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Flight of a Starling
Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends, have spent their lives on the wing – flying through the air in their trapeze act, never staying in one place for long. Behind the greasepaint and the glitter, they know that the true magic is the family they travel with.
Until Lo meets a boy. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to stay still. And as secrets start to tear apart the close-knit circus community, how far will Lo go to keep her feet on the ground?
Until Lo meets a boy. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to stay still. And as secrets start to tear apart the close-knit circus community, how far will Lo go to keep her feet on the ground?
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2017
16 people are currently reading
973 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Heathfield
8 books269 followersBefore becoming a mum to her three sons, Lisa Heathfield was a secondary school English teacher and loved inspiring teenagers to read.
Award-winning author Lisa Heathfield launched her career with SEED in 2015. Published by Egmont it is a stunning YA debut about a life in cult. PAPER BUTTERFLIES is her beautiful and heart-breaking second novel. FLIGHT OF A STARLING is another heart-breaking read with an important message.
Lisa lives in Brighton with her family.
Award-winning author Lisa Heathfield launched her career with SEED in 2015. Published by Egmont it is a stunning YA debut about a life in cult. PAPER BUTTERFLIES is her beautiful and heart-breaking second novel. FLIGHT OF A STARLING is another heart-breaking read with an important message.
Lisa lives in Brighton with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
June 16, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Lisa Heathfield, and the publisher, Electric Monkey, for this opportunity.
Around this time last year I read, and absolutely adored, Heathfield's Paper Butterflies, (full review can be found here) so was extremely excited to get the chance to read her most recent release! Fortunately, for me, it lived up my highly placed expectations and proved, once again, just how much of a poignant and graceful writer she is!
This is the story of a travelling circus family and the 'flattie' boy who threatens to disrupt their peaceful existence.
I loved learning about all of the cultural traditions and superstitious beliefs of this roving community, which felt like an honest insight into a life I have no experience or knowledge of, and I adored the relationship between the two sisters this primarily focused on. Their split perspective and details of their acrobatic expertise made for interesting reading.
I didn't fully appreciate the whirlwind romance, however, which dominated much of the plot. I found myself predicting the ending and forgetting the sinister prologue that framed the piece, only to be deceived just as the novel seemed it was about to draw to a guessable close.
I should have remembered Heathfield's enjoyment at the torture of her readers, and I crawled my way to the close of this book knowing and yet in utter denial of the inevitable conclusion. Once again her evocative writing style is what really sold this story to me and, once again, the ending spoke of the fragility of life and my broken heart.
Around this time last year I read, and absolutely adored, Heathfield's Paper Butterflies, (full review can be found here) so was extremely excited to get the chance to read her most recent release! Fortunately, for me, it lived up my highly placed expectations and proved, once again, just how much of a poignant and graceful writer she is!
This is the story of a travelling circus family and the 'flattie' boy who threatens to disrupt their peaceful existence.
I loved learning about all of the cultural traditions and superstitious beliefs of this roving community, which felt like an honest insight into a life I have no experience or knowledge of, and I adored the relationship between the two sisters this primarily focused on. Their split perspective and details of their acrobatic expertise made for interesting reading.
I didn't fully appreciate the whirlwind romance, however, which dominated much of the plot. I found myself predicting the ending and forgetting the sinister prologue that framed the piece, only to be deceived just as the novel seemed it was about to draw to a guessable close.
I should have remembered Heathfield's enjoyment at the torture of her readers, and I crawled my way to the close of this book knowing and yet in utter denial of the inevitable conclusion. Once again her evocative writing style is what really sold this story to me and, once again, the ending spoke of the fragility of life and my broken heart.
wishlist
February 15, 2017Thursday 16th February 2017: Reason for adding to wishlist: Have the author's other two books on my wishlist. Intrigued by the trapeze aspect. Somewhat put off by the "heroine rethinks her future because of a guy" aspect, though.
June 7, 2017
After reading Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield and absolutely LOVING IT, I was so excited to read more by her, and when I was offered Flight of a Starling from the publisher, I couldn’t wait to get into it. I am literally writing this review 1 hour before it’s meant to be going live because this book… well… it put me in a massive reading slump and it took ages for me to get through it.
Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends, have spent their lives on the wing – flying through the air in their trapeze act, never staying in one place for long. Behind the greasepaint and the glitter, they know that the true magic is the family they travel with.
Until Lo meets a boy. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to stay still. And as secrets start to tear apart the close-knit circus community, how far will Lo go to keep her feet on the ground?
There are loads of carnival/circus books going around at the moment, and it sucks because I’m really not a fan of circuses and carnivals… The only book with that theme that I thoroughly enjoyed was Caraval by Stephanie Garber. I think that the thing that really let down this book was that it seemed really slow. There seemed to be lack of a story, lack of amazing characters and lack of a pace. I genuinely feel really bad typing this review because words cannot express how much I loved Paper Butterflies, and it kills to write a negative review about another one of Heathfield’s books.
The only part of this book that had my heart racing was the very ending, and that’s just such a shame because I wish that’s how I felt throughout the whole book. Everything just seemed a bit flat. I didn’t really connect with the characters, I thought that Lo was a bit silly for keeping *that secret* from everyone else, especially her sister.
“We’re different, us and them” I tell Lo. I’m glad we’re leaving tomorrow so she never has to see Dean again. “Don’t be stupid, Rita,” she says, her voice a bit adrift.
“I’m not”
“How many eyes have you got?” Lo asks, sitting on her bed.
“Two” I say.
“Heart?”
“One.”
“Belly?”
“One.”
“So have they,” Lo says. “They’re not different at all”
“You know what I’m saying.”
“I don’t. Because you’re wrong. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that deep down, we’re all the same.”
– Lisa Heathfield, Flight of a Starling
The ending really is the best part of this book though (in my opinion, of course) and even though it was a really good ending and I closed the book having feels, I just felt like I hadn’t really accomplished anything by reading the rest of it… which as I’ve said before, it’s a real shame. Another thing that I liked about this book was Heathfield’s description about the actual circus environment. Her description of the atmosphere, the different acts, the costumes… It was amazing and I felt engulfed. I was engulfed in the description just not the actual book.
I have heard brilliant things about Lisa Heathfield’s other book, Seed. So I’ll probably give that one a go and see what I think about that. Even though I didn’t enjoy Flight of a Starling, Heathfield is still going to be an auto-buy author for me just because of how good Paper Butterflies was.
Warning: this book contains triggers for depression.
Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Released 29th June
Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends, have spent their lives on the wing – flying through the air in their trapeze act, never staying in one place for long. Behind the greasepaint and the glitter, they know that the true magic is the family they travel with.
Until Lo meets a boy. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to stay still. And as secrets start to tear apart the close-knit circus community, how far will Lo go to keep her feet on the ground?
There are loads of carnival/circus books going around at the moment, and it sucks because I’m really not a fan of circuses and carnivals… The only book with that theme that I thoroughly enjoyed was Caraval by Stephanie Garber. I think that the thing that really let down this book was that it seemed really slow. There seemed to be lack of a story, lack of amazing characters and lack of a pace. I genuinely feel really bad typing this review because words cannot express how much I loved Paper Butterflies, and it kills to write a negative review about another one of Heathfield’s books.
The only part of this book that had my heart racing was the very ending, and that’s just such a shame because I wish that’s how I felt throughout the whole book. Everything just seemed a bit flat. I didn’t really connect with the characters, I thought that Lo was a bit silly for keeping *that secret* from everyone else, especially her sister.
“We’re different, us and them” I tell Lo. I’m glad we’re leaving tomorrow so she never has to see Dean again. “Don’t be stupid, Rita,” she says, her voice a bit adrift.
“I’m not”
“How many eyes have you got?” Lo asks, sitting on her bed.
“Two” I say.
“Heart?”
“One.”
“Belly?”
“One.”
“So have they,” Lo says. “They’re not different at all”
“You know what I’m saying.”
“I don’t. Because you’re wrong. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that deep down, we’re all the same.”
– Lisa Heathfield, Flight of a Starling
The ending really is the best part of this book though (in my opinion, of course) and even though it was a really good ending and I closed the book having feels, I just felt like I hadn’t really accomplished anything by reading the rest of it… which as I’ve said before, it’s a real shame. Another thing that I liked about this book was Heathfield’s description about the actual circus environment. Her description of the atmosphere, the different acts, the costumes… It was amazing and I felt engulfed. I was engulfed in the description just not the actual book.
I have heard brilliant things about Lisa Heathfield’s other book, Seed. So I’ll probably give that one a go and see what I think about that. Even though I didn’t enjoy Flight of a Starling, Heathfield is still going to be an auto-buy author for me just because of how good Paper Butterflies was.
Warning: this book contains triggers for depression.
Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Released 29th June
June 5, 2017
Just as beautiful and devastating as I expected. I'll need some recovery time, definitely, to sift through my feelings and dust off the magic...
August 18, 2017
I read Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield last year and it simply blew me away. Given this I couldn't wait to read Flight of a Starling. This author knows how to turn the simple into the extraordinary. The language is engaging, unusual and evocative, you won't find any padding or filler here. I raced through this book and the end came far to quickly. The characters are engaging and real, and the view of circus life was a nice touch. I read the last few chapters of this book in a state of appalled tension. I knew the ending would be devastating and beautiful in equal measure, and whilst I knew what was coming the reality of it made me shift in my seat and read through partially closed eyes. Then suddenly alongside the sadness comes the hope - this really is great writing. Recommended to anyone who enjoys YA books - it's great.
September 9, 2017
This is a book that had me thinking for it for quite awhile after I read it. In the first few chapters I thought it was going to be standard Girl meets Boy and he is not part of her world and is forbidden to see him, but it is much deeper than that.
Rita and Lo (Laura) are two sisters and part of a circus. Rita is the slightly older sister and almost 18. She is supposed to end up with Ash, a boy who is also part of the circus, but she has her eyes on someone else. Lo is around 16 years old and often wonders what it would be like to live in a house and put down roots. She meets a flattie, (Circus term for someone who is not born into Circus) (Dean) at one of the towns they stop to perform in. Even though it is against the rules, she keeps seeing Dean against her family's disapproval.
Pressure mounts on Lo as she is forced to keep secrets she has learned about her mother as well as her family on her back about Dean. She lets the anger build up inside her and does something she regrets afterwards, but she cannot take it back. The story shows something that is rarely seen in this situation, how the family and friends cope with what she has done and how to carry on afterwards.
Rita and Lo (Laura) are two sisters and part of a circus. Rita is the slightly older sister and almost 18. She is supposed to end up with Ash, a boy who is also part of the circus, but she has her eyes on someone else. Lo is around 16 years old and often wonders what it would be like to live in a house and put down roots. She meets a flattie, (Circus term for someone who is not born into Circus) (Dean) at one of the towns they stop to perform in. Even though it is against the rules, she keeps seeing Dean against her family's disapproval.
Pressure mounts on Lo as she is forced to keep secrets she has learned about her mother as well as her family on her back about Dean. She lets the anger build up inside her and does something she regrets afterwards, but she cannot take it back. The story shows something that is rarely seen in this situation, how the family and friends cope with what she has done and how to carry on afterwards.
June 8, 2017
Lisa Heathfield continues her trend of writing stories that are utterly enchanting and heartbreaking at the same time. Be prepared to find yourself emotionally invested. I was left reeling for a short while after reading this, even though as readers we're told from the beginning what is to come. Less harrowing than Seed or Paper Butterflies, this still deserves a content warning for depression.
The setting of this story is the circus, and the author does a wonderful job of weaving in the stunning performances in beautiful prose. I just wish there was more to the story. I want to know more about Spider, about Rob and Lo's Ma, about Ash and Rita, about Margaret. Flight of a Starling is a wonderful snapshot into these unique lives which left me wanting more.
Recommended for all YA fans who don't mind a bit of heartbreak!
Thanks to NetGalley and Electric Monkey for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The setting of this story is the circus, and the author does a wonderful job of weaving in the stunning performances in beautiful prose. I just wish there was more to the story. I want to know more about Spider, about Rob and Lo's Ma, about Ash and Rita, about Margaret. Flight of a Starling is a wonderful snapshot into these unique lives which left me wanting more.
Recommended for all YA fans who don't mind a bit of heartbreak!
Thanks to NetGalley and Electric Monkey for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2018
It was a little hard for me to decide how many stars I wanted to give this book, simply because it made me feel so many things, and the majority of those feelings weren't happy. That's part of what makes Heathfield such an original YA author though; Her stories aren't "picture perfect"
In the first chapter of this book, you learn what is going to happen to Lo in the end. You go into this book fully knowing the outcome of her story and yet I still found myself wrapped into her life and thinking, hoping that things would turn out differently. Heathfield somehow created a world that made me forget that things wouldn't end the way I wanted them to.
The really odd thing to me is, her characters really aren't that complex! Their feelings and thoughts don't seem totally real or exciting. They're almost flat. And that is normally an issue for me (and for most readers, I would say), but the strange thing is that it works. Heathfield uses that sort of flatness to her advantage and it gives the book this almost ominous feeling throughout. And, somehow, you still end up really invested in the characters and their lives.
I don't know, maybe it's just me. Maybe none of you will know what I'm talking about!
I wan't really pleased with the way that some of the major issues and "secrets" that were brought up multiple times throughout the book were never resolved. I know that it's supposed to be realistic because not all conflicts and scandals are always brought to light in real life, but it still would have been nice for a little bit of justice to be served.
Overall, not my favorite Heathfield novel, but still a tragically beautiful win!
In the first chapter of this book, you learn what is going to happen to Lo in the end. You go into this book fully knowing the outcome of her story and yet I still found myself wrapped into her life and thinking, hoping that things would turn out differently. Heathfield somehow created a world that made me forget that things wouldn't end the way I wanted them to.
The really odd thing to me is, her characters really aren't that complex! Their feelings and thoughts don't seem totally real or exciting. They're almost flat. And that is normally an issue for me (and for most readers, I would say), but the strange thing is that it works. Heathfield uses that sort of flatness to her advantage and it gives the book this almost ominous feeling throughout. And, somehow, you still end up really invested in the characters and their lives.
I don't know, maybe it's just me. Maybe none of you will know what I'm talking about!
I wan't really pleased with the way that some of the major issues and "secrets" that were brought up multiple times throughout the book were never resolved. I know that it's supposed to be realistic because not all conflicts and scandals are always brought to light in real life, but it still would have been nice for a little bit of justice to be served.
Overall, not my favorite Heathfield novel, but still a tragically beautiful win!
Read
July 4, 2017Sisters, Rita and Lo, perform a trapeze act in a small travelling circus. Their lives seem like magic, a dream – until Lo meets a boy from a town they stop in and doesn’t want to move on. He follows her from site to site before she goes too far. For the first time, Lo questions her place in the circus, her life on the road and the sacrifices she’d have to make to change things.
I am learning what to expect from Lisa Heathfield’s books – warm fuzzies followed by utter heartbreak. This is the third book by this author that I’ve read and loved. Each time I’m surprised and impressed by the spectacular writing and magical storytelling. It makes me want to both slow down and soak up each word, and race forward to reach the end. This was no different – beautiful, heartbreaking.
I am learning what to expect from Lisa Heathfield’s books – warm fuzzies followed by utter heartbreak. This is the third book by this author that I’ve read and loved. Each time I’m surprised and impressed by the spectacular writing and magical storytelling. It makes me want to both slow down and soak up each word, and race forward to reach the end. This was no different – beautiful, heartbreaking.
August 24, 2018
Another interesting subject tackled by Lisa Heathfield. This felt a little slow to get going with a lot of establishment of characters and the scene. However once it picked up pace it was difficult to put down - and you knew the pace would suddenly pick up from the introductory chapter. Again, I was impressed with strong female leads and difficult topics tackled. Great read!
March 5, 2023
Struggled incredibly badly to finish this book, I had to force myself halfway through and simply just have now gotten to the point where life is too short to finish books you can’t enjoy. I in no way shape or form believe this is any fault to the author, the story concept isn’t bad but I simply just couldn’t get into it and I’d rather just move on to other books I may personally enjoy more.
March 4, 2019
I didn't like this much. It wasn't totally boring. I just didn't think there was anything really good about it. I didn't care much about the characters and I forgot whose POV I was reading from. The book tried introducing a major moment for a character when I didn't feel it had built up the character or my connection with her anywhere near enough. I'm moving on.
July 16, 2017
I received this free from the publisher via NetGalley
Rita and Lo are inseparable – sisters and best friends. Always on the move, and always flying through the air, holding on to each other for support for their trapeze act. Fearless and weightless, they find the magic in everything. Behind the act they put on, they know that the true magic in their family, not the circus. However, in one insignificant town, Lo meets a boy and decides she wants to be on the ground and stood still. Rita can’t understand, and suddenly their close-knit circus community is under threat when secrets are revealed.
I’ve only read one of Lisa Heathfields other books, Paper Butterflies, and I really enjoyed it. It was a chilling and harrowing book. So when I saw Flight of a Starling available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read, and also, that cover is just beautiful.
Flight of a Starling was an enchanting and powerful book. It is raw, honest, and full of emotion. I loved the setting of the circus, and I loved the passion Rita and Lo had for the circus and for the art they produced. The atmosphere was very magical and enchanting, definitely a highlight of the book.
Flight of a Starling is a very character driven story. Both Rita and Lo, having lived in the circus their whole lives and being surrounded by the same people were innocent and naive, but each had some really great development. I liked how Lo started to question what she wanted, and how she discovered there was a world that existed outside of the circus, and she was trying to find her place in that world. The ‘forbidden romance’ was a nice element, it was interesting to see the struggle Lo had and the conflict it caused within her community and, more importantly, with her sister. I really liked Rita as well and her passion and support for her community. I loved her love she felt and the conflict she had with her sister. It was a really well developed and complex relationship.
The ending was emotional and heart-wrenching. I’d like to take this opportunity to warn readers
Overall, Flight of a Starling was a compelling and emotional read that I do highly recommend.
Rita and Lo are inseparable – sisters and best friends. Always on the move, and always flying through the air, holding on to each other for support for their trapeze act. Fearless and weightless, they find the magic in everything. Behind the act they put on, they know that the true magic in their family, not the circus. However, in one insignificant town, Lo meets a boy and decides she wants to be on the ground and stood still. Rita can’t understand, and suddenly their close-knit circus community is under threat when secrets are revealed.
I’ve only read one of Lisa Heathfields other books, Paper Butterflies, and I really enjoyed it. It was a chilling and harrowing book. So when I saw Flight of a Starling available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read, and also, that cover is just beautiful.
Flight of a Starling was an enchanting and powerful book. It is raw, honest, and full of emotion. I loved the setting of the circus, and I loved the passion Rita and Lo had for the circus and for the art they produced. The atmosphere was very magical and enchanting, definitely a highlight of the book.
Flight of a Starling is a very character driven story. Both Rita and Lo, having lived in the circus their whole lives and being surrounded by the same people were innocent and naive, but each had some really great development. I liked how Lo started to question what she wanted, and how she discovered there was a world that existed outside of the circus, and she was trying to find her place in that world. The ‘forbidden romance’ was a nice element, it was interesting to see the struggle Lo had and the conflict it caused within her community and, more importantly, with her sister. I really liked Rita as well and her passion and support for her community. I loved her love she felt and the conflict she had with her sister. It was a really well developed and complex relationship.
The ending was emotional and heart-wrenching. I’d like to take this opportunity to warn readers
Overall, Flight of a Starling was a compelling and emotional read that I do highly recommend.
October 15, 2017
Rita and Lo are sisters. They're traveling around with the circus their family belongs to. Dangerous acts and being the center of attention is what they're used to. They never stay anywhere long, they go from place to place. Lo and Rita have always been close, they tell each other everything, they have fun and they are best friends as well as siblings. However, something suddenly changes. Lo discovers a secret that makes her heart ache. She also meets a boy she likes, someone who isn't part of the circus, which means she has to leave him behind. Will Lo be able to cope with the abundance of emotions she can't talk to anyone about?
Flight of a Starling is a beautiful heartbreaking story. I shed quite a few tears while reading it. It's clear from the beginning that something devastating is going to happen, but the question is what and how. The inevitability of it feels awful, but that's also what makes this book incredibly good. I knew it would end in an unfortunate way, but kept wishing the story wouldn't take that direction after all. There's so much tragedy and unfairness, something that moved me and made me angry. I love it when I feel so strongly about a story.
Lisa Heathfield is a skilled storyteller. She gives her readers the chance to get really close to her main characters. Lo and Rita are such special wonderful girls and my heart ached for everything they lost in a short amount of time. Flight of a Starling is a story about growing up, losing your innocence, finding out that life can be incredibly cruel, consequences and terrible mistakes. It's a story that unravels, something I wished I could undo. It greatly impressed me, I was surprised, captivated, daunted, emotional and stunned. I'm certain this is a book that will stay with me for a very long time.
Flight of a Starling is a beautiful heartbreaking story. I shed quite a few tears while reading it. It's clear from the beginning that something devastating is going to happen, but the question is what and how. The inevitability of it feels awful, but that's also what makes this book incredibly good. I knew it would end in an unfortunate way, but kept wishing the story wouldn't take that direction after all. There's so much tragedy and unfairness, something that moved me and made me angry. I love it when I feel so strongly about a story.
Lisa Heathfield is a skilled storyteller. She gives her readers the chance to get really close to her main characters. Lo and Rita are such special wonderful girls and my heart ached for everything they lost in a short amount of time. Flight of a Starling is a story about growing up, losing your innocence, finding out that life can be incredibly cruel, consequences and terrible mistakes. It's a story that unravels, something I wished I could undo. It greatly impressed me, I was surprised, captivated, daunted, emotional and stunned. I'm certain this is a book that will stay with me for a very long time.
July 29, 2019
3.75
I really wanted to rate this book 4 stars but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t. Having previously read and enjoyed a previous novel by Lisa Heathfield, which was Paper Butterflies, I was really excited to be giving the chance to read and review this book. I did read some of the reviews, but different people do like different things and so I wanted to give it a chance myself, especially because of the author.
I did really enjoy this book and I demolished it in two sittings. It has its classic Lisa Heathfield writing style, with such beautiful imagery that makes me feel like I’m there in the story. It’s so fast paced and easy to read that I had no problems reading and getting through it. The characters we easy to picture, even if some were one dimensional and needed some more work added to them. It didn’t really affect the story, but it did affect my likability and bond with them.
What’s putting me off giving this a higher rating is because I feel like so much is just left out at the end and just left unanswered, which is so disappointing. I was so invested to certain aspects of this story and to not get these answers was such a let down. The “twists” wasn’t a twist for me, because of family history sadly, but also because of the first chapter. It would've been better if the first chapter was actually placed where is falls naturally, and that’s between Chapter 13 and 14.
I just wish that this was slightly longer, so that there would be a couple of chapters that could answer some of those things that are left dangling and left unanswered, because then this would definitely be a four star, hands down! It’s just frustrating because up until that point I was going to rate this book a high four stars.
I really wanted to rate this book 4 stars but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t. Having previously read and enjoyed a previous novel by Lisa Heathfield, which was Paper Butterflies, I was really excited to be giving the chance to read and review this book. I did read some of the reviews, but different people do like different things and so I wanted to give it a chance myself, especially because of the author.
I did really enjoy this book and I demolished it in two sittings. It has its classic Lisa Heathfield writing style, with such beautiful imagery that makes me feel like I’m there in the story. It’s so fast paced and easy to read that I had no problems reading and getting through it. The characters we easy to picture, even if some were one dimensional and needed some more work added to them. It didn’t really affect the story, but it did affect my likability and bond with them.
What’s putting me off giving this a higher rating is because I feel like so much is just left out at the end and just left unanswered, which is so disappointing. I was so invested to certain aspects of this story and to not get these answers was such a let down. The “twists” wasn’t a twist for me, because of family history sadly, but also because of the first chapter. It would've been better if the first chapter was actually placed where is falls naturally, and that’s between Chapter 13 and 14.
I just wish that this was slightly longer, so that there would be a couple of chapters that could answer some of those things that are left dangling and left unanswered, because then this would definitely be a four star, hands down! It’s just frustrating because up until that point I was going to rate this book a high four stars.
September 28, 2017
trigger warnings: suicidal thoughts.
THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A BOOK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
OH MY GOD, GUYS. I love Lisa Heathfield so much.
This book is about the circus life.
Lo and Rita are two sisters who grew up in a circus and spend their all lives performing and moving between cities but everything will be uncertain when Lo meets Dean and discovers hidden truths.
'Flight of a Starling' is the first book that I read which deals about the after of suicidal thoughts.
If you ever been in that situation you will know that the moment you have a rational mind again you know how much stupid it is to want to kill yourself. How those problems are suddenly so small (until you are back in the tunnel). This is the first time that I see this in a book and it is so realistic. It was exactly how I feel most of the time.
Please read this book. Either if you are dealing with a mental disease or not this might be such an help in your life. It might save you.
This is a story about family, sisterhood, first love, betrayals and life.
Also circus life. <3
THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A BOOK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
OH MY GOD, GUYS. I love Lisa Heathfield so much.
This book is about the circus life.
Lo and Rita are two sisters who grew up in a circus and spend their all lives performing and moving between cities but everything will be uncertain when Lo meets Dean and discovers hidden truths.
'Flight of a Starling' is the first book that I read which deals about the after of suicidal thoughts.
If you ever been in that situation you will know that the moment you have a rational mind again you know how much stupid it is to want to kill yourself. How those problems are suddenly so small (until you are back in the tunnel). This is the first time that I see this in a book and it is so realistic. It was exactly how I feel most of the time.
Please read this book. Either if you are dealing with a mental disease or not this might be such an help in your life. It might save you.
This is a story about family, sisterhood, first love, betrayals and life.
Also circus life. <3
June 23, 2017
Received from NetGalley for review.
Flight of a Starling was something vastly different to what I was expecting. I was prepared for circus life, first love, and teenage angst, not so much for the grief, tension, and tragedy that was delivered. I should have known better – Lisa Heathfield’s previous novels have broken my heart and shaken me to the core, and this one was no different. I did feel, however, that the second half of the novel was rushed in comparison to the slow build of the first half; Lo’s feeling of anxiety, confusion, and anger suddenly explode in a dramatic way that lead towards a frantic, tense ending. There’s no denying that this is another excellent story from Heathfield, but I still feel Paper Butterflies is her finest work.
The story centres on sisters Rita and Lo – they are part of a travelling circus with their ma and da, and a small host of others who may as well be family. They live, work, and travel together and the sense of family between them is strong – they are loyal to each other and the life that they live, with some being unfairly suspicious of ‘flatties’ (non-circus people). Whilst Rita is completely happy with her life, Lo finds herself wanting to experience something more, something different – her chance meeting with a boy called Dean awaken feelings in her that she’s never had before, the feeling that maybe the circus isn’t everything and she might not want to travel and perform forever. This feeling only grows as she learns of a secret within the circus that could destroy her family and the novel focuses on her increasingly angry and unsure feelings.
The narrative is split between Rita and Lo and I loved the two different perspectives – Rita loves the circus and doesn’t understand how Lo could ever want to leave, whereas Lo finds herself overwhelmed by the strength of her emotions, both towards the circus and towards Dean. When Lo sees something she shouldn’t, the very foundations of her life crumble and she finds a steadiness, a new feeling of home, with Dean. I did find some of Lo’s feelings towards Dean silly, but I’m well aware of the power of infatuation and how important someone can seem when you’re young, and fully understood why Lo felt the way she did. Heathfield created a very strong and realistic voice for both Rita and Lo, showing the craziness of growing up and the emotions that come with it.
The dramatic turning point in the story was heart-breaking, but felt disjointed. I felt like the first half of the novel was setting up for something completely different – I won’t go into detail but I had a feeling what would happen, it just didn’t happen in the way I expected at all. It seemed a bit rushed in comparison to the rest of the story, although it dealt with loss and grief incredibly well. It may just be me, though, as I can’t fault the writing in any way; I had an extremely strong emotional reaction to this story despite the rushed feeling of the ending, which can’t be a bad thing.
Flight of a Starling was something vastly different to what I was expecting. I was prepared for circus life, first love, and teenage angst, not so much for the grief, tension, and tragedy that was delivered. I should have known better – Lisa Heathfield’s previous novels have broken my heart and shaken me to the core, and this one was no different. I did feel, however, that the second half of the novel was rushed in comparison to the slow build of the first half; Lo’s feeling of anxiety, confusion, and anger suddenly explode in a dramatic way that lead towards a frantic, tense ending. There’s no denying that this is another excellent story from Heathfield, but I still feel Paper Butterflies is her finest work.
The story centres on sisters Rita and Lo – they are part of a travelling circus with their ma and da, and a small host of others who may as well be family. They live, work, and travel together and the sense of family between them is strong – they are loyal to each other and the life that they live, with some being unfairly suspicious of ‘flatties’ (non-circus people). Whilst Rita is completely happy with her life, Lo finds herself wanting to experience something more, something different – her chance meeting with a boy called Dean awaken feelings in her that she’s never had before, the feeling that maybe the circus isn’t everything and she might not want to travel and perform forever. This feeling only grows as she learns of a secret within the circus that could destroy her family and the novel focuses on her increasingly angry and unsure feelings.
The narrative is split between Rita and Lo and I loved the two different perspectives – Rita loves the circus and doesn’t understand how Lo could ever want to leave, whereas Lo finds herself overwhelmed by the strength of her emotions, both towards the circus and towards Dean. When Lo sees something she shouldn’t, the very foundations of her life crumble and she finds a steadiness, a new feeling of home, with Dean. I did find some of Lo’s feelings towards Dean silly, but I’m well aware of the power of infatuation and how important someone can seem when you’re young, and fully understood why Lo felt the way she did. Heathfield created a very strong and realistic voice for both Rita and Lo, showing the craziness of growing up and the emotions that come with it.
The dramatic turning point in the story was heart-breaking, but felt disjointed. I felt like the first half of the novel was setting up for something completely different – I won’t go into detail but I had a feeling what would happen, it just didn’t happen in the way I expected at all. It seemed a bit rushed in comparison to the rest of the story, although it dealt with loss and grief incredibly well. It may just be me, though, as I can’t fault the writing in any way; I had an extremely strong emotional reaction to this story despite the rushed feeling of the ending, which can’t be a bad thing.
June 9, 2019
Sisters Lo and Rita are part of the circus, and have been born and bred into it. The circus is in their blood, just as surely as it is in their parents'. Rita and Lo are best friends. They perform their act together, they sleep in the same van, they travel everywhere together. They are trapeze artists, and they spend most of their time flying through the air or dangling from wire, covered in feathers, glitter and makeup. At the heart of everything they do is a close knit community of like minded people: the lovely Ash who dotes on Rita and the quiet Spider who would do anything for Lo. The circus children are told never to interact too much with the 'flatties', the outsiders that stay in one place for their whole lives and don't understand the circus. It comes as a shock to Rita when they explore the town of their most recent pitch, and Lo meets a boy called Dean that she instantly takes a liking to. No matter how much Rita tries to dissuade Lo from seeing him, Lo keeps meeting Dean, risking the scorn of the circus, especially her father. When Lo learns a secret that could rip their family in half, she begins to wonder if there isn't more to life than the circus, and although being with Dean is dangerous, she feels most alive when she's with him. Will her family accept Dean, before it's too late to change?
Conversely to the book I have previously finished, this book made me cry. By the end of the book I was an absolute mess, which was the same with Paper Butterflies when I read it. The book starts in Rita's POV, explaining about Lo's death, so I really should have been expecting it. When it hit me, however, so did the waterworks. I think that Lo and Rita were very well crafted characters, albeit somewhat childish. This could potentially have something to do with their upbringing being among the circus, and not really interacting with other children their age. I loved how kind and caring Ash was, and I thought that at times Rita didn't treat him very well, but again the childishness probably has a hand in that. I know that for some people there is an instant attraction to another, but for me the way that Lo and Dean seemed to be in 'love' rather quickly wasn't all that realistic to me. I appreciate the amount of research that must have gone in to the circus, because I was transported there whenever it was described, and I really loved the atmosphere of excitement that surrounded it. It was nice that the circus folk still loved what they were doing, and were really passionate about the performing, but I thought it was natural that someone, who just happened to be Lo in this case, would fall out of love with the situation. I can't wait to discuss this with Lisa Heathfield at YALC.
Conversely to the book I have previously finished, this book made me cry. By the end of the book I was an absolute mess, which was the same with Paper Butterflies when I read it. The book starts in Rita's POV, explaining about Lo's death, so I really should have been expecting it. When it hit me, however, so did the waterworks. I think that Lo and Rita were very well crafted characters, albeit somewhat childish. This could potentially have something to do with their upbringing being among the circus, and not really interacting with other children their age. I loved how kind and caring Ash was, and I thought that at times Rita didn't treat him very well, but again the childishness probably has a hand in that. I know that for some people there is an instant attraction to another, but for me the way that Lo and Dean seemed to be in 'love' rather quickly wasn't all that realistic to me. I appreciate the amount of research that must have gone in to the circus, because I was transported there whenever it was described, and I really loved the atmosphere of excitement that surrounded it. It was nice that the circus folk still loved what they were doing, and were really passionate about the performing, but I thought it was natural that someone, who just happened to be Lo in this case, would fall out of love with the situation. I can't wait to discuss this with Lisa Heathfield at YALC.
June 24, 2017
Warning - You will need a box of tissues. This is the only book that had me totally sobbing.
I first fell in love with Lisa's books with Paper Butterflies, and I believe that I've found myself a new favourite author of 2017.
Told in the dual perspective, sisters and kindred spirits, Rita and Lo have been part of the circus all their lives, they were born into it and they will live out their days flying through the air. When Lo and Spider find out 'something', this secret could ruin everything they have and she feels obligated to protect Rita and to protect the family she has always known in the circus. Lo feels that what if there was more beyond the big top, to take her away from it all? She finds herself attracted to the outside world and more specifically to a 'flattie' - a non circus being, called Dean.
This is my first book based in a Circus, an impenetrable family of talented gymnasts and artists, travelling the world by storm to share their way of life. That's what Lisa did and that's what Lo did to Dean. Rita and Lo have the most precious and unbreakable sisterly bond I've ever read. Lo is a little more daring as you can tell and she gets more so when she meets Dean. Experiencing life beyond the circus sets her flying in a different direction, one so new and fresh, it's almost too much for Lo to bear. Her way of life, is inspiring, everything she see's is so different than how Dean would see it or live it. Lo is almost innocent and that's refreshing to see how something so simple or small could mean so much, like leaving your footprint at the end of their time, so they will always be remembered. It reminds me of my own relationship with my best friend. Plus they both like hot blackcurrant, ha! I love when an author resonates with its readers, that's a sign of a truly brilliant story.I think it doesn't matter whether you're a flattie of circus star, the world continues to revolve around us and it's just how we see it.
I don't know what is is about Lisa's writing but she has this way of creating the most touching of characters that you can't help the way it captures your heart and never lets go till well after reading the book. Rita and Lo have found a special place in my heart with this book, it's just utter perfection.
I don't know really want to say - there is only emotions and feels for this book and I have them all. Flight of a Starling is Lisa's third novel, and it's as beautiful as it is raw than each of her previous novels. Lisa Heathfield has put her footprint on YA, Flight of a Starling is emotional enthralling, beautiful and uplifting. But don't be afraid to take over your emotions because it will.
Rating - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Note: this books contains themes that readers may find distressing, elements of suicide.
Thank you to Electric Monkey for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I first fell in love with Lisa's books with Paper Butterflies, and I believe that I've found myself a new favourite author of 2017.
Told in the dual perspective, sisters and kindred spirits, Rita and Lo have been part of the circus all their lives, they were born into it and they will live out their days flying through the air. When Lo and Spider find out 'something', this secret could ruin everything they have and she feels obligated to protect Rita and to protect the family she has always known in the circus. Lo feels that what if there was more beyond the big top, to take her away from it all? She finds herself attracted to the outside world and more specifically to a 'flattie' - a non circus being, called Dean.
This is my first book based in a Circus, an impenetrable family of talented gymnasts and artists, travelling the world by storm to share their way of life. That's what Lisa did and that's what Lo did to Dean. Rita and Lo have the most precious and unbreakable sisterly bond I've ever read. Lo is a little more daring as you can tell and she gets more so when she meets Dean. Experiencing life beyond the circus sets her flying in a different direction, one so new and fresh, it's almost too much for Lo to bear. Her way of life, is inspiring, everything she see's is so different than how Dean would see it or live it. Lo is almost innocent and that's refreshing to see how something so simple or small could mean so much, like leaving your footprint at the end of their time, so they will always be remembered. It reminds me of my own relationship with my best friend. Plus they both like hot blackcurrant, ha! I love when an author resonates with its readers, that's a sign of a truly brilliant story.I think it doesn't matter whether you're a flattie of circus star, the world continues to revolve around us and it's just how we see it.
I don't know what is is about Lisa's writing but she has this way of creating the most touching of characters that you can't help the way it captures your heart and never lets go till well after reading the book. Rita and Lo have found a special place in my heart with this book, it's just utter perfection.
I don't know really want to say - there is only emotions and feels for this book and I have them all. Flight of a Starling is Lisa's third novel, and it's as beautiful as it is raw than each of her previous novels. Lisa Heathfield has put her footprint on YA, Flight of a Starling is emotional enthralling, beautiful and uplifting. But don't be afraid to take over your emotions because it will.
Rating - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Note: this books contains themes that readers may find distressing, elements of suicide.
Thank you to Electric Monkey for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2017
'I want her angel wings to come alive and fold around me until I sleep and sleep and make it all go away.'
I rate this 3.5 stars!
This novel is based around Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends that are both part of a circus.
Then Lo meets a boy and everything changes.
-SPOILERS INCLUDED-
The circus decide to try out a new trick and Rita hurts herself badly and Lo looks after her, teasing her about her crush on a boy in the circus.
Soon the two go exploring and run into a group of boys, Rita soon learns that Lo has a thing for one of the boys named Dean.
Dean and his friends come to watch the circus and the changeling performance.
They both go in search of the boys and Lo finds out something about her Mother.
She goes in search of Dean and tells her about what she's seen.
Lo spends her last day before the circus moves on with Dean.
As the book moves forward, the events cause Lo to make a tragic decision that ripples around and affects everyone.
A beautiful and simplistic novel about friendship, loss and sisters!!
This was a quick read and I would definitely check out other books from this author.
I rate this 3.5 stars!
This novel is based around Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends that are both part of a circus.
Then Lo meets a boy and everything changes.
-SPOILERS INCLUDED-
The circus decide to try out a new trick and Rita hurts herself badly and Lo looks after her, teasing her about her crush on a boy in the circus.
Soon the two go exploring and run into a group of boys, Rita soon learns that Lo has a thing for one of the boys named Dean.
Dean and his friends come to watch the circus and the changeling performance.
They both go in search of the boys and Lo finds out something about her Mother.
She goes in search of Dean and tells her about what she's seen.
Lo spends her last day before the circus moves on with Dean.
As the book moves forward, the events cause Lo to make a tragic decision that ripples around and affects everyone.
A beautiful and simplistic novel about friendship, loss and sisters!!
This was a quick read and I would definitely check out other books from this author.
July 10, 2017
Themes: love, secrets, performance, mental health, loss
Like Paper Butterflies before it, Flight of a Starling is a lesson in how to write heartbreak. It didn't grip me at all at first as the story felt very slow moving, but I persevered and I'm so glad I did. The language is imaginative and colourful throughout, resulting in a beautiful story.
Even though I knew what was coming from the first chapter, the sadness still crept up on me and hit when I least expected it. Flight of a Starling is a masterpiece.
Like Paper Butterflies before it, Flight of a Starling is a lesson in how to write heartbreak. It didn't grip me at all at first as the story felt very slow moving, but I persevered and I'm so glad I did. The language is imaginative and colourful throughout, resulting in a beautiful story.
Even though I knew what was coming from the first chapter, the sadness still crept up on me and hit when I least expected it. Flight of a Starling is a masterpiece.
August 13, 2017
Initial thoughts: I spent the last quarter of the book crying. Even though the outcome was already clear from the prologue, the details still broke me. No matter how difficult and impossible things seem in the moment, a rash act can end it all. Talking to someone and looking for other anger and grief outlets are a much better solution. Most of all, look for reasons to live, even if all there is are the stars in the sky and birds below.
July 18, 2017
Rita and Lo are close. They rely on each other, in life as well as in their trapeze act. Then Lo meets Dean, a flattie, and the girls start to grow apart.
We watch them in their home environment, getting a feel for life in the circus. It's also a book about choices/dealing with loss.
This was, honestly, slow but it did make you empathise with Lo.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.
We watch them in their home environment, getting a feel for life in the circus. It's also a book about choices/dealing with loss.
This was, honestly, slow but it did make you empathise with Lo.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.
April 14, 2017
Lisa Heathfield hits that sad, thoughtful, important spot again, with characters you just want to hug and writing to die for. This will be a top book for 2017! Just amazing!
June 22, 2017
Lisa Heathfield didn't disappoint. Still gathering my thoughts on this beautifully heartbreaking book. I cried for a good half an hour!!
May 14, 2019
Beautifully written. A great story with many lessons.
July 1, 2024
Heathfield was my favourite author when I was 14-16 and I’m 21 now so I was excited to start this book. A librarian gave it to me as a gift. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe it’s because I’m not a teenager anymore but this book barely made sense to me. Was too silly and rushed. The writings not exactly horrible but it’s not what I’m used to either. I’d probably enjoy it more if I were younger so it’s not the books fault.
April 21, 2019
So, a bit of a SPOILER ALERT here, but there are some things I genuinely feel like people considering reading this book should know before they waste their time.
THE FLIGHT OF A STARLING by Lisa Heathfield is the stupidest, most superficial book you’ll read this year. Please don’t read this book, for your own sake, please. I’m begging you.
TL;DR: Romeo and Juliet retelling gone horribly, horribly wrong. This book will kill your brain cells
How does anyone give this five stars? Are you three years old? Do you listen to Billie Eilish songs from four years ago (sorry billie i love u)? Do you reenact Gossip Girl during recess?
In short, a 17 year old (apparently) girl goes from “perfectly happy, life is good, all is well” to “oh my god, life sucks, guess I’ll kill myself” over the course of like … four or five days because 1) she cannot see the boy she ‘loves’ (which is something she’s decided after she’s talked to him two times), and 2) apparently her 'ma' cheated on her 'da' or something and that is the absolutely end of the world and she absolutely cannot tell anyone because then that will be the end of the world but then if she doesn’t tell anyone then that’s the end of the world as well AND OH MY GOD HAVE YOU PREPARED YOURSELF THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING AND YELLOWSTONE HAS JUST ERUPTED AND THE REDNECKS WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG RAAAAAAAAAAREGH!!!!!!!
And this is by far the most ridiculously take on suicide I’ve ever read and I don’t even feel bad about saying it. I mean … Heatfield might as well have pen-named as Shakespeare and steal his “And thus, with a kiss, I die”. God damn. I am so angry. This crap is straight outta a Taylor Swift music video. In fact, I realize, as I write this, that there is nothing more to this than there is to Taylor Swift’s music video for Love Story really.
And can we just talk about how these people somehow get injured for no apparent reason all. the. time. - and what’s worse is that these injuries have absolutely no relevance to the plot, yet they seemingly take up half the book? One person falls when she’s trying to jump onto a moving motorcycle (understandably). One is punched in the face after an altercation that went something like this:
Person 1: “lol circus freak go away”
Person 2: “lOL bRo HOw DaRe yOU”
Person 1: *angery intensifies*
A third person, an actual circus artist, just … falls down … when walking … and apparently might as well have died or something?
BUT, BUT, BUT: When two people ride down big ass ramps on a skateboard TOGETHER, of which one of said two people have never even set foot on a skateboard before, ALL IS WELL??? HAVE YOU TRIED RIDING A SKATEBOARD, LISA? IT’S FRICKING HARD
??????
Consider me bamboozled.
It started out alright, though, if I’m being completely honest. Quite mysterious in fact, which … I mean, I can dig that. A very nice, sort of magical setting that actually really drew me in.
But then characters with the emotional depth of a 4 year old who just had a lollypop taken away and now hate their parents happen.
And then more characters with the mental capacity of a toddler trying to break out of its crib happen.
And then a bit of pedophilia happens? Maybe? I don’t even think the author was sure.
Idk, maybe I’m just getting too old for this sh-t
If there’s anything positive I can say about this book it’s that it’s a very quick read, which means your suffering is equally brief.
THE FLIGHT OF A STARLING by Lisa Heathfield is the stupidest, most superficial book you’ll read this year. Please don’t read this book, for your own sake, please. I’m begging you.
TL;DR: Romeo and Juliet retelling gone horribly, horribly wrong. This book will kill your brain cells
How does anyone give this five stars? Are you three years old? Do you listen to Billie Eilish songs from four years ago (sorry billie i love u)? Do you reenact Gossip Girl during recess?
In short, a 17 year old (apparently) girl goes from “perfectly happy, life is good, all is well” to “oh my god, life sucks, guess I’ll kill myself” over the course of like … four or five days because 1) she cannot see the boy she ‘loves’ (which is something she’s decided after she’s talked to him two times), and 2) apparently her 'ma' cheated on her 'da' or something and that is the absolutely end of the world and she absolutely cannot tell anyone because then that will be the end of the world but then if she doesn’t tell anyone then that’s the end of the world as well AND OH MY GOD HAVE YOU PREPARED YOURSELF THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING AND YELLOWSTONE HAS JUST ERUPTED AND THE REDNECKS WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG RAAAAAAAAAAREGH!!!!!!!
And this is by far the most ridiculously take on suicide I’ve ever read and I don’t even feel bad about saying it. I mean … Heatfield might as well have pen-named as Shakespeare and steal his “And thus, with a kiss, I die”. God damn. I am so angry. This crap is straight outta a Taylor Swift music video. In fact, I realize, as I write this, that there is nothing more to this than there is to Taylor Swift’s music video for Love Story really.
And can we just talk about how these people somehow get injured for no apparent reason all. the. time. - and what’s worse is that these injuries have absolutely no relevance to the plot, yet they seemingly take up half the book? One person falls when she’s trying to jump onto a moving motorcycle (understandably). One is punched in the face after an altercation that went something like this:
Person 1: “lol circus freak go away”
Person 2: “lOL bRo HOw DaRe yOU”
Person 1: *angery intensifies*
A third person, an actual circus artist, just … falls down … when walking … and apparently might as well have died or something?
BUT, BUT, BUT: When two people ride down big ass ramps on a skateboard TOGETHER, of which one of said two people have never even set foot on a skateboard before, ALL IS WELL??? HAVE YOU TRIED RIDING A SKATEBOARD, LISA? IT’S FRICKING HARD
??????
Consider me bamboozled.
It started out alright, though, if I’m being completely honest. Quite mysterious in fact, which … I mean, I can dig that. A very nice, sort of magical setting that actually really drew me in.
But then characters with the emotional depth of a 4 year old who just had a lollypop taken away and now hate their parents happen.
And then more characters with the mental capacity of a toddler trying to break out of its crib happen.
And then a bit of pedophilia happens? Maybe? I don’t even think the author was sure.
Idk, maybe I’m just getting too old for this sh-t
If there’s anything positive I can say about this book it’s that it’s a very quick read, which means your suffering is equally brief.
June 3, 2017
REVIEW
As I had read Seed and Paper Butterflies both by Lisa Heathfield and loved both books this one quickly made it to my "Must Read" List! Also as I had recently read Spectacle by Rachel Vincent which had a "circus theme" to it I fancied reading something else with a similar theme. The blurb also mentioned the trapeze which was always my favourite act to watch at a circus both as a child and as an adult taking my daughter to the circus too.
I love the cover! The stark black background, the type you would see inside a big top at a circus when looking up at a trapeze act, then the byline "Don't let me fall..." that fits the trapeze, circus theme but also fits various other places within the book too. The brightly coloured starling on the cover represents the trapeze act within the book and the fact they too fly through the air and wear brightly coloured costumes with feathers. There are also the feathers being shed from the starling which mix in with the stars and stardust on the cover. I think this cover represents the trapeze family within this book perfectly. I also think the shedding feathers could well represent those that leave the circus such as main character Lo's Gran, Margaret. I certainly think this cover will attract the eye and attention when it's on a bookstore shelf. What more can I say this cover is perfection!
The main character in this book is Laura, or Lo as everyone call's her, she is part of a group that travels with her family and another couple of families and form a circus. Sadly the circus is not what it used to be, less and less people are being born into the circus and staying in it. In fact this circus is in danger of extinction itself. The main character Lo, seems to long for the life of a flattie. A flattie is someone not in/from a circus. So when Lo meets a flattie called Dean she is as curious about his life, as he is about her life in the circus.
It begins with harmless flirting when a group of the circus teens go to explore the town they are about to set up in. The book concentrates on Lo and Dean, their differences in lifestyle and the fact that they both yearn for something different, and better. Dean lives with his mother who holds down two jobs and they still struggle to make ends meet. Dean is trying to learn a trade, one that he really isn't interested in, that would bring in money for him and his mother quicker and on a more regular basis. Lo's father and most of the circus people have a strong dislike and weariness around flatties, so Lo ends up sneaking around to meet Dean.
When Lo's Da finds out she is seeing a flattie he demands she stops. Lo has become too attached to Dean now and it's like an addiction, she has to see him no matter the cost, no matter what she is neglecting to go see him. Lo's parents have always presumed that their daughter would marry Spider, the fire-breathing son of one of the other families that make up the circus. They have also presumed that their other daughter Rita would marry one of the circus performers called Ash. Rita seemed fairly happy with the arrangement until she develops a crush on Rob, the mechanic who does motorbike tricks with them. Rob was once a flattie but he was allowed to join them as he proved himself doing the motorbike tricks and the amount of ideas he had for further tricks. Lo neither likes nor dislikes him to begin with but later in the book she changes her mind when she sees how he watches her mother and when Spider peeks into Robs home then shows Lo, saying he thinks Rob has a woman with him. When Lo looks in she sees her mother.
Despite being ordered to end whatever relationship it is she has with Dean, and everyone thinking once the circus moved to a different place it would be the end anyway. The relationship continues with Dean using his mother's car to get to the new places the circus is at. It's at one of the new places that Lo also sees her mother and Rob on the beach, but cannot say anything about it as she has sneaked out to see Dean after being warned not to. That is the same day that Grands has a fall and is injured making Lo both angry at her Ma, as is she had been where she should have been she would have heard Grands and then he wouldn't have lain on the floor so long. Lo also feels a little guilty that she wasn't about to help Grands too, due to her seeing Dean. So Lo is carrying a lot of information around with her, confusion about her mother and Rob, as well as about her mother and father. Everything is almost revealed when Rita declares her love for Rob. Their Da goes round to Rob's home and drags him back to his home demanding to know what is going on. Lo sees the guilty looks between Ma and Rob but says nothing. Rob turns everything round onto Rita making out she is a silly little girl with a crush, that he had tried to tell her he wasn't interested but she hadn't listened.
With so much whirling round in Lo's head she makes a catastrophic decision. . . which she later regrets so much. In fact all the sacrifices the circus performing families have made may no longer save the circus as they wonder if it's worth continuing their lifestyle.
The book is written from the differing points of view of Rita and Lo. You can actually feel the different personalities within their own chapters too. It is a rather sad story really, all the things the circus performers give up to keep their show and way of life alive when in reality it is a way of life that is slowly dying. Within the book you see how prejudiced people can be. At one point a young teen boy calling Lo and her family "pikeys" and suggesting they are unclean and are all thieves. On the other hand, the travelling circus performers dislike "flatties" living in one place, coming to the circus demanding more and more dangerous stunts to keep their trade.
My thoughts throughout reading this book, were that it was an emotional and poignant read. You agonize along with Lo wanting to see Dean even though she knows it is a forbidden. She also tortures herself with the two images she has of Rob and her mother together. Also as a reader you have to feel some frustration at Lo and some of the hasty decisions she makes. I wanted to hug Grands, I think if Lo had talked more openly with him, maybe she wouldn't have made such a life changing decision. It shows up the difference in culture and knowledge when the circus people come into contact with medical flatties whom they think can fix anything and everything, almost like magic.
I also loved the characters of Lo & Rita, they were close sisters who told each other almost everything. In fact it is Rita that Lo finally confesses what she has done that will change all their lives. I seriously wanted to shake Lo & Rita's mother and scream at her asking how long she truly thought she could keep such a secret amongst people that live so close to each other. It wasn't really a case of who found out first, more a question of when! I felt like punching Rob. Rob who is a flattie pretending to have circus in his blood.....who in my opinion didn't really care about the circus ways of life, he just wanted the adrenaline that the roar of the crowd made when he came up with more dangerous stunts and they watched them in awe. Why did he have to join the circus and what on earth did he think would be the result of his "meetings" with Liz. Surely he also would know it was only a matter of when the secret came out. I enjoyed disliking Rob as a character, he played with Rita's emotions, and was doing something that would impact and possibly break the circus he professed to love to tiny pieces.
My actual first thoughts upon finishing the book were that the book was certainly thought provoking, sad yet uplifting, full of emotions and loss.
Once again I will be on the look out for any other titles by this author. I love her style of writing along with the real life issues she weaves in her slightly more unusual plots. You'll understand what I mean if you read more than one of her books. I highly recommend you read them all.
As I had read Seed and Paper Butterflies both by Lisa Heathfield and loved both books this one quickly made it to my "Must Read" List! Also as I had recently read Spectacle by Rachel Vincent which had a "circus theme" to it I fancied reading something else with a similar theme. The blurb also mentioned the trapeze which was always my favourite act to watch at a circus both as a child and as an adult taking my daughter to the circus too.
I love the cover! The stark black background, the type you would see inside a big top at a circus when looking up at a trapeze act, then the byline "Don't let me fall..." that fits the trapeze, circus theme but also fits various other places within the book too. The brightly coloured starling on the cover represents the trapeze act within the book and the fact they too fly through the air and wear brightly coloured costumes with feathers. There are also the feathers being shed from the starling which mix in with the stars and stardust on the cover. I think this cover represents the trapeze family within this book perfectly. I also think the shedding feathers could well represent those that leave the circus such as main character Lo's Gran, Margaret. I certainly think this cover will attract the eye and attention when it's on a bookstore shelf. What more can I say this cover is perfection!
The main character in this book is Laura, or Lo as everyone call's her, she is part of a group that travels with her family and another couple of families and form a circus. Sadly the circus is not what it used to be, less and less people are being born into the circus and staying in it. In fact this circus is in danger of extinction itself. The main character Lo, seems to long for the life of a flattie. A flattie is someone not in/from a circus. So when Lo meets a flattie called Dean she is as curious about his life, as he is about her life in the circus.
It begins with harmless flirting when a group of the circus teens go to explore the town they are about to set up in. The book concentrates on Lo and Dean, their differences in lifestyle and the fact that they both yearn for something different, and better. Dean lives with his mother who holds down two jobs and they still struggle to make ends meet. Dean is trying to learn a trade, one that he really isn't interested in, that would bring in money for him and his mother quicker and on a more regular basis. Lo's father and most of the circus people have a strong dislike and weariness around flatties, so Lo ends up sneaking around to meet Dean.
When Lo's Da finds out she is seeing a flattie he demands she stops. Lo has become too attached to Dean now and it's like an addiction, she has to see him no matter the cost, no matter what she is neglecting to go see him. Lo's parents have always presumed that their daughter would marry Spider, the fire-breathing son of one of the other families that make up the circus. They have also presumed that their other daughter Rita would marry one of the circus performers called Ash. Rita seemed fairly happy with the arrangement until she develops a crush on Rob, the mechanic who does motorbike tricks with them. Rob was once a flattie but he was allowed to join them as he proved himself doing the motorbike tricks and the amount of ideas he had for further tricks. Lo neither likes nor dislikes him to begin with but later in the book she changes her mind when she sees how he watches her mother and when Spider peeks into Robs home then shows Lo, saying he thinks Rob has a woman with him. When Lo looks in she sees her mother.
Despite being ordered to end whatever relationship it is she has with Dean, and everyone thinking once the circus moved to a different place it would be the end anyway. The relationship continues with Dean using his mother's car to get to the new places the circus is at. It's at one of the new places that Lo also sees her mother and Rob on the beach, but cannot say anything about it as she has sneaked out to see Dean after being warned not to. That is the same day that Grands has a fall and is injured making Lo both angry at her Ma, as is she had been where she should have been she would have heard Grands and then he wouldn't have lain on the floor so long. Lo also feels a little guilty that she wasn't about to help Grands too, due to her seeing Dean. So Lo is carrying a lot of information around with her, confusion about her mother and Rob, as well as about her mother and father. Everything is almost revealed when Rita declares her love for Rob. Their Da goes round to Rob's home and drags him back to his home demanding to know what is going on. Lo sees the guilty looks between Ma and Rob but says nothing. Rob turns everything round onto Rita making out she is a silly little girl with a crush, that he had tried to tell her he wasn't interested but she hadn't listened.
With so much whirling round in Lo's head she makes a catastrophic decision. . . which she later regrets so much. In fact all the sacrifices the circus performing families have made may no longer save the circus as they wonder if it's worth continuing their lifestyle.
The book is written from the differing points of view of Rita and Lo. You can actually feel the different personalities within their own chapters too. It is a rather sad story really, all the things the circus performers give up to keep their show and way of life alive when in reality it is a way of life that is slowly dying. Within the book you see how prejudiced people can be. At one point a young teen boy calling Lo and her family "pikeys" and suggesting they are unclean and are all thieves. On the other hand, the travelling circus performers dislike "flatties" living in one place, coming to the circus demanding more and more dangerous stunts to keep their trade.
My thoughts throughout reading this book, were that it was an emotional and poignant read. You agonize along with Lo wanting to see Dean even though she knows it is a forbidden. She also tortures herself with the two images she has of Rob and her mother together. Also as a reader you have to feel some frustration at Lo and some of the hasty decisions she makes. I wanted to hug Grands, I think if Lo had talked more openly with him, maybe she wouldn't have made such a life changing decision. It shows up the difference in culture and knowledge when the circus people come into contact with medical flatties whom they think can fix anything and everything, almost like magic.
I also loved the characters of Lo & Rita, they were close sisters who told each other almost everything. In fact it is Rita that Lo finally confesses what she has done that will change all their lives. I seriously wanted to shake Lo & Rita's mother and scream at her asking how long she truly thought she could keep such a secret amongst people that live so close to each other. It wasn't really a case of who found out first, more a question of when! I felt like punching Rob. Rob who is a flattie pretending to have circus in his blood.....who in my opinion didn't really care about the circus ways of life, he just wanted the adrenaline that the roar of the crowd made when he came up with more dangerous stunts and they watched them in awe. Why did he have to join the circus and what on earth did he think would be the result of his "meetings" with Liz. Surely he also would know it was only a matter of when the secret came out. I enjoyed disliking Rob as a character, he played with Rita's emotions, and was doing something that would impact and possibly break the circus he professed to love to tiny pieces.
My actual first thoughts upon finishing the book were that the book was certainly thought provoking, sad yet uplifting, full of emotions and loss.
Once again I will be on the look out for any other titles by this author. I love her style of writing along with the real life issues she weaves in her slightly more unusual plots. You'll understand what I mean if you read more than one of her books. I highly recommend you read them all.
June 28, 2017
Sometimes, I read a book and I genuinely don't know how I feel about it. This is what has happened here, so I'll try and put it into words as best I can without spoiling anything.
Firstly, I haven't read either of the other two books written by this author, though both have been on my Kindle for ages (Seed & Paper Butterflies) so I wasn't sure what to expect from the writing.
This is the story of Rita and Lo, sisters who have been born and raised in a circus family. They never stay in one place for two long, and they are not permitted to spend time with "flatties" - (the circus version of muggles, or non-circus folk). This is fine - until Lo meets a boy, Dean, who isn't part of the circus. Lo finds herself torn - she wants to stay with the circus but also wants to stay with Dean; she also discovers something that makes her question everything she has been told.
We get chapters from both Lo and Rita, and lots of circus-based scenes. I've never been a fan of the circus or carnivals (I blame an incident with a clown and Stephen King equally) but with the rise in popularity of the circus as a YA setting, I've become intrigued by the magic and performance side. I would have liked a tiny bit more of that - I felt that there were too many characters at the start to keep track of.
There really isn't any other way to say it other than - it did escalate quickly (is that a trapeze pun? Ba-doom-TISH), and it did leave me feeling a bit bewildered. Approach with caution - but I'm definitely going to bump the author's other books up my TBR a few notches, I liked her writing style and her way of storytelling.
Thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a digital ARC via Netgalley.
Firstly, I haven't read either of the other two books written by this author, though both have been on my Kindle for ages (Seed & Paper Butterflies) so I wasn't sure what to expect from the writing.
This is the story of Rita and Lo, sisters who have been born and raised in a circus family. They never stay in one place for two long, and they are not permitted to spend time with "flatties" - (the circus version of muggles, or non-circus folk). This is fine - until Lo meets a boy, Dean, who isn't part of the circus. Lo finds herself torn - she wants to stay with the circus but also wants to stay with Dean; she also discovers something that makes her question everything she has been told.
We get chapters from both Lo and Rita, and lots of circus-based scenes. I've never been a fan of the circus or carnivals (I blame an incident with a clown and Stephen King equally) but with the rise in popularity of the circus as a YA setting, I've become intrigued by the magic and performance side. I would have liked a tiny bit more of that - I felt that there were too many characters at the start to keep track of.
There really isn't any other way to say it other than - it did escalate quickly (is that a trapeze pun? Ba-doom-TISH), and it did leave me feeling a bit bewildered. Approach with caution - but I'm definitely going to bump the author's other books up my TBR a few notches, I liked her writing style and her way of storytelling.
Thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a digital ARC via Netgalley.
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