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A review by amandarayebirdwellmurphy
The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold
2.0
I admire the author of this book for writing it. I loved the way all of the kids, and even Rocky, choose to love themselves and their cultures in the end. I admire Arnold for showcasing her culture. The idea that immigrants to this country suffer those prejudices makes me stomach hurt. I really, really hope that has changed a significant amount in the decades since this book's setting.
For me, the story itself just did not work. It was kind of like insta-love, but in a middle grade fantasy novel. Things happened too quickly, too easily, and too randomly to really work for me. I appreciate the whole forgiveness and we all make mistakes angle, but someone who knowingly steals your one hope to solve a very serious issue, hands it over to your nemesis, and immediately crawls back to apologize being granted complete and almost instant forgiveness? Not realistic for anybody, let alone such young kids.
For me, the story itself just did not work. It was kind of like insta-love, but in a middle grade fantasy novel. Things happened too quickly, too easily, and too randomly to really work for me. I appreciate the whole forgiveness and we all make mistakes angle, but someone who knowingly steals your one hope to solve a very serious issue, hands it over to your nemesis, and immediately crawls back to apologize being granted complete and almost instant forgiveness? Not realistic for anybody, let alone such young kids.