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A review by terraforming_mishap
Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai
3.0
I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
Fly on the Wall follows twelve-year-old Henry Khoo, who, having grown tired of his family’s helicopter-style care as well as a major argument with his former best friend, decides to prove how adult he is by taking a solo-flight from Australia to Singapore to see his father. The book is Henry’s notebook, filled with his narration of the events currently transpiring as well as all that led to his adventure. The reader gets the story through not only Henry’s narration, but also his poetry and the various drawings and comics that are also included in his journal. The comic strips are part of another subplot; Henry is also “Fly on the Wall,” the creator of a gossip webcomic about his classmates and teachers and is in danger of being found out.
The story is fast-paced, humorous, and heartfelt. Henry is an extremely likeable and understandable protagonist—even if the choices he makes aren’t always good, you always know what’s going on in his head. And the illustrations are extremely cute. The story’s conflicts get resolved at the end in what was, in my opinion, a somewhat rushed and not completely satisfying way. Overall, however, Fly on the Wall is a funny, sweet story that delves into issues of family, friendship, anxiety, and growing up.
Fly on the Wall follows twelve-year-old Henry Khoo, who, having grown tired of his family’s helicopter-style care as well as a major argument with his former best friend, decides to prove how adult he is by taking a solo-flight from Australia to Singapore to see his father. The book is Henry’s notebook, filled with his narration of the events currently transpiring as well as all that led to his adventure. The reader gets the story through not only Henry’s narration, but also his poetry and the various drawings and comics that are also included in his journal. The comic strips are part of another subplot; Henry is also “Fly on the Wall,” the creator of a gossip webcomic about his classmates and teachers and is in danger of being found out.
The story is fast-paced, humorous, and heartfelt. Henry is an extremely likeable and understandable protagonist—even if the choices he makes aren’t always good, you always know what’s going on in his head. And the illustrations are extremely cute. The story’s conflicts get resolved at the end in what was, in my opinion, a somewhat rushed and not completely satisfying way. Overall, however, Fly on the Wall is a funny, sweet story that delves into issues of family, friendship, anxiety, and growing up.