If I Could Fly by Jill Hucklesby

Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 9781405252263.
(Age: 12-15 year olds)
Calypso Summer. 'A girl with such a name is on a journey. She will have adventures -'.
Calypso is most certainly on a journey, she is running. From what is she running though? She does not know, but it is something terrible. Her mind has blocked it out. For now she runs, learning to survive. Break the system. Don't get caught.
If I Could Fly is set in the future. The way our world is run has changed. We are controlled with regulations, rules and by the FISTS who enforce them. The world is well controlled. Calypso and her few friends seem to be quite normal people; in reality Calypso is the only normal one. Her friends Furball, Dair and Alfie are not what they seem. The plot is not completely straight forward, you don't expect some things to happen yet other things you do. It is quite believable although towards the end some may think not. In the final chapters it becomes a tear jerker, written in an emotional way. There is a lot of imagery, all of the scenes are painted in your mind. The writing structure is of a fair but not high level that lends itself to being best suited for 12-15 year olds and may suit girls more than boys, though it is aimed at both genders. Could be enjoyed by older kids and young adults because of its themes of friendship, violence at home and choosing between to die or live. I give this book 9.5/10 stars.
Amelia Kelly (17 years old)