Altitude

by Niel Bushnell, Virtual Voice (Narrator)

"Vivid, believable characters, dramatic relationships, and scenes of soaring into the air. Brilliant stuff." "This is a wonderful urban fantasy book, exactly the sort of writing I can easily loose myself in." ‘I’m flying!’ Tam shouted. ‘I’m really flying!’ While coming to terms with her father’s illness, Tamsin discovers an amazing secret in the nearby she can fly. It’s a secret too big to keep to herself, but the only person she can turn to is Abigail – a girl from school who hates her. As Tamsin learns how to control her newfound ability the bonds of friendship begin to unravel, starting a chain of events that could lead to tragedy.

Audible Audio

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Niel Bushnell is an award-winning science-fiction and fantasy author based in the north-east of England.

An accomplished artist and animator, Niel has worked in the creative sector for over twenty years, across film, TV, online, games, advertising and publishing.

He is the author of the Arkship Saga, a science-fiction series set in the distant future after the Earth has been destroyed along with the rest of the solar system in a cataclysmic event known as the Fracture. He is also the author of two time-travel children's books called Sorrowline and Timesmith, and a Young-Adult novel called Altitude.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Sorrowline and Timesmith, (I thoroughly enjoyed them both), I was expecting a book in a similar vein. This is book is very different. To begin with there aren't any characters that are very likable. But, as you read the book you get pulled into the lives of three different young ladies as they face their significant personal challenges. One of the girls is able to fly, but this isn't really the subject of the book. This is not a sci fi or fantasy book.

Niel was able to take the subject of something unrealistic and use it to bring the lives of these three teens both into conflict and friendship. This was a book that is out of the comfort zone of my normal book selections. But, having said that, I enjoyed Altitude. I found myself hoping for good things to happen to the girls.

I suggest you read Altitude.

[John Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

When someone asks "what superpower would you like?" my answer is always the same - the power of flight. Can you imagine? To slip the surly bonds of earth and dance the skies on laughter-silvered wings! (To paraphrase John Gillespie Magee Jr, the pilot and poet.) So when Tam gains the power of flight, the joy and terror she feels is exhilarating to read.

But this isn't really a superhero origin story. It's about Tam, and Abigail, and Becca, three very different girls with very different lives and very different problems, and how their friendships shift and twist and tear, and how they deal with the revelation of Tam's ability. Tam's power of flight is rooted in her deep need to escape from her life, and it's escape that's the main theme of this book.

Vivid, believable characters, dramatic relationships, and scenes of soaring into

[Rhoda Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I've met Niel Bushnell at an event and was curious. (Generally speaking, if I get on with people in real life, I tend to like their writing too). It's billed as paranormal YA, but it's not what you'd expect. It's a story about a bully who learns to fly and the disruption that causes to her relationships.
Tam isn't a nice person. In fact, she's a bully. Abigail is her on/off victim. The two are bound together by the shared secret - the fact that Tam can fly.
There are three point of view characters in the story, each with their own problems. They're not particularly nice girls (apart from Abi, maybe), but they're all believable. I really enjoyed the story. It was refreshingly different.

[David Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When teenage girl Tam unexpectedly finds herself floating in the air, this strange event starts off a series of repercussions that will change peoples lives forever. Niel's earlier YA books Sorrowline & Timesmith are great books (check them out) so it's no surprise that this story is also well worth a read. He writes his female characters well, in fact there are hardly any men in the book at all, in what is basically a three handed tale between Tamsin, Abigail and Becca. He keeps the story close on the girls' relationship and their own personal battles that conflict with each other. Never predictable, this triangle of school friends are not angels, don't always do the right thing and get into trouble from the start as they discover jealousy, friendship and loss. Recommended.