Flight: A Story of Seeking Refuge

by Alan Gratz

Superstar Alan Gratz's novella 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.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Alan 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.

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MG #shortstory from @alan.gratz that brings back a character you may recognize from Two Degrees.
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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.
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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