In this touching novel for ages 10+, Lucy Christopher explores the remarkable bond between a young girl, a boy and a damaged wild bird - a relationship that will touch everyone who reads it. While visiting her father in hospital, thirteen-year-old Isla meets Harry, the first boy to understand her and her love of the outdoors. But Harry is ill, and as his health fails, Isla is determined to help him in the only way she knows how. Together they watch a lone swan struggling to fly on the lake outside Harry's window. Isla believes that if she can help the damaged swan, somehow she can help Harry. And in doing so, she embarks upon a breathtakingly magical journey of her own
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Jenny, Wondrous Reads
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Flyaway is only Lucy Christopher's second book, but already it feels like I've been reading her words for years. It's completely different to her debut novel, Stolen, but is just as good, if not better. This story is told by Isla, a teenage girl with a love for all types of birds. When her father is taken to hospital, it's there she meets a boy called Harry Brambling. Isla and Harry discover a swan out on the lake, and before they know it, everything changes.
Isla is an engaging narrator, with a warm personality and a selfless nature. She's supportive when her family needs her, she's encouraging to her sick father, and she's the anchor that ensures Harry keeps hold of the cheeky sparkle in his eyes. Like Isla's father, Harry's not well himself, though you'd never be able to tell from his high spirits and positive attitude. The friendship that forms is so lovely and innocent, and is a refreshing change from all the supercharged teenage hormones I've become so accustomed to.
Accompanying Isla and Harry throughout the book is a lone swan that has become detached from its flock. It might not be able to talk or interact like a human can, but it's just as important as the other characters. It has the ability to just be, and to guide and offer comfort when its needed most. It's described so vividly that I almost believed it could be sat outside in my own tiny fish pond, bobbing for goldfish and tormenting the frogs. I never had any interest in swans before reading Flyaway, but now I want to experience their magic for myself.
There are a few short dream sequences throughout Isla's tale, and while they do fit into what's happening in the real world, I felt that a couple of them interrupted the flow of writing and unnecessarily complicated things. The last venture into Isla's imagination is so poignant and touching, and really made me think things were going to turn out differently than they did. I'm glad I was wrong!
Flyaway is chock-full of beautiful imagery, realistic plot threads and short chapters that will tug at your heartstrings. It's a story about family, friendship, and overcoming the many obstacles that life will inevitably present. I just wish it had a higher page count, because I could have carried on reading it for days.
Isla is an engaging narrator, with a warm personality and a selfless nature. She's supportive when her family needs her, she's encouraging to her sick father, and she's the anchor that ensures Harry keeps hold of the cheeky sparkle in his eyes. Like Isla's father, Harry's not well himself, though you'd never be able to tell from his high spirits and positive attitude. The friendship that forms is so lovely and innocent, and is a refreshing change from all the supercharged teenage hormones I've become so accustomed to.
Accompanying Isla and Harry throughout the book is a lone swan that has become detached from its flock. It might not be able to talk or interact like a human can, but it's just as important as the other characters. It has the ability to just be, and to guide and offer comfort when its needed most. It's described so vividly that I almost believed it could be sat outside in my own tiny fish pond, bobbing for goldfish and tormenting the frogs. I never had any interest in swans before reading Flyaway, but now I want to experience their magic for myself.
There are a few short dream sequences throughout Isla's tale, and while they do fit into what's happening in the real world, I felt that a couple of them interrupted the flow of writing and unnecessarily complicated things. The last venture into Isla's imagination is so poignant and touching, and really made me think things were going to turn out differently than they did. I'm glad I was wrong!
Flyaway is chock-full of beautiful imagery, realistic plot threads and short chapters that will tug at your heartstrings. It's a story about family, friendship, and overcoming the many obstacles that life will inevitably present. I just wish it had a higher page count, because I could have carried on reading it for days.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After the success of her first novel Stolen, Lucy Christopher struck the readers with her innovative style of writing in Flyaway. Defined as young adults' fiction, the book combines both imaginary and realistic situations, related to contemporary themes in contemporary times.
Flyaway tells a story about family concerns, a newly built innocent friendship, and the hardship of life. Isla's father is hospitalized. While waiting at the hospital she meets Harry, a boy who is suffering from leukemia, and with whom she gets on very well. Watching together a swan struggling to fly away, Lucy starts thinking that if she can help the beautiful creature, she can help Harry as well.
The book is quite clearly written. Initially, the style of writing seemed to me too simplified. The chapters are considerably short, as well as the sentences, which are written in simple English. They sound even slightly unordinary because of the untypical use of present simple tense. At the beginning this did annoy me, but still the story is comprehensibly and intriguingly written. Action takes place at a rapid pace, without too many of those tedious author's observational impressions, we are all used to. Moreover, the very description of the background is full of incessant movement. However, the book turned out to be quite a good twist of reality and imagination, as purity squirts out of it all the time.
Lucy Christopher has made the plot pretty interesting, sharing an ordinary and contemporary story with the reader, at the heart of which she has placed the symbol of beauty, grace and freedom- the swan. In the course of the book several key relationships are revealed to the reader: between Isla and her father, Isla and the swans, and Isla and Harry. What is really remarkable is that, despite being still a child, the girl demonstrates untypical of her age will- strength. I myself admire the way she manages to cope with anxiety and fear, and even start a friendship in times when everything has gone wrong. In fact, the most enjoyable thing about the novel is probably the sweet and pure romance of the two children. It clearly reminded me that, in spite of the challenges we face, there are always these sweet experiences, which make us smile and forget about the real-life troubles.
Lucy Christopher's book is definitely the piece of writing that will not burden its readers. Its plot is interesting enough to hold one's attention, and not too complex to saddle or confuse. I cannot promise fascination from reading it, but, if nothing else, then one will be able to at least relieve some negative emotions, as Flyaway brings along a great deal of optimism for brighter days despite the hardship of life. Well done to the author. No wonder the book has been shortlisted for the 2010 Costa awards.
Flyaway tells a story about family concerns, a newly built innocent friendship, and the hardship of life. Isla's father is hospitalized. While waiting at the hospital she meets Harry, a boy who is suffering from leukemia, and with whom she gets on very well. Watching together a swan struggling to fly away, Lucy starts thinking that if she can help the beautiful creature, she can help Harry as well.
The book is quite clearly written. Initially, the style of writing seemed to me too simplified. The chapters are considerably short, as well as the sentences, which are written in simple English. They sound even slightly unordinary because of the untypical use of present simple tense. At the beginning this did annoy me, but still the story is comprehensibly and intriguingly written. Action takes place at a rapid pace, without too many of those tedious author's observational impressions, we are all used to. Moreover, the very description of the background is full of incessant movement. However, the book turned out to be quite a good twist of reality and imagination, as purity squirts out of it all the time.
Lucy Christopher has made the plot pretty interesting, sharing an ordinary and contemporary story with the reader, at the heart of which she has placed the symbol of beauty, grace and freedom- the swan. In the course of the book several key relationships are revealed to the reader: between Isla and her father, Isla and the swans, and Isla and Harry. What is really remarkable is that, despite being still a child, the girl demonstrates untypical of her age will- strength. I myself admire the way she manages to cope with anxiety and fear, and even start a friendship in times when everything has gone wrong. In fact, the most enjoyable thing about the novel is probably the sweet and pure romance of the two children. It clearly reminded me that, in spite of the challenges we face, there are always these sweet experiences, which make us smile and forget about the real-life troubles.
Lucy Christopher's book is definitely the piece of writing that will not burden its readers. Its plot is interesting enough to hold one's attention, and not too complex to saddle or confuse. I cannot promise fascination from reading it, but, if nothing else, then one will be able to at least relieve some negative emotions, as Flyaway brings along a great deal of optimism for brighter days despite the hardship of life. Well done to the author. No wonder the book has been shortlisted for the 2010 Costa awards.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Bex21
Format:Paperback
After I read Lucy Christopher's debut novel, Stolen, I was absolutely blown away. It was the first time in ages a book had really taken my breath away so I had high expectations for Flyaway. It didn't affect me nowhere near as much as Stolen, so I was quite disappointed. However, the journey Isla and Harry go through is a touching one and I did find myself very close to tears more than once throughout the book.
I found the book boring at the beginning but once she met Harry I was intrigued to find out how it would finish and if Harry and Isla would have a happy ending.
It is a good book overall once you get into, I just didn't love it as much as Stolen.
I found the book boring at the beginning but once she met Harry I was intrigued to find out how it would finish and if Harry and Isla would have a happy ending.
It is a good book overall once you get into, I just didn't love it as much as Stolen.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Book I Ever Read!
Well I'm 13 and I LOVED this book! Even though I'm a teen I ADORE reading, and have read a lot of books :) This had everything I love in a book, a bit of romance, a bit of sadness,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Melodie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
This is a brilliant book, i couldntn't put the book down as soon as i stareted reading it. It is a truly magical book
Published on 11 May 2010 by S. Hussain
5.0 out of 5 stars
UPLIFTING!
This is a wonderful novel, beautifully written.
It will harness wings to your imagination and fly you through a wonderous tale that his hard to put down once you have started... Read more
It will harness wings to your imagination and fly you through a wonderous tale that his hard to put down once you have started... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2010 by Gordon Graft
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Second Novel
With her debut novel, Stolen, Lucy Christopher produced one of the finest young adult books of 2009. With that fact comes great expectations for her second, Flyaway. Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2010 by Jennifer Hughes
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