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Flight: A Story of Seeking Refuge
Superstar Alan Gratz's novella Resist: A Story of D-Day was an instant New York Times bestseller, and we're continuing the trend with a brand-new 80-page novella! Written in Alan Gratz's signature fast-paced, action-packed style, this story follows the treacherous immigration journey of a character we briefly met in his bestselling novel Two Degrees.
Daniela López loves Honduras--she loves the land and the wildlife, she loves her family's coffee farm, and most importantly, Honduras is home. Until a blight ruins their crops, and any hopes for a future.
Daniela's family decides to take a risk and make for America, where they hope to find new lives as refugees.
But after Daniela and her little brother are separated from their parents, they must brave the infamously dangerous trek through Mexico alone, with only each other for support. Together, they face a perilous journey atop a train and through villages where they are not always welcomed, with gangsters and potential spies haunting their every step.
Will Daniela and her brother survive to see America and begin their new lives?
This timely, gripping story from beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz examines the treacherous journey faced by refugees searching for a better life, and the courage it takes to survive.
Daniela López loves Honduras--she loves the land and the wildlife, she loves her family's coffee farm, and most importantly, Honduras is home. Until a blight ruins their crops, and any hopes for a future.
Daniela's family decides to take a risk and make for America, where they hope to find new lives as refugees.
But after Daniela and her little brother are separated from their parents, they must brave the infamously dangerous trek through Mexico alone, with only each other for support. Together, they face a perilous journey atop a train and through villages where they are not always welcomed, with gangsters and potential spies haunting their every step.
Will Daniela and her brother survive to see America and begin their new lives?
This timely, gripping story from beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz examines the treacherous journey faced by refugees searching for a better life, and the courage it takes to survive.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2026
About the author
Alan Gratz
55 books5,064 followersAlan Gratz is the bestselling author of a number of novels for young readers. His 2017 novel Refugee has spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and is the winner of 14 state awards. Its other accolades include the Sydney Taylor Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Award, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor, and a Malka Penn Award for Human Rights Honor. Refugee was also a Global Read Aloud Book for 2018.
Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.
Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.
Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.
Alan’s novel Grenade debuted at number three on the New York Times bestseller list, and his most recent book, Allies, debuted at number two on the list and received four starred reviews. His other books include Prisoner B-3087, which was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Readers pick and winner of eight state awards; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2016 and winner of five state awards; Code of Honor, a YALSA Quick Pick for Young Readers; and Ban This Book, which was featured by Whoopi Goldberg on The View.
Alan has traveled extensively to talk about his books, appearing at schools and book festivals in 39 states and a half-dozen countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland, and has been a Writer in Residence at Tokyo’s American School in Japan, the James Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, and the Jakarta Intercultural School in Indonesia.
Alan was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. After a carefree but humid childhood, Alan attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a College Scholars degree with a specialization in creative writing, and, later, a Master’s degree in English education. He now lives with his family in Asheville, North Carolina, where he enjoys playing games, eating pizza, and, perhaps not too surprisingly, reading books.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A MG #shortstory from @alan.gratz that brings back a character you may recognize from Two Degrees.
🚂
After being separated from their parents while fleeing Honduras, Daniela and her younger brother Carlos must continue their dangerous journey alone toward the U.S. border. Riding atop the deadly freight train known as The Beast, they face constant danger from the train itself to gangs and kidnappers while learning who they can trust in a fight to survive and reunite their family.
🚂
Although only 96 pages, this story packs quite a punch! The peril and terror migrants face on a daily basis to get somewhere they can be safe is so difficult to even imagine. This story brings their experiences to light (I didn’t even know all this info about The Beast until reading this book!) Thanks Alan for always sharing stories from around the world and bringing important issues to light. This title releases September 1 from @scholastic
CW: immigration, death, violence, knife and gun violence, abandonment, missing children, police brutality
🚂
After being separated from their parents while fleeing Honduras, Daniela and her younger brother Carlos must continue their dangerous journey alone toward the U.S. border. Riding atop the deadly freight train known as The Beast, they face constant danger from the train itself to gangs and kidnappers while learning who they can trust in a fight to survive and reunite their family.
🚂
Although only 96 pages, this story packs quite a punch! The peril and terror migrants face on a daily basis to get somewhere they can be safe is so difficult to even imagine. This story brings their experiences to light (I didn’t even know all this info about The Beast until reading this book!) Thanks Alan for always sharing stories from around the world and bringing important issues to light. This title releases September 1 from @scholastic
CW: immigration, death, violence, knife and gun violence, abandonment, missing children, police brutality
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
When Alan Gratz wrote his book Two Degrees, he originally had Daniela Lopez and her own unique story of how climate change impacted her life included with the stories of Akira, Natalie, Owen and George. But the page count was too long so Gratz left a bit of a tease in the final chapters of the book and hoped to one day tell her story. Flight is that story of Honduran Dani and her family are forced to abandon their coffee bean farm in the mountains when rising temperatures allow a fungus to grow and kill the fragile plants. When gangs in their new home threaten to kill them after Dani’s mom gives a witness statement about a murder, she, her parents and younger brother Carlos decide to head to the United States via Mexico but once again, tragedy thwarts their plans and the children are separated from their parents and forced to head by themselves atop a speeding train to a town on the border between the two countries. The dangers, both from the conditions on the train as well as other refugees and various nefarious groups, abound, but Dani finds a way to protect the two of them and reach their destination.
Much of Dani and Carlos’ experiences are based on facts learned by Gratz as he researched real life scenarios of those who have also embarked on a hopeful journey north. Names of places are sometimes changed and certainly the names of characters in his book are fictional, but readers are likely to gain new understanding of possible reasons for those who attempt to immigrate to the United States via legal and illegal methods. The action is near non-stop and with the low page of 96, even those with low reading stamina are likely to finish this one. Be warned, though. Some will be disappointed that while Dani and Carlos’ story ends with a feeling of hope, it is definitely left unfinished!
Bonus material is included at the book’s end—Background on Gratz’s intention to include Dani in Two Degrees as well as brief summaries of many of Gratz’s other historical fiction, action/adventure titles such as Heroes, Refugee (traditional format as well as graphic novel), Allies and its novella Resist, and War Games.
*Target age: grades 4 and up
*Profanity: none
*Sexual content: It is possible that questions may arise among some readers about why Dani is so careful to hide the fact she is female and why young girls were separated and transported some place different than the others but neither sexual abuse nor forced prostitution is mentioned.
*Violence: Threats of physical harm, kidnappers who use guns and other weapons to subdue their targets, a resistance by immigrants against kidnappers results in several being tossed off the train to likely deaths, etc. None of the violence is overly graphic and is appropriate to both the subject and the target audience.
*Representation: Characters are primarily from Central America or Mexico.
*LBGTQ+: none
Much of Dani and Carlos’ experiences are based on facts learned by Gratz as he researched real life scenarios of those who have also embarked on a hopeful journey north. Names of places are sometimes changed and certainly the names of characters in his book are fictional, but readers are likely to gain new understanding of possible reasons for those who attempt to immigrate to the United States via legal and illegal methods. The action is near non-stop and with the low page of 96, even those with low reading stamina are likely to finish this one. Be warned, though. Some will be disappointed that while Dani and Carlos’ story ends with a feeling of hope, it is definitely left unfinished!
Bonus material is included at the book’s end—Background on Gratz’s intention to include Dani in Two Degrees as well as brief summaries of many of Gratz’s other historical fiction, action/adventure titles such as Heroes, Refugee (traditional format as well as graphic novel), Allies and its novella Resist, and War Games.
*Target age: grades 4 and up
*Profanity: none
*Sexual content: It is possible that questions may arise among some readers about why Dani is so careful to hide the fact she is female and why young girls were separated and transported some place different than the others but neither sexual abuse nor forced prostitution is mentioned.
*Violence: Threats of physical harm, kidnappers who use guns and other weapons to subdue their targets, a resistance by immigrants against kidnappers results in several being tossed off the train to likely deaths, etc. None of the violence is overly graphic and is appropriate to both the subject and the target audience.
*Representation: Characters are primarily from Central America or Mexico.
*LBGTQ+: none
Read
August 3, 2026Alan Gratz does not disappoint in his latest book! Daniela who is 13 years old and her nine year old brother, Carlos got separated from their parents while fleeing their home in Honduras heading to the United States. The story starts out in Central Mexico how Daniela, now Daniel, posing as a boy to help keep her safe, are riding on top of trains along with others heading the same way. They need to travel 1,000 miles to get to the border, all while riding on top of trains.
A shorter book and a very fast read! Alan Gratz books are not meant to be put done! A great read aloud for classrooms.
A must-have for all libraries, especially if you have other Alan Gratz titles.
#AlanGratz #Flight #FlightAStoryOfSeekingRefuge #NewRelease #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #Edelweiss #Goodreads #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians
A shorter book and a very fast read! Alan Gratz books are not meant to be put done! A great read aloud for classrooms.
A must-have for all libraries, especially if you have other Alan Gratz titles.
#AlanGratz #Flight #FlightAStoryOfSeekingRefuge #NewRelease #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #Edelweiss #Goodreads #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
13yo Dani and 9yo Carlos are fleeing for their lives aboard The Beast, the train that can take them all the way to America. Their small Honduran coffee farm used to be prosperous until climate change brought new diseases. Then they had to flee the city when they became the targets of local gangs. Dani disguises herself as a boy to keep attention away and she and Carlos will have to be very careful of whom they befriend on their harrowing journey.
More short story than novella - it needed to be included as part of Gratz’s Two Degrees book. Gratz is honest about the dangers people face as they try to flee violence to a place of safety without roaming in to graphic, mature content. I just wish it had another 50 pages for more depth.
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
13yo Dani and 9yo Carlos are fleeing for their lives aboard The Beast, the train that can take them all the way to America. Their small Honduran coffee farm used to be prosperous until climate change brought new diseases. Then they had to flee the city when they became the targets of local gangs. Dani disguises herself as a boy to keep attention away and she and Carlos will have to be very careful of whom they befriend on their harrowing journey.
More short story than novella - it needed to be included as part of Gratz’s Two Degrees book. Gratz is honest about the dangers people face as they try to flee violence to a place of safety without roaming in to graphic, mature content. I just wish it had another 50 pages for more depth.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Dani and Carlos face murderous gangs, kidnappings, hunger, cold, fear, loneliness, and more as they search for their parents. Gratz doesn’t mince words, and his descriptions are very intense. Millions attempt the same journey. Thousands die, while cartels kidnap thousands more to extort, rape, murder, torture, or recruit for forced labor. “Flight” brings humanity to the reasons for why so many make the very dangerous trip to enter the United States. Read more on my blog about this ARC I was sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
September 3, 2026
I loved that this short story grew from an Easter egg in Two Degrees! Gratz didn’t have room to tell Daniela and her brother’s story there, so they get their own novella. ❤️ This is a quick, gripping read that honestly portrays the dangers refugees can face while fleeing violence and searching for safety, without becoming graphic or too mature for middle grade readers. I did wish there had been more depth, but the short length makes this a great choice for reluctant readers who need an action-packed historical fiction read.
September 6, 2026
3.5
I loved how this highlighted the dangerous journey Central Americans take to escape the dire consequences of climate change, politics and bandits. It originally was to be included in another novel but was cut for length. This is why it was published as a standalone novella. I just felt it needed more depth. I did like the characters and drama.
I loved how this highlighted the dangerous journey Central Americans take to escape the dire consequences of climate change, politics and bandits. It originally was to be included in another novel but was cut for length. This is why it was published as a standalone novella. I just felt it needed more depth. I did like the characters and drama.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Found this on the free shelf of my local bookstore. It's an important read, for children as well as myself. I highly recommend for parents to give their children to understand the problems at the border, walls, immigrants and asylum seekers. I learned from it too.
July 25, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from a local bookstore. Alan Gratz writes great historical fiction for MG kids. This was a shorter story originally meant for his book 2 Degrees. I liked it!
August 31, 2026
Short. YA companion book
September 3, 2026
We briefly met Daniela in Two Degrees, but her story wasn't in that book. I'm so glad we got her account of being an environmental refugee in this novella.
September 6, 2026
Another book that makes you hate Donald Trump even more.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
When Alan Gratz wrote his book Two Degrees, he originally had Daniela Lopez and her own unique story of how climate change impacted her life included with the stories of Akira, Natalie, Owen and George. But the page count was too long so Gratz left a bit of a tease in the final chapters of the book and hoped to one day tell her story. Flight is that story of Honduran Dani and her family are forced to abandon their coffee bean farm in the mountains when rising temperatures allow a fungus to grow and kill the fragile plants. When gangs in their new home threaten to kill them after Dani’s mom gives a witness statement about a murder, she, her parents and younger brother Carlos decide to head to the United States via Mexico but once again, tragedy thwarts their plans and the children are separated from their parents and forced to head by themselves atop a speeding train to a town on the border between the two countries. The dangers, both from the conditions on the train as well as other refugees and various nefarious groups, abound, but Dani finds a way to protect the two of them and reach their destination.
Much of Dani and Carlos’ experiences are based on facts learned by Gratz as he researched real life scenarios of those who have also embarked on a hopeful journey north. Names of places are sometimes changed and certainly the names of characters in his book are fictional, but readers are likely to gain new understanding of possible reasons for those who attempt to immigrate to the United States via legal and illegal methods. The action is near non-stop and with the low page of 96, even those with low reading stamina are likely to finish this one. Be warned, though. Some will be disappointed that while Dani and Carlos’ story ends with a feeling of hope, it is definitely left unfinished!
Bonus material is included at the book’s end—Background on Gratz’s intention to include Dani in Two Degrees as well as brief summaries of many of Gratz’s other historical fiction, action/adventure titles such as Heroes, Refugee (traditional format as well as graphic novel), Allies and its novella Resist, and War Games.
*Target age: grades 4 and up
*Profanity: none
*Sexual content: It is possible that questions may arise among some readers about why Dani is so careful to hide the fact she is female and why young girls were separated and transported some place different than the others but neither sexual abuse nor forced prostitution is mentioned.
*Violence: Threats of physical harm, kidnappers who use guns and other weapons to subdue their targets, a resistance by immigrants against kidnappers results in several being tossed off the train to likely deaths, etc. None of the violence is overly graphic and is appropriate to both the subject and the target audience.
*Representation: Characters are primarily from Central America or Mexico.
*LBGTQ+: none
Thanks for an early look at this excellent Gratz title, Edelweiss and Scholastic
Much of Dani and Carlos’ experiences are based on facts learned by Gratz as he researched real life scenarios of those who have also embarked on a hopeful journey north. Names of places are sometimes changed and certainly the names of characters in his book are fictional, but readers are likely to gain new understanding of possible reasons for those who attempt to immigrate to the United States via legal and illegal methods. The action is near non-stop and with the low page of 96, even those with low reading stamina are likely to finish this one. Be warned, though. Some will be disappointed that while Dani and Carlos’ story ends with a feeling of hope, it is definitely left unfinished!
Bonus material is included at the book’s end—Background on Gratz’s intention to include Dani in Two Degrees as well as brief summaries of many of Gratz’s other historical fiction, action/adventure titles such as Heroes, Refugee (traditional format as well as graphic novel), Allies and its novella Resist, and War Games.
*Target age: grades 4 and up
*Profanity: none
*Sexual content: It is possible that questions may arise among some readers about why Dani is so careful to hide the fact she is female and why young girls were separated and transported some place different than the others but neither sexual abuse nor forced prostitution is mentioned.
*Violence: Threats of physical harm, kidnappers who use guns and other weapons to subdue their targets, a resistance by immigrants against kidnappers results in several being tossed off the train to likely deaths, etc. None of the violence is overly graphic and is appropriate to both the subject and the target audience.
*Representation: Characters are primarily from Central America or Mexico.
*LBGTQ+: none
Thanks for an early look at this excellent Gratz title, Edelweiss and Scholastic
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for an early read of this title.
Our story begins in Honduras, where Daniela, her parents, and her little brother Carlos grow coffee beans in the mountains. Lately, with the warming temperatures, the beans are contracting a fungal disease because it isn't getting cool enough at night. Things get worse when Dani's mom witnesses a murder by a gang member and gives a statement; now the family is in grave danger, so they decide they need to go to El Norte for safety. As they travel, violence strikes again, and as the family runs for their lives, they get separated, and now Dani and Carlos are traveling alone to reach their destination. In order to get there, they have to ride "The Beast" which is dangerous, but the fastest way to get there. Dani and Carlos have to decide whom to trust and not to trust, which isn't easy. Will they get reunited with their parents? Read to find out!
Daniela's story was originally supposed to be part of Two Degrees, but Gratz removed this story to keep the book shorter. (smart decision). I wish this could be a longer book because I want more of this family's story, and I know students will feel the same way. However, this would be a great starter book for reluctant readers with its nonstop action, likeable characters, short chapters, and even pacing. This would also make a terrific read-aloud, and I would recommend that teachers show clips of people riding The Beast so that students have background knowledge of the harrowing journey. I will be purchasing multiple copies for my school library. Another winner by Gratz!
Our story begins in Honduras, where Daniela, her parents, and her little brother Carlos grow coffee beans in the mountains. Lately, with the warming temperatures, the beans are contracting a fungal disease because it isn't getting cool enough at night. Things get worse when Dani's mom witnesses a murder by a gang member and gives a statement; now the family is in grave danger, so they decide they need to go to El Norte for safety. As they travel, violence strikes again, and as the family runs for their lives, they get separated, and now Dani and Carlos are traveling alone to reach their destination. In order to get there, they have to ride "The Beast" which is dangerous, but the fastest way to get there. Dani and Carlos have to decide whom to trust and not to trust, which isn't easy. Will they get reunited with their parents? Read to find out!
Daniela's story was originally supposed to be part of Two Degrees, but Gratz removed this story to keep the book shorter. (smart decision). I wish this could be a longer book because I want more of this family's story, and I know students will feel the same way. However, this would be a great starter book for reluctant readers with its nonstop action, likeable characters, short chapters, and even pacing. This would also make a terrific read-aloud, and I would recommend that teachers show clips of people riding The Beast so that students have background knowledge of the harrowing journey. I will be purchasing multiple copies for my school library. Another winner by Gratz!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This brief companion to Two Degrees in which Daniela (Dani) appears now has her own short story in which she and her brother Carlos, escaping issues in Honduras are looking to escape to the United States (El Norte) but are separated from their parents. In order to survive the arduous journey on The Beast, a train through hundreds of miles of territory to get close to the border, she assumes the role of caretaker and cuts her hair to appear like a boy to help protect her and her brother. That means dodging immigration and seedy people looking to take advantage or do bad things or pry the last few possessions they have from them.
It's an important story to the body of work Gratz puts out about global issues to bring to young people's attention.
It's an important story to the body of work Gratz puts out about global issues to bring to young people's attention.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A novella that almost became part of his popular Two Degrees novel, this story chronicles climate refugees travelling North through Central America and Mexico to get to the US border. This left me and a student wanting more (of the family's story and what would happen next) but it's a novella so I took that into account. I know of a YA novel that has more of the gritty details, We are not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez, but for MG readers this is a good introduction of how climate change and immigration policies have impacted people. 4.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Alan Gratz, but this left me wanting more. He mentioned that this was supposed to be a part of two degrees, and I might have given it more leeway if it was. The character development was non existant, and so many ideas were glossed over or not addressed. It would make a good addition to a hi-lo section, but wouldn't be my first choice. I needed more as a standalone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved Gratz’s Two Degrees and revisiting the story through a new novel was wonderful. Captivating as always and just the right amount of “learning” material will make this book a Winn in my middle school library.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews