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Flight #1
Flight
Austria 1945. After losing his family, Jakob shelters with Herr Engel in a rural stable, where they hide the precious Lipizzanner stallions they know Hitler wants to steal. When a German officer comes looking for Jakob and finds the horses, Jakob and his guardian know they must get the stallions to safety, but the only way is straight through Nazi territory. Joined by Kizzy, an orphan Roma girl, the three must guide the horses across the perilous Austrian mountains. Will they reach safety? What will be waiting for them on the other side?
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
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160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 16, 2021
This book blew me away! I'm a huge fan of WWII novels, especially thought told from the point of view of children. FLIGHT tells the story of a young Jewish boy named Jakob who had been taken by a horse instructor named Herr Engel and, along with some prized stallions, left Vienna to hide away in a farmhouse. When SS officers come knocking and inquiring about Jakob, Herr Engel decides to take the horses and Jakob back to Vienna to hide in a riding school. Not long after their journey sets off, they're joined by a young Roma girl named Kizzy, who brings more than her good spirits to the group. The three make the arduous journey through Nazi territory to get to safety.
This book can get very brutal. I'm not a softie for violence, but this one took me by surprise. So, if your son or daughter is going to, make sure you give it a read-through before handing it over. Personally, I think stories like this should be told in the exact way they happened. War is not pretty, and the fight for survival even less so.
Kizzy and Jakob are superb protagonist. They each bring their own expertise and skills to the table and despite their tragic backstories, bring courage as well.
FLIGHT is a brilliant story of survival that will stick with you for a long time to come.
This book can get very brutal. I'm not a softie for violence, but this one took me by surprise. So, if your son or daughter is going to, make sure you give it a read-through before handing it over. Personally, I think stories like this should be told in the exact way they happened. War is not pretty, and the fight for survival even less so.
Kizzy and Jakob are superb protagonist. They each bring their own expertise and skills to the table and despite their tragic backstories, bring courage as well.
FLIGHT is a brilliant story of survival that will stick with you for a long time to come.
June 5, 2021
Inspired by a real mission, this is a story of courage, adventure, friendship, and dancing horses.
August 9, 2018
This book didn’t blow my mind, but it was a quick and easy read and hey it has horses in it so I am bound to love it as I love anything with the word horse in it as I’m a big horse fanatic. It was a nice story, nothing major happened which made me want to read it ASAP, but still a good read. Also it’s historical fiction, which again is a big love for me, so I knew I would enjoy it purely because of that as well.
Basically if you love horses or history, read this book. 3/5 stars from meee.
Basically if you love horses or history, read this book. 3/5 stars from meee.
May 4, 2021
Set in the turbulent background of Austria, during the final years of of World War II, this is a story of courage, compassion and friendship. Young Jakob is a Jewish orphan with a powerful bond to horses. Under the care of Herr Engel, Head Groom of the Spanish Riding School, Jakob has managed to evade the Nazis do far. But when a tip-off results in the death of one of their horses, Jakob and Herr Engel must flee, and take the horses with them Teaming up with Kizzy, a young Roma girl, the begin a long, dangerous journey over the perilous Austrian mountains.
This is a beautifully written, emotive and moving debut novel from master wordsmith, Vanessa Harbour. The pace is exciting, the world vivid and the characters gripping and real. Most of all, the depiction of the special relationship between Jakob and the horses is especially poignant, and will feel familiar to any horse-lover. Harbour writes with sensitivity and insight, carrying us through this epic adventure with ease and eloquence.
One thing I will say is that the book contains some dark scenes, as to be expected in a story set during such a horrific period in history. Parents buying for sensitive readers may want to look through first, as a few sections could be upsetting.
Harbour is definitely a children's author to look out for and one I will be following closely! I impatiently await her next book!
This is a beautifully written, emotive and moving debut novel from master wordsmith, Vanessa Harbour. The pace is exciting, the world vivid and the characters gripping and real. Most of all, the depiction of the special relationship between Jakob and the horses is especially poignant, and will feel familiar to any horse-lover. Harbour writes with sensitivity and insight, carrying us through this epic adventure with ease and eloquence.
One thing I will say is that the book contains some dark scenes, as to be expected in a story set during such a horrific period in history. Parents buying for sensitive readers may want to look through first, as a few sections could be upsetting.
Harbour is definitely a children's author to look out for and one I will be following closely! I impatiently await her next book!
February 27, 2021
Spoiler alert - for me this is and almost perfect story. I shall try not to let that cloud my objectivity, (but it really is practically perfect in every way!)
First of all, if you're not a fan of war novels, don't let that put you off. Flight is set at the end of the second world war, and yes, the Nazis are truly terrifying antagonists, but for me this is really a story about survival, determination, loyalty and - best and most of all - horses!
Jakob, Herr Engel and their friend Kizzy are great characters, but let's be honest, the horses, with their huge hearts and strength and courage, are the real heroes . Every animal is so perfectly drawn, each with their own personalities and quirks, I could feel their flesh quiver and smell their sweat as they undertook their mammoth journey, guided lovingly by Jakob, Kizzy and Herr Engel.
And much as the horses trust, and feel safe, with their guides, readers of Flight are super safe in the hands of expert story teller Vanessa Harbour, who cranks up the tension brilliantly then, just as the characters (and the reader!) reach breaking point, gently brings us back to the core themes of determination, loyalty and survival that carry us cheering to the very end.
And the best thing is, a little bird told me there is a sequel on the way!
First of all, if you're not a fan of war novels, don't let that put you off. Flight is set at the end of the second world war, and yes, the Nazis are truly terrifying antagonists, but for me this is really a story about survival, determination, loyalty and - best and most of all - horses!
Jakob, Herr Engel and their friend Kizzy are great characters, but let's be honest, the horses, with their huge hearts and strength and courage, are the real heroes . Every animal is so perfectly drawn, each with their own personalities and quirks, I could feel their flesh quiver and smell their sweat as they undertook their mammoth journey, guided lovingly by Jakob, Kizzy and Herr Engel.
And much as the horses trust, and feel safe, with their guides, readers of Flight are super safe in the hands of expert story teller Vanessa Harbour, who cranks up the tension brilliantly then, just as the characters (and the reader!) reach breaking point, gently brings us back to the core themes of determination, loyalty and survival that carry us cheering to the very end.
And the best thing is, a little bird told me there is a sequel on the way!
April 1, 2021
3.5 stars. Solid MG historical fiction. At times a little graphic and horrifying (par for the course with WWII historical fiction), this was a story of resilience and perseverance. Jakob, a Jewish orphan travels with his guardian, Herr Engel, and a handful of stallions from the Spanish Riding School in Austria. Along their journey to bring the stallions to safety, they find and “adopt” this Roma girl, Kizzy, whose family was killed by Nazis a few years previously.
This book had my heart in my throat at times, and was very moving and gripping. I just wanted it to end well, and I did like the ending. Solid, quick read.
This book had my heart in my throat at times, and was very moving and gripping. I just wanted it to end well, and I did like the ending. Solid, quick read.
June 19, 2021
Oh my heart, what a compelling, engaging, un-put-downable read! Absolutely loved it, I was gripped from the very first line. I adore books that make me feel, and this one did just that. I really felt as though I was flying across the mountains with Jakob, Kizzy and Herr Engel. Simply wonderful!
December 19, 2018
Surprisingly dark at times, yet hopeful story of a boy called Jakob and a girl called Kizzy, both of whom are 'unclean' by the standards of the controlling Nazi party in Austria. When the Nazi party threatens the horses in the Spanish Riding School, Jakob, Kizzy and the head groom set out to bring to horses to safety.
This book really evokes a strong sense of time and place, putting you in Jakob's shoes as he experiences terror, joy and everything in between. A brilliant read for Upper KS2!
This book really evokes a strong sense of time and place, putting you in Jakob's shoes as he experiences terror, joy and everything in between. A brilliant read for Upper KS2!
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March 30, 2025Not going to rate this. I feel like I've read this story about a dozen times before - probably because I am old enough that I have (variations on a theme anyway). Beware of animal death in the first few pages.
August 8, 2018
It's 1944 and Jakob is hiding from the Nazis...
My full review here: https://bit.ly/2AOnOT8
My full review here: https://bit.ly/2AOnOT8
September 1, 2018
Flight is a tale of war and survival. The story is at once harrowing and hopeful as it explores the theme of protecting those who are unable to protect themselves.
In 1945 rural Austria, Jakob is a Jewish boy who is in hiding from the Nazis. After losing his own family, Jakob has found shelter in a horse stable under the guardianship of Herr Engel. Jakob is not the only one being protected there; the stables also secretly harbour a group of precious Lipizzaner stallions that Hitler wishes to steal.
One day a German officer appears, suspecting that Herr Engel might be hiding something. After a shocking scene (not for the faint hearted!) in which the officer shoots and kills one of the horses, Jakob and his guardian flee in the middle of the night, along with the remaining horses.
Aiming to trek across the mountains to a safer village, the pair face peril at every turn as they are forced to cross Nazi territory to get the stallions to safety at the other side. Along the way, Jakob meets a Roma girl called Kizzy, who joins the journey and makes an excellent companion for Jakob.
The story is filled with jeopardy but it also celebrates the courage of those who choose to protect people and animals in difficult times despite the extraordinary personal cost.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
In 1945 rural Austria, Jakob is a Jewish boy who is in hiding from the Nazis. After losing his own family, Jakob has found shelter in a horse stable under the guardianship of Herr Engel. Jakob is not the only one being protected there; the stables also secretly harbour a group of precious Lipizzaner stallions that Hitler wishes to steal.
One day a German officer appears, suspecting that Herr Engel might be hiding something. After a shocking scene (not for the faint hearted!) in which the officer shoots and kills one of the horses, Jakob and his guardian flee in the middle of the night, along with the remaining horses.
Aiming to trek across the mountains to a safer village, the pair face peril at every turn as they are forced to cross Nazi territory to get the stallions to safety at the other side. Along the way, Jakob meets a Roma girl called Kizzy, who joins the journey and makes an excellent companion for Jakob.
The story is filled with jeopardy but it also celebrates the courage of those who choose to protect people and animals in difficult times despite the extraordinary personal cost.
Many thanks to the publisher for kindly sending me a review copy of this book.
March 16, 2020
Gripping from the very first sentence; "If Jakob sneezed he could die", this is a powerful, yet delicate tale that has all the impact of a classic while still being fast-paced, incredibly incisive and compelling. While there are many WWII stories, and many more emerging; while there is a huge canon of horse stories, this one stands head and shoulders above them. With richly described settings, the plot is carefully woven to reveal the peril of its' time and the courage and hope within its' characters at a time when hope was easily lost. The reader will feel the passion these young people have for the horses and the determination in themselves and belief in each other. It is filled with compassion and emotion. The entire book is written with such texture and nuance, it is like reading a painting. Powerful, beautifully conveyed, extraordinary and thought-provoking; story-telling that will be appreciated by children and adults alike.
September 7, 2018
I don’t know what the pull is when it comes to horses and danger, but show me any such story and I’m hooked right then and there. Dick Francis thrillers; Stacy Gregg’s The Island of Lost Horses and Darby Karchut’s Del Toro Moon; even the Australian World War I film The Lighthorsemen – it doesn’t matter what age range they’re aimed at, I can’t get enough of them.
Now there’s Vanessa Harbour’s Flight, about a young boy and his mentor leading several Lipizzaner stallions to safety during World War II. It has a likeable hero – and an even more likeable heroine, a Roma girl called Kizzy who forces her way into the expedition – vivid dangers, and it all moves along at a great pace.* I believe this is Vanessa Harbour’s first book. I hope she writes more.
*And it has one of the best covers ever!
Now there’s Vanessa Harbour’s Flight, about a young boy and his mentor leading several Lipizzaner stallions to safety during World War II. It has a likeable hero – and an even more likeable heroine, a Roma girl called Kizzy who forces her way into the expedition – vivid dangers, and it all moves along at a great pace.* I believe this is Vanessa Harbour’s first book. I hope she writes more.
*And it has one of the best covers ever!
August 2, 2018
I loved the premise of this book, but the execution left something to be desired. For a WWII narrative, and a chase book, it seemed very slow? And even though the stakes were VERY high -- Jakob is a young Jewish boy on the run from Nazis -- you never felt the danger? There was something off about the internal dialogue and pacing.
That being said, I do think some of my problems with the book are probably because I don't read a lot of Middle Grade and I'm used to pacier, scarier YA. Parts of this book were really cute, and I was glad to see it position a Jewish boy and a Roma girl as the protagonists. If you have a younger MG kid who likes quieter books featuring horses, they may still like this.
That being said, I do think some of my problems with the book are probably because I don't read a lot of Middle Grade and I'm used to pacier, scarier YA. Parts of this book were really cute, and I was glad to see it position a Jewish boy and a Roma girl as the protagonists. If you have a younger MG kid who likes quieter books featuring horses, they may still like this.
November 29, 2022
Jakob is a Jewish boy who found refuge at the Lipizzaner stables after his parents disappeared on Kristallnacht. Herr Engel, one of the horse trainers, has gotten some of the stallions and Jakob out of the city, but now a Nazi officer has gotten too nosy about both Jakob and the famous Lipizzaners, so they must escape into the mountains. On the first night out, a Roma girl named Kizzy asks if she can join them. She followed them out, and has learned from watching them over days that they are good people. But escaping with them is dangerous. And leading several horses secretly into the mountains of Austria and getting to a safe spot will be exceptionally difficult.
This is based loosely on the true story of how the Lipizzaners were saved during WWII. I recommend reading this along with The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts, which is a nonfiction account of saving the Lipizzaners. There's even a young readers' edition perfect for middle grade readers who enjoy this book. The biggest difference between this protrayal of events and the real history is that in this book they have to convince General Patton to rescue the Lipizzaners while in reality Patton was already aware of the Lipizzaners and as a horse enthusiast eager to help out. I'm not sure why they changed that, perhaps to make this book more exciting. I was a little surprised by the amount of swearing, but I think that's because this is British and what registers as swears to an American audience may not register with a British audience. This WWII escape/survival tale will appeal to horse lovers, WWII story fans, and survival story fans. The font size is larger than normal, making this a relatively quick read.
Notes on content: 7 minor swears. No sexual content. At one point a Nazi demands Jakob drop his pants to determine if he's a Jew, but something happens to prevent that. There are two animal deaths on page, human deaths in the war are mentioned but not described. Both humans and animals sustain injuries that are minimally described.
This is based loosely on the true story of how the Lipizzaners were saved during WWII. I recommend reading this along with The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts, which is a nonfiction account of saving the Lipizzaners. There's even a young readers' edition perfect for middle grade readers who enjoy this book. The biggest difference between this protrayal of events and the real history is that in this book they have to convince General Patton to rescue the Lipizzaners while in reality Patton was already aware of the Lipizzaners and as a horse enthusiast eager to help out. I'm not sure why they changed that, perhaps to make this book more exciting. I was a little surprised by the amount of swearing, but I think that's because this is British and what registers as swears to an American audience may not register with a British audience. This WWII escape/survival tale will appeal to horse lovers, WWII story fans, and survival story fans. The font size is larger than normal, making this a relatively quick read.
Notes on content: 7 minor swears. No sexual content. At one point a Nazi demands Jakob drop his pants to determine if he's a Jew, but something happens to prevent that. There are two animal deaths on page, human deaths in the war are mentioned but not described. Both humans and animals sustain injuries that are minimally described.
March 15, 2021
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the finished book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Flight
Author: Vanessa Harbour
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Roma character, Jewish characters
Recommended For...: middle grade, historical fiction, horse stories
Publication Date: August 1, 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 13+ (Violence, Gore, Animal violence and killing, Starvation, Racism, Nazi imagery, Scary moments)
Publisher: Firefly Press LTD
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Austria 1945. After losing his family, Jakob shelters with Herr Engel in a rural stable, where they hide the precious Lipizzanner stallions they know Hitler wants to steal. When a German officer comes looking for Jakob and finds the horses, Jakob and his guardian know they must get the stallions to safety, but the only way is straight through Nazi territory. Joined by Kizzy, an orphan Roma girl, the three must guide the horses across the perilous Austrian mountains. Will they reach safety? What will be waiting for them on the other side?
Review: For the most part I enjoyed the book. It had some decent character development and the world building was marvelous. I also enjoyed the plot and it kept me hooked from beginning to end. The book is also equal parts horrifying and terrifying, and it blends together well to show and give off the feel of what the Jewish, Roma, LGBT+, etc. people felt those days.
However, the first 10 pages of the book nearly broke me as an animal lover and honestly there should be some trigger warnings in there. The first pages see the violent death of a horse and it gutted me to read that. I also felt the pacing was a bit too fast.
Verdict: It was good, but surprisingly gorey.
Book: Flight
Author: Vanessa Harbour
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Roma character, Jewish characters
Recommended For...: middle grade, historical fiction, horse stories
Publication Date: August 1, 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 13+ (Violence, Gore, Animal violence and killing, Starvation, Racism, Nazi imagery, Scary moments)
Publisher: Firefly Press LTD
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Austria 1945. After losing his family, Jakob shelters with Herr Engel in a rural stable, where they hide the precious Lipizzanner stallions they know Hitler wants to steal. When a German officer comes looking for Jakob and finds the horses, Jakob and his guardian know they must get the stallions to safety, but the only way is straight through Nazi territory. Joined by Kizzy, an orphan Roma girl, the three must guide the horses across the perilous Austrian mountains. Will they reach safety? What will be waiting for them on the other side?
Review: For the most part I enjoyed the book. It had some decent character development and the world building was marvelous. I also enjoyed the plot and it kept me hooked from beginning to end. The book is also equal parts horrifying and terrifying, and it blends together well to show and give off the feel of what the Jewish, Roma, LGBT+, etc. people felt those days.
However, the first 10 pages of the book nearly broke me as an animal lover and honestly there should be some trigger warnings in there. The first pages see the violent death of a horse and it gutted me to read that. I also felt the pacing was a bit too fast.
Verdict: It was good, but surprisingly gorey.
March 16, 2019
Move over Morpurgo, there's a stunning new gritty, emotional war horse story here and it's called Flight.
Written with beautiful, engaging and accessible prose for its middle-grade readership, Vanessa Harbour's Flight is - of course - a completely different story to Michael Morpurgo's brilliant War Horse. But, Flight stands on its own four legs because it grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. You could say it gallops towards the end.
The story is about Jakob, a Jew boy who has lost his parents and is being hidden by his guardian Herr Engel. And Herr owns many horses that need to be rescued before the Germans decide to round them up and shoot them...just like they're doing with the Jews in this story set at the end of WWII.
I should say, there are some pretty brutal moments in this story that made me hold my breath so it's not a book for very young children. However, to portray the horrors of what the Germans did to the Jews, there is no other way of telling a story set in that time...and about a boy who is running for his life across the Austrian mountains to save himself and his horses.
I loved, in this story, how each and every horse had a particular character or look so I could easily picture them when any action was occurring. I also loved Jakob's inspiring and dramatic relationship with both his guardian and the Roma girl, Kizzy, who joins them on their race to save the horses.
Flight is a brilliant, eye-opening story and educational too. Written with passion and heart, this is one I highly recommend!
Written with beautiful, engaging and accessible prose for its middle-grade readership, Vanessa Harbour's Flight is - of course - a completely different story to Michael Morpurgo's brilliant War Horse. But, Flight stands on its own four legs because it grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. You could say it gallops towards the end.
The story is about Jakob, a Jew boy who has lost his parents and is being hidden by his guardian Herr Engel. And Herr owns many horses that need to be rescued before the Germans decide to round them up and shoot them...just like they're doing with the Jews in this story set at the end of WWII.
I should say, there are some pretty brutal moments in this story that made me hold my breath so it's not a book for very young children. However, to portray the horrors of what the Germans did to the Jews, there is no other way of telling a story set in that time...and about a boy who is running for his life across the Austrian mountains to save himself and his horses.
I loved, in this story, how each and every horse had a particular character or look so I could easily picture them when any action was occurring. I also loved Jakob's inspiring and dramatic relationship with both his guardian and the Roma girl, Kizzy, who joins them on their race to save the horses.
Flight is a brilliant, eye-opening story and educational too. Written with passion and heart, this is one I highly recommend!
September 1, 2025
The first chapter made me think the book would be a 5 star. It was so powerful and gripping. Yes, the rest of the book just went downhill from there. Definitely for a young reader- this book focused on saving Lipizzaner horses from the Nazis as well as a Jewish boy and Roma girl. Although it introduced some of the horrors of WWII and the treatment of those the Nazis hoped to exterminate, the actual storyline was completely ridiculous and unbelievable. The last 20 percent of the book was a joke and should have been cut out- there was no need for the ridiculous scenes of Bauer showing up and Yakob "saving the day" when for sure the Nazis would have returned en force and shot all of them. In addition, the timing of the Allies showing up, doing a Spanish Riding School show in order to promote the saving of the mares-- it was just more and more ludicrous. I do not appreciate very light and flaky historical fiction. Writing things that would never happen creates a false sense of the severity of the Holocaust and those that suffered during it-- and people that are ignorant, young, or not well read may actually believe some of the historical inaccuracies.
February 7, 2021
What a wonderful story with such warmth and hope and love.
A story of a young Jewish boy who, after losing his parents during the WII German invasion, takes refuge at the Spanish horse riding school in Vienna. As you would expect, it is dark at times, but the story sings of love and loyalty between the horses, the boy and his guardian, and also a Roma girl also in search of sanctuary.
I was pulled into their tale and willed them on through their journey and beyond it.
The relationship with the horses is enlightening to those (like me) who have never known such love and I’m sure inviting to those who have.
The writing is superb, flowing beautifully and carrying me faultlessly through this wonderful tale.
I really believe this book, its characters and its hope will stay with me always.
So glad I followed this recommendation into this fictional story in a very really history.
It’s one to read carefully with MG readers - there’s some dark but important truths within it - but I highly recommend it.
A story of a young Jewish boy who, after losing his parents during the WII German invasion, takes refuge at the Spanish horse riding school in Vienna. As you would expect, it is dark at times, but the story sings of love and loyalty between the horses, the boy and his guardian, and also a Roma girl also in search of sanctuary.
I was pulled into their tale and willed them on through their journey and beyond it.
The relationship with the horses is enlightening to those (like me) who have never known such love and I’m sure inviting to those who have.
The writing is superb, flowing beautifully and carrying me faultlessly through this wonderful tale.
I really believe this book, its characters and its hope will stay with me always.
So glad I followed this recommendation into this fictional story in a very really history.
It’s one to read carefully with MG readers - there’s some dark but important truths within it - but I highly recommend it.
April 19, 2022
I had only a few issues with what I think is an engaging and exciting story. There was both courage and bravery from all the characters. A few details came from being an adult reading a middle grade book I think. As a life long horse owner and equestrian i tried hard to stretch my imagination that anyone knowledgeable about horses would chose to cross that river in separate groups and that they would remain quiet as half their herd was moved across. I do not think a scumbag would have been an epithet at that time. That jolted me out of the time period. This book had the potential to be a really important work and just a few details dropped this out of a five star review. The true story of horses being moved by Patton is fascinating for anyone who would like to check that out. The story of Witez II who was an Arabian stallion rescued from Poland is called I believe .., And Miles To Go by Linell Nash Smith.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2018
Flight is a novel in verse that beautifully tells the tale of Jakob and Herr Engel, who charge themselves with moving the Lipizzanner stallions they care for before Hitler's soldiers can steal them.
In a time during which civilians would kill the horses for food, and the Nazis would do so for fun, this is an edge-of-your-seat adventure. Ms. Harbour does an amazing thing- she gives each horse a distinct personality. So much so, that I stopped to revel in the fact that I was growing familiar and attached to certain ones. This may be a first for me.
Rich characters, dangerous and captivating plot, and beautiful prose. Flight will satisfy WWII aficionados and animals lovers alike. Highly recommended for grades 5 and up. *Readers should know there is animal cruelty, but it is used to push the plot forward.*
In a time during which civilians would kill the horses for food, and the Nazis would do so for fun, this is an edge-of-your-seat adventure. Ms. Harbour does an amazing thing- she gives each horse a distinct personality. So much so, that I stopped to revel in the fact that I was growing familiar and attached to certain ones. This may be a first for me.
Rich characters, dangerous and captivating plot, and beautiful prose. Flight will satisfy WWII aficionados and animals lovers alike. Highly recommended for grades 5 and up. *Readers should know there is animal cruelty, but it is used to push the plot forward.*
February 10, 2019
This was a great premise for a book: exciting setting in Nazi Austria, interesting plot about needing to transport stallions, two child characters representing minority ethnic groups...
It started with a tense and gripping scene with a Nazi SS man searching for a Jewish boy. However I didn’t find that this book sustained the same level of interest. To be fair, I think it is aimed at KS2 but I found some of the reading, particularly character description, simple and clunky. I was also bothered by the critical tone of the depiction of the Romany girl character.
It started with a tense and gripping scene with a Nazi SS man searching for a Jewish boy. However I didn’t find that this book sustained the same level of interest. To be fair, I think it is aimed at KS2 but I found some of the reading, particularly character description, simple and clunky. I was also bothered by the critical tone of the depiction of the Romany girl character.
June 4, 2019
Brilliant! I am not particularly fond of horses, but I do appreciate books that involve the connection between a person and a horse. I also read almost every book about the various ways people showed resistance against the Nazis, or managed to endure in secret to the end of the war.
So, I can say this book is a gem. Drama and tension, highs and lows of feeling, and accomplishments that make other people change their minds about what could be attempted. All here in this book.
Perhaps it is even one I would have buy for my shelf with those I loan to young people who love reading.
So, I can say this book is a gem. Drama and tension, highs and lows of feeling, and accomplishments that make other people change their minds about what could be attempted. All here in this book.
Perhaps it is even one I would have buy for my shelf with those I loan to young people who love reading.
June 26, 2021
This occurs at the end of WWII and there aren’t many elementary/middle school books about this time period of the war. It did feel odd that their living conditions didn’t seem too drastic, at least relative to many other WWII historical fiction books I’ve read. They and the horses always seemed to have enough food. They had multiple changes of clothing and even had their own supply of some basic medicines. I might still recommend this to a 5th grade or older reader who is not too sensitive because the horse deaths were hard to read about.
April 13, 2019
This thrilling, unputdownable WW2 adventure follows Jakob (a Jewish boy) and Kizzy (a Roma girl) on their mission to save a string of Lipizzaner horses in 1945’s Austria. I enjoyed the plot of this well-paced story and loved seeing the friendships develop between Jakob and Kizzy, Jakob and his guardian, and between the humans and the horses. If I had read this, years ago, when I was a preteen and obsessed with horses, this would no doubt have been one of my favourite books.
January 25, 2019
I loved reading Flight, it is now one of my favourite books! I enjoyed seeing Jakob and Kizzy fight against the obstacles in their race to save the horses. The characters were really exciting and seemed so real. The book is actually based on a real life event and I liked it because I had learnt about this before. I thoroughly loved the book and hope to see a sequel soon!- RB, 12 yo
September 26, 2023
An easy to read story set in WWII based around rescuing Lipizzaner stallions from a Spanish riding school in Austria by 2 older children and one of the riders.
Probably aimed at middle grade readers though there are a few horse deaths and a couple of scary/tense moments.
I enjoyed this for the horses and the developing friendship between Kizzy and Jakob.
Probably aimed at middle grade readers though there are a few horse deaths and a couple of scary/tense moments.
I enjoyed this for the horses and the developing friendship between Kizzy and Jakob.
July 3, 2018
I was very lucky to get my hands on a review copy of Flight. It immediately put me in mind of the classic, I am David. I love books that are journeys (literal and metaphorical) and this hit the spot on both counts. In a world of books about mystery and magic this was a satisfying alternative.
May 12, 2022
A gorgeous story about the power and beauty of horses, and the ways in which marginalised people band together to save them. At times brutal, this doesn't shy away from the atrocities committed in World War Two - and is all the stronger for it.
November 10, 2018
2.5 stars?
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