Description:
Life for Georgia Hansen on the eve of her 16th birthday isn't easy. Her grandmother, dominating a household of women, insists on unwavering obedience to her strict codes: no meat eating, no men living in the house... and no solo flying before the age of 16. That's right. Georgia and all her female relatives have the power of flight. This gift comes with a great burden, however. The Hansen women must keep their ability hidden from the rest of the world. Secrets seem to fill the house, especially when Georgia's long-lost (or banished) aunt Carmen returns for a brief stay, spurring anger, anxiety, and mystery. As Georgia prepares for her initiation into womanhood and first solo flight, she wrestles with feelings of rebellion and confusion--and then guilt, when she commits the ultimate Hansen offense. Rita Murphy's first young adult novel, winner of the Delacorte Press Prize, delves deep into the heart of a family shakily held together after generations of shattering secrets. Georgia is a strong, resourceful girl, who must choose between soul-crushing loyalty to a rigid matriarch and the terrifying freedom of independence. A beautiful metaphor for the wrenching transition from childhood to adulthood, Night Flying will speak volumes to all teenagers who yearn to soar. (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter
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