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If I Could Fly
Tender and deeply moving, "If I Could Fly" is an unputdownable novel with real heart. It will keep you guessing until the final page. Calypso Summer. Yeah, that really is my name. 'A girl with such a name is on a journey. She will have adventures,' my mother used to murmur in my ear. And I now I am on a journey. I'm running from something terrible - but I don't know what. It's like my brain has blocked it out. For now, I'm learning to survive: to break the System and not get caught. I've found a friend I can trust. Next stop, freedom. Somehow, somewhere..."If I Could Fly" is a story you'll never forget.
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 16, 2011
If I Could Fly is an eccentric, surreal story set in a future where England is subject to the controlling power of the state and it eats away at peoples personal freedoms.
Calypso Summer is thirteen and on the run. She cannot remember who she is running from or why but running she is. The first chapter of If I Could Fly is stream of consciousness. It is both poetic and yet alienating as the writing is unfamiliar. The whole novel is told in the first person present tense which makes Caly’s story a vibrant burst of life.
The England Caly lives in has been transformed by a dangerous virus that has swept through the countryside. The State claims that it is spread by wild animals. A great culling has begun to exterminate the wild creatures and people are being rounded up and quarantined. Caly’s home life is in some ways very similar to other teens today. She goes to school, does her homework and loves her mother. Yet there are sinister differences too. Young People are counted in and out of the estate by a guard who mans the gates.
Caly finds a release with a group of free runners called the Feathers. She idolises the leader and learns the techniques of free running from him but also the need to ask questions, to have rebellious thoughts. But this is all memory from before Caly runs. It is what happens to Caly running that is the real coming of age story.
There is beautiful writing in this novel and an intriguing back story. Caly’s mum is Thai and her dad is British. The Thai heritage that Hucklesbury weaved into the story was my favourite aspect of the novel. I loved the imagery and the gentle introduction of the Thai culture.
Unfortunately there is one aspect of the novel that left me feeling dissatisfied and that was the twist. I feel cheated by it. For me it left me with so many questions about the society, the virus, the FISTS and although that wasn’t the point of the novel, I wanted it to be. The answer that I was presented with left me disappointed. I can see that the ending relates to the novel being a surreal and almost fluid exploration of character but it wasn’t really for me.
Having said all that, there is plenty to delight the reader in If I Could Fly: the style of the writing, the friendships and the back story. An elegant, slightly dystopian, kaleidoscopically surreal coming-of-age story, If I Could Fly will appeal to readers who like their books to be out of the mainstream.
Calypso Summer is thirteen and on the run. She cannot remember who she is running from or why but running she is. The first chapter of If I Could Fly is stream of consciousness. It is both poetic and yet alienating as the writing is unfamiliar. The whole novel is told in the first person present tense which makes Caly’s story a vibrant burst of life.
The England Caly lives in has been transformed by a dangerous virus that has swept through the countryside. The State claims that it is spread by wild animals. A great culling has begun to exterminate the wild creatures and people are being rounded up and quarantined. Caly’s home life is in some ways very similar to other teens today. She goes to school, does her homework and loves her mother. Yet there are sinister differences too. Young People are counted in and out of the estate by a guard who mans the gates.
Caly finds a release with a group of free runners called the Feathers. She idolises the leader and learns the techniques of free running from him but also the need to ask questions, to have rebellious thoughts. But this is all memory from before Caly runs. It is what happens to Caly running that is the real coming of age story.
There is beautiful writing in this novel and an intriguing back story. Caly’s mum is Thai and her dad is British. The Thai heritage that Hucklesbury weaved into the story was my favourite aspect of the novel. I loved the imagery and the gentle introduction of the Thai culture.
Unfortunately there is one aspect of the novel that left me feeling dissatisfied and that was the twist. I feel cheated by it. For me it left me with so many questions about the society, the virus, the FISTS and although that wasn’t the point of the novel, I wanted it to be. The answer that I was presented with left me disappointed. I can see that the ending relates to the novel being a surreal and almost fluid exploration of character but it wasn’t really for me.
Having said all that, there is plenty to delight the reader in If I Could Fly: the style of the writing, the friendships and the back story. An elegant, slightly dystopian, kaleidoscopically surreal coming-of-age story, If I Could Fly will appeal to readers who like their books to be out of the mainstream.
August 15, 2023
I truly like this book, however I have some qualms with it.
The beginning of the book was a great way to tackle the fuzzy and disorienting feeling that comes after a large incident. The writing flows like a mind running in circles, panicking but exhausted (the style of the writing throughout the book had me immersed). I wanted there to be more of an influence and an explanation about the illness, the FISTS, and the government in general after they were introduced. The framing really had me believe it was going to play a larger role than it did. I feel like it was ultimately used more as a plot device rather than an aspect of the plot that could be further explored and extrapolated to give Calypso's final decision infinitely more meaning.
Calypso's time being a free runner ties into this same problem. The impact of all of her outside discoveries could have amounted to so much more; she is seeing the world uninhibited for the first time, caring about Furball contrasted with seeing animals slaughtered in the streets. We don't see that drive at the end of the book. They mention what happens to the kids who got caught and chipped like Dair, but we don't see mention of wanting to protect animals like Furball, or the hardships that come with the isolation that she encountered.
It sounds like being a free runner taught Calypso some parkour and a few survival skills that helped her while she was a ghost, but it struck me more as a child playing pretend and early teenaged rebellion being used to have her meet Dair. Their pairing didn't further her story as a member of the free runners or the resistance either, it was convenient for them to pair up. She simply gained the bottle cap and the watchful eyes of Alfie, when her fight could've strengthened her feeling of ire towards Vern and the will to continue to do something. Drawing similarities between him and the corrupt government, seeing the fact that her and Little Bird were both just as isolated as she was while being a ghost makes her decision to live all the more worthwhile. It removes the vague ability to do something, and replaces it with acknowledgment of what those problems are and why they are harmful. It allows her to have already done something.
All of that being said, I do like the understated mentions of Vern and what Calypso's situation ended up to be. Gathering bits and flashes of memories really drove home the point of abuse being often silent and hard to notice if you're not looking for it. Furthermore the extended metaphor of Little Bird being exchanged for 'Mom' at key times was brilliant. The handling of trauma was graceful. For any young teen or older teen, this could be incredibly valuable in handling life's hardships.
In conclusion, the book was a good read, I do recommend.
The beginning of the book was a great way to tackle the fuzzy and disorienting feeling that comes after a large incident. The writing flows like a mind running in circles, panicking but exhausted (the style of the writing throughout the book had me immersed). I wanted there to be more of an influence and an explanation about the illness, the FISTS, and the government in general after they were introduced. The framing really had me believe it was going to play a larger role than it did. I feel like it was ultimately used more as a plot device rather than an aspect of the plot that could be further explored and extrapolated to give Calypso's final decision infinitely more meaning.
Calypso's time being a free runner ties into this same problem. The impact of all of her outside discoveries could have amounted to so much more; she is seeing the world uninhibited for the first time, caring about Furball contrasted with seeing animals slaughtered in the streets. We don't see that drive at the end of the book. They mention what happens to the kids who got caught and chipped like Dair, but we don't see mention of wanting to protect animals like Furball, or the hardships that come with the isolation that she encountered.
It sounds like being a free runner taught Calypso some parkour and a few survival skills that helped her while she was a ghost, but it struck me more as a child playing pretend and early teenaged rebellion being used to have her meet Dair. Their pairing didn't further her story as a member of the free runners or the resistance either, it was convenient for them to pair up. She simply gained the bottle cap and the watchful eyes of Alfie, when her fight could've strengthened her feeling of ire towards Vern and the will to continue to do something. Drawing similarities between him and the corrupt government, seeing the fact that her and Little Bird were both just as isolated as she was while being a ghost makes her decision to live all the more worthwhile. It removes the vague ability to do something, and replaces it with acknowledgment of what those problems are and why they are harmful. It allows her to have already done something.
All of that being said, I do like the understated mentions of Vern and what Calypso's situation ended up to be. Gathering bits and flashes of memories really drove home the point of abuse being often silent and hard to notice if you're not looking for it. Furthermore the extended metaphor of Little Bird being exchanged for 'Mom' at key times was brilliant. The handling of trauma was graceful. For any young teen or older teen, this could be incredibly valuable in handling life's hardships.
In conclusion, the book was a good read, I do recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2018
Really slow and confusing for most of it. It only got good at the end. Alfie is a lovely character though, couldn’t feel any attachment to Caly at all.
August 2, 2011
I'm not entirely sure what to make of this one. On the one hand, Jill Hucklesby's prose is gorgeous and flows like poetry. When I initially picked up If I Could Fly I found myself reading the first chapter aloud to myself to feel the rhythm of the words. I thought then that this would be a book to treasure.
But after a few chapters, Hucklesby's gorgeous-but-purple prose began to test my patience. I'm willing to overlook her strange writing style since the majority of the novel is written as a running stream of consciousness from a thirteen-year-old girl and like all pre-teens Calypso is both imaginative and imaginatively stunted. However, at many times throughout the novel Calypso seemed much younger than thirteen and I couldn't get a real sense of her as a character. I also didn't like the strange dystopian setting. Now I love me a dystopia, but this one needn't have been there at all. It didn't seem to contribute anything to the plot and felt completely out of place. After the surprise twist (which occurs after about 200 pages of nothing) I was hoping that the ending would make up for the disappointing beginning and middle, but I found it sadly obvious and unoriginal.
So I'm left feeling completely confused. I doubt I'll buy another novel by Hucklesby, but if she decides to write poetry, I'll gobble it up.
But after a few chapters, Hucklesby's gorgeous-but-purple prose began to test my patience. I'm willing to overlook her strange writing style since the majority of the novel is written as a running stream of consciousness from a thirteen-year-old girl and like all pre-teens Calypso is both imaginative and imaginatively stunted. However, at many times throughout the novel Calypso seemed much younger than thirteen and I couldn't get a real sense of her as a character. I also didn't like the strange dystopian setting. Now I love me a dystopia, but this one needn't have been there at all. It didn't seem to contribute anything to the plot and felt completely out of place. After the surprise twist (which occurs after about 200 pages of nothing) I was hoping that the ending would make up for the disappointing beginning and middle, but I found it sadly obvious and unoriginal.
So I'm left feeling completely confused. I doubt I'll buy another novel by Hucklesby, but if she decides to write poetry, I'll gobble it up.
September 27, 2010
I couldn't get into this book! I think it was the style of writing. I will admit I read the first half just thinking what is going on then I skimmed the second half. I didn't like the ending either.
November 25, 2013
I didn't know what this book is all about and when I finished I still didn't know, so that is not a very good sign. I was just reading because I wanted to find out, but I didn't. So I can't even tell you what is happening in that book. Everything was so strange about it..
March 12, 2018
Don't get me wrong , this was a good book and it had its excitements and high points however it rambled on for most of the book.
I liked the introduction , it wasn't too heavy compared to other beginnings of books that I have read previously. I liked the portrayal of the family which gets examined much more towards the middle /end of the book. The system was mentioned in the blurb but I never got any more information on what the system was in their society. However the end did bring a twist which I had not quite expected and it was quite a strong ending.
The writer herself ;Huckelsby, is an amazing author. I feel that she had a tendency in most of the book to turn it into a more narrative poetic feel rather than an adventure fiction book however I liked the flow it created throughout. She goes at quite a fast pace but feel like it was quite jumbled which could give the ending more of a meaning. This is something I loved about Jill's work. She has as variety and mix of intricate and strong themes in the book which gives the reader a break sometimes so they don't get an overwhelming feeling sometimes of too much of one theme throughout the book.
SPOILERS
I liked the characters of both Alfie and Calypso and felt they were two very bold protagonists and was very upset when they split at the end of the book as I honestly thought that Caly would give up her fight to be with Alfie.
Also the fact that Caly was nearly dead and in between two states was a very clever idea and brought the whole book into perspective and clearly became the reason for an extra star. Although the end was pretty well thought out , I feel as if the beginning and middle were just very rambly and overly done which was pretty boring however the ending did save it and gave it the prefect twist
I liked the introduction , it wasn't too heavy compared to other beginnings of books that I have read previously. I liked the portrayal of the family which gets examined much more towards the middle /end of the book. The system was mentioned in the blurb but I never got any more information on what the system was in their society. However the end did bring a twist which I had not quite expected and it was quite a strong ending.
The writer herself ;Huckelsby, is an amazing author. I feel that she had a tendency in most of the book to turn it into a more narrative poetic feel rather than an adventure fiction book however I liked the flow it created throughout. She goes at quite a fast pace but feel like it was quite jumbled which could give the ending more of a meaning. This is something I loved about Jill's work. She has as variety and mix of intricate and strong themes in the book which gives the reader a break sometimes so they don't get an overwhelming feeling sometimes of too much of one theme throughout the book.
SPOILERS
I liked the characters of both Alfie and Calypso and felt they were two very bold protagonists and was very upset when they split at the end of the book as I honestly thought that Caly would give up her fight to be with Alfie.
Also the fact that Caly was nearly dead and in between two states was a very clever idea and brought the whole book into perspective and clearly became the reason for an extra star. Although the end was pretty well thought out , I feel as if the beginning and middle were just very rambly and overly done which was pretty boring however the ending did save it and gave it the prefect twist
April 4, 2018
Couldn’t get into it, couldn’t read it. 😩😢
May 7, 2019
By the end of this book. I started to enjoy it more however i thought the whole plot was a bit slow-paced and the writing style was rather boring in my opinion
June 27, 2019
I really enjoyed the story and how it unraveled
January 26, 2022
Very confused at the the start but at the end it got really goood
January 31, 2023
I read this when I was a young teenager, I sat in my school library and read the entire thing in three lunch times
January 21, 2011
If I Could Fly is a beautiful and fascinating read that completely captured my attention.
Jill Hucklesby wrote If I Could Fly in a lyrical and songlike prose that created a truly individual narrative style. It’s written in the rarely used present tense which, with the lyricism, gives the novel a dreamlike feel. I was constantly unsure as to whether what Caly was seeing and doing was real or not. I occasionally wondered if she was perhaps hallucinating or dreaming due to the intensely involving use of metaphor.
When I began this book I expected a very traditional middle-grade contemporary novel. But what I got was far from that. If I Could Fly is set in the England of the near future where a virus spreading across Europe has caused England to be split into zones, curfews, rebellions and widespread fear. It was almost apocalyptic in a way and was very unexpected which I loved.
The main thought from Caly through the novel is the mystery of what she is running from. As the novel moves forward, fragments of memories were stirred in her and we saw tiny glimpses of the event that led her to flee. Although the trigger for her running away is alluded to and could probably be guessed at, I didn't know until it was revealed near to the end. It wasn’t a disappointment at all and I understood completely why her brain had blocked it from her.
As well as the intriguing plot line and beautiful prose style, Jill Hucklesby created a cast of lovable and memorable characters. Caly is a strong and independent girl who I immediately liked and this only grew with the building of her hose of books. I think I want one. She did, however, seem both older and younger than thirteen. Then you’ve got sweet and funny Alfie in all his Superman t-shirted glory who was such a good friend to Caly. But my favourite character was crazy, old Dair. His madness was endearing and I would really liked to have heard his story.
If I Could Fly is a striking novel that shocked me a mind-blowing twist at the end that will be loved and remembered by everyone who reads it.
Jill Hucklesby wrote If I Could Fly in a lyrical and songlike prose that created a truly individual narrative style. It’s written in the rarely used present tense which, with the lyricism, gives the novel a dreamlike feel. I was constantly unsure as to whether what Caly was seeing and doing was real or not. I occasionally wondered if she was perhaps hallucinating or dreaming due to the intensely involving use of metaphor.
When I began this book I expected a very traditional middle-grade contemporary novel. But what I got was far from that. If I Could Fly is set in the England of the near future where a virus spreading across Europe has caused England to be split into zones, curfews, rebellions and widespread fear. It was almost apocalyptic in a way and was very unexpected which I loved.
The main thought from Caly through the novel is the mystery of what she is running from. As the novel moves forward, fragments of memories were stirred in her and we saw tiny glimpses of the event that led her to flee. Although the trigger for her running away is alluded to and could probably be guessed at, I didn't know until it was revealed near to the end. It wasn’t a disappointment at all and I understood completely why her brain had blocked it from her.
As well as the intriguing plot line and beautiful prose style, Jill Hucklesby created a cast of lovable and memorable characters. Caly is a strong and independent girl who I immediately liked and this only grew with the building of her hose of books. I think I want one. She did, however, seem both older and younger than thirteen. Then you’ve got sweet and funny Alfie in all his Superman t-shirted glory who was such a good friend to Caly. But my favourite character was crazy, old Dair. His madness was endearing and I would really liked to have heard his story.
If I Could Fly is a striking novel that shocked me a mind-blowing twist at the end that will be loved and remembered by everyone who reads it.
September 27, 2011
This completely took me by surprise, it's actually one of the best books I've read in ages, with a totally original idea that kept me captivated with every page. Free running hasn't been in many books I personally have read, I think it's because there's such a danger of it sounding utterly dull but Hucklesby killed it! She captured exactly what free running is and made it her own.
Her characters were each a gem of the highest calibre. Little Bird, although initially I thought, cheesy idea, however within sentences she ha dme completely converted. There wasn't an annoying character in sight, which is rare for teen fiction. Dair was brilliant, I loved him. The steel bottle cap?? GENIUS!!! Alfie of course was like an adorable puppy, quite a resiliant puppy granted but a puppy nonetheless. He was everything he should've been and more. Calypso herself was so well worked on I could've met her and not beleived she was fictional (in the land where you can meet fictional characters of course. Which I would LOVE, I mean every girl has that literary guy crush right?) Anyway she was just right for the book, being realistically scared out of her wits and yet strong enough to survive.
The world Hucklesby created was intriguing too, FISTS sounded like something that could, one day, be us. Which made the book even more intriguing for me.
SPOILER
The End...........................Soooooo frustrating and yet I still loved it. Depending what mood I'm in I can beleive that it's Little Bird's hand that Calypso is holding and the "caress" is Alfie or I can switch it round I can run riot with the endings in my head. I love it and therefore it should stay that way I very much hope they don't do a second one, it would ruin it.
Overall though this book was beyond brilliant and I would definatley recommend it to anyone, I may in fact even force it on a few people.....
http://thehouseofliterarymirrors.blog...
Her characters were each a gem of the highest calibre. Little Bird, although initially I thought, cheesy idea, however within sentences she ha dme completely converted. There wasn't an annoying character in sight, which is rare for teen fiction. Dair was brilliant, I loved him. The steel bottle cap?? GENIUS!!! Alfie of course was like an adorable puppy, quite a resiliant puppy granted but a puppy nonetheless. He was everything he should've been and more. Calypso herself was so well worked on I could've met her and not beleived she was fictional (in the land where you can meet fictional characters of course. Which I would LOVE, I mean every girl has that literary guy crush right?) Anyway she was just right for the book, being realistically scared out of her wits and yet strong enough to survive.
The world Hucklesby created was intriguing too, FISTS sounded like something that could, one day, be us. Which made the book even more intriguing for me.
SPOILER
The End...........................Soooooo frustrating and yet I still loved it. Depending what mood I'm in I can beleive that it's Little Bird's hand that Calypso is holding and the "caress" is Alfie or I can switch it round I can run riot with the endings in my head. I love it and therefore it should stay that way I very much hope they don't do a second one, it would ruin it.
Overall though this book was beyond brilliant and I would definatley recommend it to anyone, I may in fact even force it on a few people.....
http://thehouseofliterarymirrors.blog...
April 20, 2011
At first my opinions of this book were slighty sketchy and confused as to the puropse of the story and some idea as to where it was going. Now though I am roughly an eighth throughout the book and it really is quite a good read. It caaptures the feeble and yet imaginative mind of people in their earlyl teens as well as being beautifully written in a way that it makes the reader constantly wonder what is going to happen next. As it will give clues to Calypso (the main character)life before she ran away and will hopefully give some idea as to where the Calypso will be further on in the book. I love the way Jill Huckelsby is playing on my imagination while reading the book as I try to figure out form her subtle and inconclusive clues about Calypso's past and future and just why is he running away. I look forward to the ending of the book and hope to read more books from this author.
July 27, 2013
Picked this book up for free from a book exchange area. I was attracted my the cover and the title, seemed like it might be an interesting, but light read. I managed to read it pretty quickly, but found that there was a lot of plots and factors in the book that weren’t really needed or explained throughly. The world in which the main character lives is on that is ruled by the FISTS and has been devastated by a virus. Throughout the book I was waiting for all this to be explained and explored, but it never seemed to be. I felt that the entire story could have been written without this situation. The basic plot was good, and there are plenty of twists and turns, however I finished the book feeling quite unsatisfied and wanted much more from the author and the story.
May 16, 2014
Very impressed by how the book turned out. I cant believe I put this book of for so long!
The ending was quite sad indeed and i wished she hadn't made the decision of going back, but of course she needed to she Little Bird. Shame her farther is still alive, i wished he had the knife in his leg instead of poor Calypso Summer (yes thats really her name!)
I loved also how the author described her thoughts. I really truly felt like i was in the book with Caly and Alfie and of course little Furball.
i wonder is there a second book? I hope so.
The ending was quite sad indeed and i wished she hadn't made the decision of going back, but of course she needed to she Little Bird. Shame her farther is still alive, i wished he had the knife in his leg instead of poor Calypso Summer (yes thats really her name!)
I loved also how the author described her thoughts. I really truly felt like i was in the book with Caly and Alfie and of course little Furball.
i wonder is there a second book? I hope so.
September 9, 2010
A beautiful debut written for younger readers set in a future where the fear of a deadly virus causes all kinds of rules and regulations.
The relationship that blooms between the two main characters is touching.
The relationship that blooms between the two main characters is touching.
July 9, 2011
review to come - for all of my reviews check out my blog http://basicallybooks1994.blogspot.com/
October 27, 2011
Totally brilliant. At first i thought it was a simple virus outbreak survivor story but the twist and turns we absolutey amazing!
February 4, 2012
An easy read, but missing something. I wasn't walking around telling people about it or anything. I think the front cover doesn't match the story at all.
May 24, 2013
At first I thought it'd be a mystery story, but as it went on I realised it was a love story and a tremendously sad story. In my top three favourite books still three years after reading it!
October 16, 2013
This book was okay, but it was terribly confusing. I still do not know what to think of it, though I do know it is very sad. I do not recamend this book to anyone.
April 21, 2014
FAVOURITE BOOK *gush gush gush gush*
September 12, 2014
I started reading this book and found it was pure brilliance and they ending was amazing!
April 15, 2014
This book was great, loved the plot twist at the end.
Read
March 29, 2016I'm sure I've read this book....
I remember it but not really sure!
I remember it but not really sure!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews