Scan barcode
A review by trywii
Flight by Sherman Alexie
2.0
While I do enjoy the narrative style of this book as well as the premise, the actual execution feels more like a ‘Very Special Episode’ or a PSA of sorts. I thought the narrative would subvert what I imagined the ending would be, but it doesn’t. At all.
The conflicts the protagonist ‘Zits’ get resolved pretty much entirely by the end…even his skin problems! The time travel aspect is interesting and offers the protagonist a new sense of empathy, but it’s unclear how that resolves the massive amount of trauma he’s experienced in his own life, as well as his social circumstances.
It would make sense that the time travel aspect would show Zits his roots, and maybe show him how people are complicated and empathy is powerful, but a lot of Zits’ problems can’t be solved or overcome with just empathy- his identity is quite literally erased legally, and his abuse, while acknowledged, is something he never mentions out loud to anyone else. We as the reader see all his pain and all its roots, but we never see how it’s untangled with the help of people who care about him.
While it’s nice that Zits gets a happy ending, it still feels like the story is unresolved. We don’t see Zits grow or share his struggles with anyone else. He’s dropped off right where the time travel shenanigans took him, and he runs with his tail between his legs to the police. He’s later adopted by a loving white family, and they all make one big happy family, and Zits gets acne cream! Okay…
I really wish the direction of this book focused on Zits’ sense of self and his relation to others and society. The strengths of this book would’ve been made even better if the conclusion was both ‘happy’ but also made it so it wasn’t all perfect by the end. That maybe Zits will still struggle against foster care, maybe people still treat him like dirt, maybe things still suck- but at least by then he has a stronger sense of self and a new drive to end the cycle of abuse with a new sense of confidence.
Theres also some…weirdly racist lines that are widely out of place. I don’t mean in the context of the story either, I mean there’s some lines on here that had me scratching my head. I understand the discussion of Native Americans would also need to include the discrimination and stereotyping faced in America, but man a lot gets dragged out. Not just Native Americans, either. Black people are a part of the protagonists violent fantasies (we never find out why, nor does it make any sense considering Zits’ upbringing). Muslims get a thrashing as well for some reason. Very bizarre.
Despite the flaws, it was short and I was interested in the less problematic portions. If you do decide to read this, I recommend the audiobook version.
The conflicts the protagonist ‘Zits’ get resolved pretty much entirely by the end…even his skin problems! The time travel aspect is interesting and offers the protagonist a new sense of empathy, but it’s unclear how that resolves the massive amount of trauma he’s experienced in his own life, as well as his social circumstances.
It would make sense that the time travel aspect would show Zits his roots, and maybe show him how people are complicated and empathy is powerful, but a lot of Zits’ problems can’t be solved or overcome with just empathy- his identity is quite literally erased legally, and his abuse, while acknowledged, is something he never mentions out loud to anyone else. We as the reader see all his pain and all its roots, but we never see how it’s untangled with the help of people who care about him.
While it’s nice that Zits gets a happy ending, it still feels like the story is unresolved. We don’t see Zits grow or share his struggles with anyone else. He’s dropped off right where the time travel shenanigans took him, and he runs with his tail between his legs to the police. He’s later adopted by a loving white family, and they all make one big happy family, and Zits gets acne cream! Okay…
I really wish the direction of this book focused on Zits’ sense of self and his relation to others and society. The strengths of this book would’ve been made even better if the conclusion was both ‘happy’ but also made it so it wasn’t all perfect by the end. That maybe Zits will still struggle against foster care, maybe people still treat him like dirt, maybe things still suck- but at least by then he has a stronger sense of self and a new drive to end the cycle of abuse with a new sense of confidence.
Theres also some…weirdly racist lines that are widely out of place. I don’t mean in the context of the story either, I mean there’s some lines on here that had me scratching my head. I understand the discussion of Native Americans would also need to include the discrimination and stereotyping faced in America, but man a lot gets dragged out. Not just Native Americans, either. Black people are a part of the protagonists violent fantasies (we never find out why, nor does it make any sense considering Zits’ upbringing). Muslims get a thrashing as well for some reason. Very bizarre.
Despite the flaws, it was short and I was interested in the less problematic portions. If you do decide to read this, I recommend the audiobook version.