. Wanting to avoid father-son angst, Jeremy takes his opportunities to explore Rosemont, and gets a surprise at a shop called Tidepool Knickknacks. Twelve-year-old Evan Sandford, who works at the store, catches Jeremy's eye. Evan's relaxed beach-boy demeanor and earnest personality dazzle Jeremy. He has seen Evan going on runs along the beach, and here's his chance to get to know him. Self-doubt floods Jeremy's mind, but he finds himself with plans to join Evan on a run tomorrow. Can Jeremy find a way not to screw this up?

The boys are natural friends, and Jeremy is careful not to reveal that his feelings for Evan go beyond platonic. At first Jeremy doesn't tell his dad about Evan, but as the two weeks speed along, the secret is impossible to maintain. Jeremy's dad angles for him to spend less time with Evan and more with him, but the excessive alcohol consumption isn't a point in his favor, and the allure of Evan’s friendship is strong. Surely Evan doesn't reciprocate Jeremy's romantic feelings, but being around him is a reward too sweet to pass up. As the two weeks draw to a close and Jeremy's dad behaves in increasingly erratic ways, Jeremy and Evan have to discover what they want their relationship to be. Is there any way this trip will end without Jeremy feeling more lonesome than ever?

Coming-of-age issues dominate The Language of Seabirds, creating an experience that oozes drama and spark. Now and then in life, a relationship pops up that you didn’t see coming, and it pulls you onto a new, exhilarating path. The decisions you make, combined with luck, decree how long you get to keep that relationship. It may crumble within hours or days, chug along steadily for a while only to dissolve just when you feel it will be yours forever, or endure well beyond your most ebullient hopes. Fear may stay your hand from advancing the relationship, finding its natural boundaries, but it's better to take a chance and lose than never meet your full potential with that special person. Taking risks is what it means to grow up, as Jeremy, Evan, and all of us learn via the bumps and ruts of life's highway.

Will Taylor is a quiet writer even in The Language of Seabirds, which is filled with conflict. There are different kinds of love, from parent to uncle to friend to romance in early bloom, and we need them all to flourish in life. That leads to some rough preteen and teen moments as you learn your own personality, proclivities, and desires, as well as dealing with issues that aren't your fault such as Jeremy's dad's drinking, but every day you survive proves your ability to make it in this world. I rate The Language of Seabirds three and a half stars; its energy is different from most middle-grade reads of its era, but I gained a lot from it. Many thanks, Will Taylor.