Flyaway - Lucy Christopher

Today is my one year Blogoversary! (Ignore what is says in the button; it’s wrong!) I’d just like to say a huge, but quick, thank you to all my followers, those who’ve left comments and the authors and publishers who’ve sent me books to review. But mostly to the fantastic friends I’ve made this year. Thanks guys!

Flyaway - Lucy Christopher

Pages: 314
Publisher: Chicken House
Release Date: 4th January 2010

Other Titles by this Author: Stolen (my review)

One cold winter morning, Dad gets sick - and goes into hospital.

It’s there I meet Harry, with his scruffy hair and firefly eyes. From his window we watch a wild swan on the frozen lake outside.

There’s something different about her, truly different. Almost magical.

Perhaps, if we can help her, everything else will begin to make sense.

Lucy Christopher’s sophomore novel, Flyaway, is just as breathtakingly beautiful as her first. Though in a very different way.

Flyaway is written in such fluid prose that it takes you right into the heart of Isla’s world. I felt like I was watching the swans with Isla and her dad, riding to the hospital with her in the middle of the night and sitting with her while she started to make the best school project in history. Lucy Christopher captured an air of sadness with her soft, subtle prose. But it is also a novel filled with hope and magic. Not Harry Potter magic, but the true magic of love, friendship and family.

Lucy is clearly a master of imagery. I knew this from some stunning scenes in Stolen, but she really cemented herself as a favourite after Flyaway. Some of the most stand out images for me are Isla and Harry teaching their swan to fly and when Isla’s Dad tells her the myth of the swansong. I won’t spoil it and tell you what it is, but it’s truly special and I still catch myself thinking about it over a week after finishing it.

The relationships in Flyaway are all understated and yet still compelling. I loved how Harry and Isla’s chance meeting grew into friendship and then to a sweet, innocence romance. They complimented each other perfectly. Harry’s bright, cheeky, confident outlook suits Isla’s focus and tendency to worry. Another of my favourite relationships in Flyaway is the one Isla and her dad share. She’s clearly the apple of his eye and she worships him right back. Their little traditions, shared love of birds and general connection make Isla one seriously lucky girl.

I loved Flyaway nearly as much as I did Stolen and with this novel Lucy Christopher has put herself firmly on my auto-buy list.

For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Sophie