Reviews

Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlow

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liviaelle's review against another edition

5.0

I didn’t think I’d find myself crying while reading a middle grade book about rollercoasters, but it’s about so much more than that. It’s about relationships of all types and how they shape us. It’s a beautiful book that shows that relationships are messy and complex and so worth it.

I loved Arlow’s book, “How to Excavate a Heart,” which is what led me to pick up this book. Her writing has definitely grown since the release of this book, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the read.

The characters in this book are precious and truly embody what it means to be a young teenager who is in the midst of discovering themselves while discovering their parents are people, too. The representation in this book (both religious and LGBTQIA) is wonderful and does a great job at explaining that identities are just a small part of who we are and they can mean different things to everyone.

Overall, I recommend this book to kids who are struggling with parents getting remarried or discovering their own identity. My CAWPILE score is 9.14/10 or 4.5/5 stars.

danacoledares's review

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4.0

Absolutely delightful. The opening and closing were both clunky, but the story in between was SO good that I can easily forgive both. That's the only reason this isn't five stars. The main character's aversion to conflict seemed to indicate extreme trauma which apparently didn't happen? An unwillingness to express ANY disagreement because "I didn't want to make you mad" is literally unhealthy. But, like I said, once I got past that section of the story and they were actually on the roller-coaster-road-trip it was FANTASTIC.

Note that this is also on my purchase list. Ooooof. I have to cull first, though. :(

sketchysoymilk's review

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5.0

This book is a bit young for me, but honestly that’s what is so great about it. This is a reminder that the world is progressing. It’s a little slice of life queer book directed at middle schoolers. It explains queerness in adolescence with no stigma, no judgement, and answers a lot of questions I personally had as a queer teen. The love story is super adorable and the author has a clear vision of the maturity difference between being 13 and 18, which is honestly uncommon in YA fiction. I love what this book represents and how it reflects how different things were when I was a questioning queer child, and I’m hoping it falls into the hands of queer kids around the world.

evelynhugosbitch3bc79's review

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3.0

Actual Rating : 3.5 / 5 ⭐

matteahayn's review

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adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

mostlyaudio47's review against another edition

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5.0

I gave this book 5 stars based mostly on how many times I cried while listening to it (thanks to the emotionally spot-on performance by Em Grosland).

Somehow, Jake Maia Arlow, who was not even born when I was 13, managed to tell a story that my awkward, confused, anxious, lonely middle-school self really needed to hear. As I sit here, 35 years removed from my own Long Island Jewish childhood (complete with a similar lifelong passion for bagels), I only wish I could have had the kind of support that Dalia discovers in her chosen family.