We'll Fly Away
Books | Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Physical & Emotional Abuse
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Bryan Bliss
National Book Award Longlist Title * Booklist Editors’ Choice * CYBILS Young Adult Fiction Finalist * Nerdy Book Club Award for Best Young Adult Fiction * Paste Magazine Best Book * YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults“A compelling and raw story.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)“[Bliss dares] his readers not only to see the depths of human complexity, but to care.”—Booklist (starred review)Luke and Toby have always had each other’s backs. But then one choice—or maybe it is a series of choices—sets them down an irrevocable path.We’ll Fly Awayweaves together Luke and Toby’s senior year of high school with letters Luke writes to Toby later—from death row.Best friends since childhood, Luke and Toby have dreamed of one thing: getting out of their dead-end town. Soon they finally will, riding the tails of Luke’s wrestling scholarship, never looking back. If they don’t drift apart first. If Toby’s abusive dad, or Luke’s unreliable mom, or anything else their complicated lives throw at them doesn’t get in the way.Tense and emotional, this hard-hitting novel explores family abuse, sex, love, and friendship, and how far people will go to protect those they love. For fans of Jason Reynolds, Marieke Nijkamp, and NPR’s Serial podcast.Praise for We’ll Fly Away:"Bryan Bliss has written an empathetic and stirring novel about what it means to fight for the outcasts, the forgotten, and even the hated, reminding us that we all have worth. That we are all valuable."—Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking“A poignant story of loyalty, abuse, and poverty. . . . This compassionate and beautifully rendered novel packs an emotional punch.”—KirkusReviews (starred review)“A smart, rugged, all-too-true story of friendship under fire. Believable characters and page-turning tension.”—Chris Crutcher, author of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes“This fast-paced read will have teens tearing through chapters to find out why Luke is in jail. . . . The conclusion will leave them devastated. This is [a] touching book about male friendship for fans of Jason Reynolds.”—School Library Journal“The unshakable and unconditional bond between the young men is tested and proves true, a ray of light in the darkness of their stories.”—VOYA
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Author
Bryan Bliss
Pages
383
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published Date
2018-05-08
ISBN
0062494295 9780062494290
Community ReviewsSee all
"This was such a sad story but its sooo good. It has this sense of a mystery right till the very end. I wish there was more of Lukes diary entries tho. "
Kettle
"Holy crap, this book was recommended to be and I’m so glad it was. It’s a wonderfully written book. The friendship shown between Luke and Toby is heartwarming but all they go through destroyed me. This book isn’t exactly a happy one, and from certain perspectives this book doesn’t even have a happy ending, I finished this book in 2 days and I know I will be rereading it in the future. I will say I predicted certain parts of the book very easily but it wasn’t necessary a bad thing, the ending and events still hit extremely hard. I tend to overthink these types of books and with this book I had a knot in my stomach thinking about what’s going to happen next, I’m so grateful for this book and for the person who suggested it. Must read fs, (good YA or hs book)"
Trash Lover
"I’m on my hands and knees for this book-absolutely heartwrenching and so incredibly well told. The author brilliantly intertwines letters written from one of the characters on death row to his childhood best friend in the present day to the story of how he ultimately ended up there during their senior year of high school. I highly recommend it to everyone "
user🌚🌚
"I was not expecting to be moved by this book, but I certainly was. This is a heart-wrenching story about two best friends growing up in poverty, abusive homes, and neglect. Bliss wrote his characters with passion, really letting their emotions shine through. I really felt for the characters, even one of the main characters, Luke, who you know killed a person. <br/><br/>The book begins and reads as Luke is writing letters to his best friend Toby when Luke is on death row. In between letters is the story of how Luke got to this point through all the relationships and circumstances in his life. <br/><br/>The book does not have a happy ending. Perhaps that’s why it was so good, though. Though I would have loved a happy ending, this ending that Bliss writes makes the story so real and ground-shaking. <br/><br/>Bliss’s main point of the story is taking away that no one is past being redeemed. And I think that’s a beautiful thing for him to have us reflect on."
Charis Negley
"In the beginning, it seemed a bit slow and a bit young for me. I was surely mistaken. After finishing it I’m left speechless. great book"
Madie Lindo
"Wasn't sure what I was getting into while reading this but my emotions were on the line and they were thoroughly ******. Heartwarming while also heart wrenching. Was constantly trying to guess what would happen and never stopped guessing even after it ended. "
Keira Potts
"Crank"
Isabella H