Fly Away

by Nora Rock

After a member of her competitive cheerleading team is injured in practice, sixteen-year-old Marnie is asked to be a flyer-the most coveted role in cheerleading. The Soar Starlings team has a real shot at the provincial championship, and Marnie has only a few weeks to prepare. But as she scrambles to polish her lifts and throws, Marnie's personal life begins to unravel. First, her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her, and then her best friend Arielle, captain of the Starlings, disappears during a team trip to Toronto. As Marnie struggles to adjust to being both a flyer and the team's new captain, she realizes that, to be a leader, you have to let go of old alliances to make room in your life for new ones.

Genres: Sports, Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Nora is a full-time freelance writer based in Ajax, Ontario. Besides her fiction work, Nora is the author of twelve non-fiction books, most in the area of law-for-the-layperson (for high school and college students, law enforcement officers, social workers, medical professionals, employers, etc.).

Nora has a law degree from the University of Toronto and was called to the Bar of Ontario, but never practiced law; instead, she worked for seven years as the Director of Acquisitions for an academic publisher before going freelance.

Reviews

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate the book “Fly Away” by Nora Rock 4 stars because I think it was a very good book. I think that people who are interested in cheerleading would especially enjoy reading this book. A reason I gave the book 4 stars is because the events in the story were going by very fast so it was talking about one thing one second, and then the next paragraph is about something else. Some events in the book were a little unrealistic so those parts of the book were a little slow because it’s just expected. This book has a lot of action and adventure like the characters are always in some type of adventure so the book isn't that boring. But overall I liked the book.

[Nereida Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fly away by Nora Rock is a really interesting book and I really enjoyed this book. Marnie, a 16-year-old who is a member of a cheerleading group, but when one of her friends Emma is injured in a fall, Marnie takes Emma's place as a flyer. Marnie had to deal with some things, firstly, it was her boyfriend named Liam, who was distant with her, and secondly, her friend Arielle, who is also a cheerleader and a talented artist who disappears just before a big competition in Toronto. Marnie tries to do everything possible to discover what had really happened with her friend.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. After a girl on her team breaks her collar bone, Marnie, who is 16, is going to take her position. Outside her cheerleading life, her boyfriend Liam has seemed distant lately. Her friend and teammate Arielle is also drifting away. One night Liam leaves Marnie on the side of the road and she has to call her dad to pick her up. In the end he apologizes right before Marnie does her routine for _________. Before the competition, the team goes to compete somewhere else, but the morning of the competition, Arielle is missing. She is also the team captain. Marnie and a younger teammate, Shona, go and search for her. Shona is with Marnie because her grandparents live in Toronto where Arielle could be. Marnie and Shona find Arielle at this artists place, after getting into some dangerous situations. Arielle was supposed to go to college but she decides to work for the guy instead. Very quick read!

[bjneary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Laurie O for reading and reviewing this for PSLA 2012!
Marnie has one dream and hope, to be a flyer on her cheerleading team, the Soar Starling All-Stars. When one of her teammates is injured, Marnie gets her wish. . Now Marnie has to deal with the anxiety over potentially getting cut from the team and drama with her boyfriend, Liam and best friend, Arielle. Arielle suddenly disappears on a cheerleading trip to Toronto and Marnie tries to get to the bottom of things. In doing so, more secrets come out and the plot intensifies. "Fly Away" by Nora Rock is a great choice for teen girls looking for a quick, easy read.

[Kiserbookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! This is not the typical preppy cheerleader book. It is the perfect balance of Friendship, Cheerleading ,and most certainly surprise.If you are looking for a true page turner with the ultimate surprise ending than this is the book for you.I would recommend this book for girls ages 13+ because there are 1 or 2 parts that are borderline adult, but nothing mature girls can't handle.
Enjoy this amazing book!

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[MissThomasloves2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

one to recommend to readers next year