The Closest Thing to Flying
Gill Lewis (, Somerset, UK)
Subjects
- Action Adventures - chills, thrills and plenty of spills
- Friends & Family - tears and laughter, and happy ever after
Present day: Semira doesn't know where to call home. She and her mother came to England when she was four years old, brought across the desert and the sea by a man who has complete control. Always moving on, always afraid of being caught, she longs for freedom. 1891: Hen knows exactly where to call home. Her stifling mother makes sure of that. But her Aunt Kitty is opening her eyes to a whole new world. A world of animal rights, and votes for women, and riding bicycles! Trapped in a life of behaving like a lady, she longs for freedom. When Semira discovers Hen's diary, she finds the inspiration to be brave, to fight for her place in the world, and maybe even to uncover the secrets of her own past Gill Lewis is the multi-award-winning and best-selling author of novels including Sky Hawk, White Dolphin, and A Story Like the Wind. This is her unforgettable tale of friendship, hope, and finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.
Reviews
l absolutely loved this book. Gill Lewis has so cleverly combined the struggles of women across a century with contemporary issues from today. I thought that she sensitively dealt with the asylum seekers, domestic abuse and bullying. The book is empowering to girls and the character of Patrick highlights that men/boys are also vulnerable. The book was very moving in places but I think it would be suitable for lower KS2 children in my school. In a place where we barely encounter children from other cultures, this book would be eye opening for our students. I highly recommend this book and will look for other titles by this author for our library.
highmeadow
I enjoyed this book. I like the use of different narrative techniques and so I loved use of the diary entries. I thought it dealt with an important issue in a way that was sensitive and accessible for younger children. I like the characters and I was engaged from being to end.
col63
A lovely book, alternating perspectives between a refugee child in the present day and a young girl in the Victorian era, both contending with prejudice and inequality in society. It's a quicker and lighter read than this might sound. I would recommend this to any children who care deeply about justice or are animal lovers - or both.
norathurkle
Gill Lewis never disappoints! I love reading anything she writes. I think that my favourite character might be Patrick, the bird watcher. I must find out more about the RSPB - I had no idea that it was started by a group of revolutionary Victorian women. I liked the collision of two eras and the beautiful cover illustrates this very well.
Ruthellenclark