A review by gschwabauer
Fight + Flight by Jules Machias

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 
This book was really well done! Rarely do I see a middle-grade/YA novel try to tackle SO many topics and succeed, but this one worked on me.

- Dual perspectives that sound completely distinct. Both voices were compelling, drawing me into the story from the beginning.
- A fully fleshed out character whose Christian faith is important to her, but the story isn't about either a) how wrong she is and how she needs to abandon her beliefs, or b) how right she is and how everyone around her should convert.
- More generally, a cast of characters who disagree and who ascribe to different beliefs, but I got the sense that the author actually respected all their differing perspectives.
- Chronic illness representation!!!!
- Also anxiety! Realistically depicted in a middle-schooler without being patronizing or simplistic.
- Super cool art
- A gentle handling of intersectionality coupled with the message "You don't have to beat yourself up when you learn something, just accept that you made a mistake, have the humility to learn from it, and then do differently in the future."
- Parents who are human beings
- Complex depictions of trauma, particularly around the possibility of school violence. This generation of kids is going to need books about active shooter drills, which sucks, but this one does a good job, so I'm glad it exists.