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20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
...to many hidden meanings, August 6, 2008
This review is from: The Girl Who Could Fly (Hardcover)
Like most people, the thought of flying totally grabbed me... I so wanted to know more about the girl that could fly and I was expecting exactly that, a story about a girl with an amazing ability. Unfortunately, I got a book that turned into a preaching-against-the-norms-of-society and not a story of a girl that can fly.
The book started off with a nice set up, great characters and great lore, but it then tilted towards "raging against the status qou" when Piper started to systematically get herself into trouble for no good reason. None of her antics helped the story line (the plot drags for a while) and she didn't even do get into trouble in a funny or heroic way. This book was just a glorification of the unique at the expense of what we know as normal.
Piper was defiant, disobedient and simply didn't listen or learn from her own mistakes. Not that I'm against defiance. Rebellion has propelled many a good story into thrills and unforgettable plot lines but this book is not one of those stories. I mean, Piper flew at the dumbest times and never once showed any type of self preservation or concern for others; her actions came across as much more than simply naive, Piper came across as simply silly, self centered and even insensitive.
[SPOILER] It was too bad too, because, there where some great characters in this book! Conrad is a terrifying villain and should have remained as such; the minute he "turned good" was disturbing and almost impossible to believe. It wasn't a twist in the story as much as a 180 degree turn made you dizzy and disconnected from the book you just invested considerable time into.
[SPOILER] Conrad's "conversion" only made Piper seem even more gullible; you'd think that after having been "ticked" into not flying by Dr. Hellion, she would have used more caution in believing Conrad. Once Conrad's "true identity" was discovered, it TOTALLY took the focus away from Piper! He became the source of information and heroics while Piper continued to see the world in such a way that just got her and others into more trouble.
[SPOILER] And Dr. Hellion, wow, what a character! I loved her too, but the moment she told Piper not to fly, I already knew she had something up her sleeve. And the way she understood and excepted Piper, I knew she too had to have a power or ability. I was waiting to see what she could do and how she had discovered it. But to learn that Dr. Hellion was a great flier the refused to fly -for no good reason- is a WASTE of character. At least allow Dr. Hellion her use her flying for evil!! I would have paid to see her do that! And in the end the end, when Piper "couldn't save someone that didn't want to be saved"... ugh, how lame. The Dr. was too quickly labeled as simply "bad" and that was the real end of her development as a character... *sighs.
I didn't pick up this book to find a scale for morality but since the book seemed to hinge on the actions and point of view of people, I must mention that I didn't like the way certain people where viewed in this book.
The farmers -Pipers family, no less- where only in the book to be scoffed at and then later "converted" to Piper's way of seeing the world. This book made it seem as if, just because they didn't see the world in the specific way Piper saw it, it meant that everyone else's point of view is wrong. And thats not cool. Besides, seeing the world from Piper's point of view made Piper loney and an easy target -too easy for a lead character.
I totally hated the ridicule and deconstruction of Piper's parents, family, unique culture and heritage; that wasn't nice. Still I "got over it" and finished the book... the experience of reading it was rather disappointing.
Two stars for great character and lore set up but sorry story execution.
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14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magic You Can Believe In, September 9, 2008
This review is from: The Girl Who Could Fly (Hardcover)
For Piper McCloud, learning to fly was the easy part. The real challenge is making friends, staying true to her principles, and surviving an educational system that is literally INSANE. Along the way she must deal with operatic crickets, lead a rebellion of other super-powered students, and protect her naturally buoyant spirit from the dreaded Dr. Hellion.
This is a most extraordinary book, full of adventure, unapologetically eccentric and unashamedly hopeful. Its heroine, Piper McCloud, wants to use her special ability to help people -- unfortunately for her, the reality of a flying girl is more than drab Lowland County can handle. When Piper's whisked away to a self-proclaimed school for other super-skilled children, she thinks she's going to learn how to fly like a pro. Too late, she discovers the school's true agenda: to stamp out all traces of specialness in the sacred name of Normality.
The author tells her story with a sense of whimsy that is upbeat but also wised-up: Piper is a natural optimist, yet she also pays a price for her eagerness. The humor is balanced with plenty of drama and occasional touches of sadness (the singing cricket is an affecting scene stealer), and characters you'll start missing as soon as you turn the last page. It's a great book for lovers of Madeleine L'Engle and C.S. Lewis. Though it never leaves our world, it gives you the kind of magic you can believe in.
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35 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVED THIS BOOK!- It is like Anne of Green Gables meets Harry Potter, September 2, 2008
This review is from: The Girl Who Could Fly (Hardcover)
I HIGHLY recommend this book!
I am a big fan of reading that one
might consider me a read-aholic.
Some of my all time favorite kids
books have been Anne of Green Gables,
Because of Winn Dixie, A Wrinkle in
Time and the Harry Potter Series.
The Girl Who Could Fly is a must read for
everyone who likes real life meets fantasy
books. Like Anne of Green Gables,The Girl
Who Could Fly begins in an endearing small
town farm community and suddenly takes you
into a fantasy world like Harry Potter.
With each chapter you are given a very well
written and detailed look into a fascinating
world never yet described in any other book
or film. The story sucks you in and you find
yourself not wanting to put the book down.
I just fell in love with Piper's kind heart,
sense of justice, passion and curiosity. And
as I read on, I also fell in love with many
of the other characters like Bella, Jasper,
Lily and yes, even Conrad.
Like Conrad, at times each one of us believes
that we are justified in doing what we do....even
if what we choose is at someone else's expense.
One of my favorite descriptions of Conrad from
the book is,
"CONRAD SILENTLY SEETHED, GETTING MADDER
AND MEANER BY THE SECOND. AT THAT MOMENT,HE
WAS MEANER AND MADDER THAN HE'D EVER BEEN,BUT
MAINLY AT HIMSELF,WHICH IS THE WORST KIND OF
MEAN AND MAD TO BE, BECAUSE THE ONLY THING TO
DO ABOUT IT IS TO TAKE IT OUT ON SOMEONE ELSE."
There are so many wonderful twists and turns, funny
and heartfelt moments and great life lessons that
the story and characters still touch me deeply
or make me laugh when I think about the book
from time to time.
I recommend you buy the book and tell all your friends!
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