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A review by misha_ali
Why We Fly by Gilly Segal, Kimberly Jones
2.0
I was really excited to read this book. Co-written by two authors, each bringing their own experiences and world view to this story about friendship that comes up against a difficult moral stand and where things go from there sounded really promising. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver for me at all.
The two best friends, Leni and Nelly, are an excellent opportunity to explore how a racial issue and standing up for what you think is right can lead to diverse consequences for different people and how we can understand our own privilege and repair bridges when a well-meaning but ill-considered stand takes its toll on a friendship. Unfortunately, I don't buy that Leni and Nelly are best friends or even like each other at all. They are not at all supportive of each other, hardly talk to each other through the course of the book, and even when directly told that one hasn't asked the other her feelings at all, nothing changes.
All the characters go through a furor of press and consequences over taking a knee but the only person to have a long term impact is
I don't really understand what these kids are thinking or doing and the whole main conflict dies down almost immediately via a fast forward and off-stage resolution. Really unsatisfying and honestly confusing.
The two best friends, Leni and Nelly, are an excellent opportunity to explore how a racial issue and standing up for what you think is right can lead to diverse consequences for different people and how we can understand our own privilege and repair bridges when a well-meaning but ill-considered stand takes its toll on a friendship. Unfortunately, I don't buy that Leni and Nelly are best friends or even like each other at all. They are not at all supportive of each other, hardly talk to each other through the course of the book, and even when directly told that one hasn't asked the other her feelings at all, nothing changes.
All the characters go through a furor of press and consequences over taking a knee but the only person to have a long term impact is
Spoiler
Nelly and her consolation prize at the end is that she's appreciated by a small group of fellow woc at an event.I don't really understand what these kids are thinking or doing and the whole main conflict dies down almost immediately via a fast forward and off-stage resolution. Really unsatisfying and honestly confusing.