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Piper McCloud #1
The Girl Who Could Fly
You can’t keep a good girl down...unless you use the proper methods.
Piper McCloud can fly. Just like that. Easy as pie.
Sure, she hasn’t mastered reverse propulsion and her loops are kind of sloppy, but she’s real good at loop-the-loops.
Problem is, the good folk of Lowland County are afraid of Piper. And her ma is at her wit’s end. So it seems only fitting that she leave her parents’ farm to attend a top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities.
School is great at first with a bunch of new friends whose skills range from super-strength to super-genius. (Plus all the homemade apple pie she can eat!) But Piper is special, even among the special. And there are consequences.
Consequences too dire to talk about. Too crazy to consider. And too dangerous to ignore.
At turns exhilarating and terrifying, Victoria Forester’s debut novel is an unforgettable story of defiance and courage about an irrepressible heroine who can, who will, who must...fly.
Piper McCloud can fly. Just like that. Easy as pie.
Sure, she hasn’t mastered reverse propulsion and her loops are kind of sloppy, but she’s real good at loop-the-loops.
Problem is, the good folk of Lowland County are afraid of Piper. And her ma is at her wit’s end. So it seems only fitting that she leave her parents’ farm to attend a top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities.
School is great at first with a bunch of new friends whose skills range from super-strength to super-genius. (Plus all the homemade apple pie she can eat!) But Piper is special, even among the special. And there are consequences.
Consequences too dire to talk about. Too crazy to consider. And too dangerous to ignore.
At turns exhilarating and terrifying, Victoria Forester’s debut novel is an unforgettable story of defiance and courage about an irrepressible heroine who can, who will, who must...fly.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2008
About the author
Victoria Forester
3 books343 followersVictoria grew up on a remote farm in Ontario, Canada. After graduating from the University of Toronto, her passion for storytelling led her to write and direct a short film for the CBC. When her next film was completed (The Pony’s Tale which aired on Global Television) she eagerly, and perhaps rashly, set off to Los Angeles.
The famous independent film producer, Roger Corman, mentored Victoria and gave her the opportunity to write and direct her first feature film, Circuit Breaker for Showtime starring Richard Grieco and Corben Bernsen.
This was soon followed by Macon County Jail with David Carradine and Ally Sheedy, and Cry of the White Wolf for the Disney Channel. Next Victoria directed Teen Scorcery, a fun story about mischievous teenage witches that was shot in Romania
The Girl Who Could Fly began as a screenplay that was optioned by Paramount Pictures. Victoria loved the story so much she decided to write it as a book as well. It is her very first book but she looks forward to the opportunity of writing many, many more.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, newborn daughter and ridiculously orange cat, Rufus.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/victor...
The famous independent film producer, Roger Corman, mentored Victoria and gave her the opportunity to write and direct her first feature film, Circuit Breaker for Showtime starring Richard Grieco and Corben Bernsen.
This was soon followed by Macon County Jail with David Carradine and Ally Sheedy, and Cry of the White Wolf for the Disney Channel. Next Victoria directed Teen Scorcery, a fun story about mischievous teenage witches that was shot in Romania
The Girl Who Could Fly began as a screenplay that was optioned by Paramount Pictures. Victoria loved the story so much she decided to write it as a book as well. It is her very first book but she looks forward to the opportunity of writing many, many more.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, newborn daughter and ridiculously orange cat, Rufus.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/victor...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,428 reviews
November 28, 2008
The McClouds have always done things the same way. They've farmed the same land, lived in the same town, and lived the same simple life for generations. But Piper McCloud is different. From the moment she was born, Piper could float, and when she got a little older, Piper taught herself how to fly.
When Piper accidentally reveals her talent at the town's Fourth of July picnic, she causes an uproar, and draws a lot of attention--including the attention of Dr. Letitia Hellion, who runs an institute of special children. Piper is whisked away to Dr. Hellion's school--and at first, it's wonderful. For the first time, Piper has friends--kids her own age who understand what it's like to be special, to be different.
But everything is not as innocent as it seems. Soon, Piper will be faced with the terrible truth behind the institute's welcoming facade. And what Piper chooses will affect every living thing within the grip of the institute.
Okay, I loved this book. Let me say that right off the bat. For starters, Piper is such a loveable character it's impossible not to take to her. She's a sweetheart, but she's clever and thoughtful, and she feels honest and real. And the other kids at the institute are great as well.
And the story is great. The institute is a fascinating place, and when the danger becomes apparent, it's very real and very scary. And the way Piper and the other kids react to it is pitch perfect. There were twists I certainly did not expect--the book surprised me, but in ways that made sense.
This book feels like it's setting up for a sequel, and I hope it is, because I want to read more about Piper and her amazing group of superpowered friends.
When Piper accidentally reveals her talent at the town's Fourth of July picnic, she causes an uproar, and draws a lot of attention--including the attention of Dr. Letitia Hellion, who runs an institute of special children. Piper is whisked away to Dr. Hellion's school--and at first, it's wonderful. For the first time, Piper has friends--kids her own age who understand what it's like to be special, to be different.
But everything is not as innocent as it seems. Soon, Piper will be faced with the terrible truth behind the institute's welcoming facade. And what Piper chooses will affect every living thing within the grip of the institute.
Okay, I loved this book. Let me say that right off the bat. For starters, Piper is such a loveable character it's impossible not to take to her. She's a sweetheart, but she's clever and thoughtful, and she feels honest and real. And the other kids at the institute are great as well.
And the story is great. The institute is a fascinating place, and when the danger becomes apparent, it's very real and very scary. And the way Piper and the other kids react to it is pitch perfect. There were twists I certainly did not expect--the book surprised me, but in ways that made sense.
This book feels like it's setting up for a sequel, and I hope it is, because I want to read more about Piper and her amazing group of superpowered friends.
March 19, 2009
This book is utterly fabulous. While charmed from the beginning, I was simultaneously wary that it might be hodge podge of ripped off ideas from Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter & X-Men. Thankfully, this book ended up creating a world of characters and places firmly its own. I love this book, and recommend it to anyone.
November 3, 2010
Aw man, I really wanted to like this.
The cover promised a cross between "Little House on the Prairie" and "X-Men," which sounded promising, but I should have paid attention to the fact that it was Stephenie Meyer who wrote that quote. Unfortunately, a lot like Twilight, this book takes something that could be really cool, and reduces it down to something that just seems lame. In Twilight the vampires were lame-ified; in this book it's superheroes.
It started off really nicely. I liked Piper right away, and enjoyed some of the wordplay of the author, and the setting. Unfortunately it sort of disintegrated from there. Piper is sent to a school for people with powers like hers, where she's got a wonderful room, interesting classes, and delicious food to eat. You can probably take it from there. After she goes to school, it's all cliche. The characters' personalities don't stay the same from page to page, the villain has very stock motivations, and Piper turns into Pollyanna.
Even the setting is confusing. Maybe the "Little House on the Prairie" mention threw me off, but I was thinking this book was set in the 19th century until Piper was sent to school, at which point it looks like it's actually modern day. I couldn't buy it.
Unfortunately this book could have been so much more.
The cover promised a cross between "Little House on the Prairie" and "X-Men," which sounded promising, but I should have paid attention to the fact that it was Stephenie Meyer who wrote that quote. Unfortunately, a lot like Twilight, this book takes something that could be really cool, and reduces it down to something that just seems lame. In Twilight the vampires were lame-ified; in this book it's superheroes.
It started off really nicely. I liked Piper right away, and enjoyed some of the wordplay of the author, and the setting. Unfortunately it sort of disintegrated from there. Piper is sent to a school for people with powers like hers, where she's got a wonderful room, interesting classes, and delicious food to eat. You can probably take it from there. After she goes to school, it's all cliche. The characters' personalities don't stay the same from page to page, the villain has very stock motivations, and Piper turns into Pollyanna.
Even the setting is confusing. Maybe the "Little House on the Prairie" mention threw me off, but I was thinking this book was set in the 19th century until Piper was sent to school, at which point it looks like it's actually modern day. I couldn't buy it.
Unfortunately this book could have been so much more.
February 9, 2009
Forester, Victoria. 2008. The Girl Who Could Fly.
Piper decided to jump off of the roof. It wasn't a rash decision on her part.
The Girl Who Could Fly is an odd little book that I couldn't help enjoying. Piper McCloud, she flies. A girl who flies. When her flying catches attention, mysterious strangers show up on the family farm promising her family that they've got the perfect school for her. A school where her specialness will be appreciated. So away Piper goes. Leaving behind her family and her home. The school or institute (initials I.N.S.A.N.E) is different alright. And everyone Piper meets is unusual from the adults to her fellow classmates.
I hesitate to say anymore because I don't want to reveal too much. The plot twists are best enjoyed firsthand.
The Girl Who Could Fly is a quirkier Mysterious Benedict Society. Unique, quirky characters. Fast-paced plot. A good mix of fun.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
Piper decided to jump off of the roof. It wasn't a rash decision on her part.
The Girl Who Could Fly is an odd little book that I couldn't help enjoying. Piper McCloud, she flies. A girl who flies. When her flying catches attention, mysterious strangers show up on the family farm promising her family that they've got the perfect school for her. A school where her specialness will be appreciated. So away Piper goes. Leaving behind her family and her home. The school or institute (initials I.N.S.A.N.E) is different alright. And everyone Piper meets is unusual from the adults to her fellow classmates.
I hesitate to say anymore because I don't want to reveal too much. The plot twists are best enjoyed firsthand.
The Girl Who Could Fly is a quirkier Mysterious Benedict Society. Unique, quirky characters. Fast-paced plot. A good mix of fun.
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
February 9, 2012
I would probably give this 2.5 stars.
But let me start out this review by saying this book is not for children.
It's just not. There are numerous conflicts in the book that require a more mature grasp of reality. Torture, abuse, imprisonment, lobotomy, religion, death, drugs, and lies. Not to mention that there were certain sexual innuendos as well as moderate curse words. All of it was heavily present, and the final result was a book whose audience has been incorrectly marketed.
Of course, the premise seems innocent enough. A little girl develops the ability to fly, and she is sent away to X-men's school for gifted youngsters. Innocent premise with pretty morbid details.
What I hated about this book was the author's obvious bias towards certain subjects. Now, I am aware that she kinda-sorta attempted to reverse these biases in the end, but it just didn't work. What I'm majorly talking about is the negative attitude toward religion, with an emphasis on Christianity. Piper's parents were portrayed as idiots, quite frankly. Stereotypical, southern idiots that blindly cling to tradition and continuously swear on the Bible. The author painted them in a very negative light. They wouldn't let Piper fly because it wasn't natural, because God didn't make people to fly. Betty would constantly claim that the good Lord would protect them, and once the author went so far as to say that Betty was incorrect in her belief that God would save them. Betty was described as ignoring Piper because she was "too busy praying." Piper's southern home town is described as wholly Christian and conservative, not to mention gossipy and judgmental. In fact, after Piper was rejected by the town, the author literally wrote "... not a single Christian soil among them was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt." The list could go on and on, but the thing is that all of these influences were very subtle for the most part. The author's use of negatively connotative diction patronized Christianity and its seemingly absurd beliefs. This is ridiculous! This would be true of any other religion or lack of as well. Everyone who proclaimed their religious faith were portrayed as idiots, and I highly, highly doubt this was done without intent. I would be able to accept Forester's development if it wasn't so darn stereotypical, and I would be more forgiving if the flaws would have been used to show that everyone, no matter their religion, is human. That everyone makes mistakes, but everyone has the ability to remedy this past actions. Of course, this is not how it goes down.
Another issue: the negative view towards homeschooling. Homeschooling is not only portrayed as a purely Christian activity, it is also portrayed as an isolating institution that pumps out shoddy education. I mean, the story is literally about a homeschooler (as evident in the short, non-revealing description) wishing nothing more than to go to traditional school, and her passion drives her to desperate matters. Plus, Piper can't speak any type of proper English, and her parents are again portrayed as brainless, so the fact that they partake in homeschooling has obvious negative biases. Piper spends the first third of the book whining about how she doesn't have any friends-- hinting that homeschoolers are not allowed to have any sort of social life. This is more of a personal issue, as I'm homeschooled right now. I've been to almost every type of school, and you know what? I will always prefer homeschooling. It's not because I'm lazy; it's not because I can't handle "real" school. No, I prefer the in-depth education that I can only receive outside of the bureaucratic-eqsue, time-wasting classroom. You have a social life, and you are prepared, if not better prepared, for adult life. Whew, sorry-- mini-rant. But I hate how popular culture portrays this perfectly legitimate form of schooling in a negative way. Now, before you say "But it wasn't like that in the end!" It pretty much is.
Ah, I need to move. Otherwise I'll be a-rantin' all night. ;)
Of course, with the discussion of the biases behind me, let's talk about the mass amounts of adult content. Mass amounts. My little, 10-year-old sister read this before me. As she was reading it, she repeatedly mentioned how "confused" she was and how "sad" she felt. I wondered as to why this was the case, so I decided to pick it up myself. Man, was I surprised. There is an entire dedicated to the torture of our main character, in which . There are discussions of lobotomy as well as other forms of mental treatment. Animal abuse is present. Sexually-charged actions do occur like . Curse words are more often suggested, but there are a few instances of it actually being typed out. Etc., etc., etc. This book just had a lot of content that I have never experienced in a book marketed to children. It's almost worse that all of these serious subjects were watered down. So, while their terribleness was hinted at, the reader could not experience the true, serious weight of the subject. This in itself is a crime, as the young readers are left with a feel-good, airy-fairy version of hardships and evils, which of course leads to ignorance while destroying a part of their innocence. All and all, a lot of the violent content in the books could have been left out. Or, it could have been more described and more in-depth, but it should have been marketed to an older audience.
As for the story, writing, characterization, etc., it was all average. Nothing special. The story was extremely stereotypical, as I have hinted before. There was nothing original; it was basically X-toddlers. The ending was typical. Writing was extremely confusing and run-on at times. I had trouble understanding what Forester was trying to describe; I can only imagine the frustration of younger readers. Again, the writing itself isn't even geared toward the book's intended audience. Characters were average. No one was really memorable. I liked Piper a bit. She was very strong-willed and pretty mature. However, I really enjoyed Dr. Hellion by the end.
With this being said, there were some redeeming qualities. There were some important lessons about staying true to your self, seeking truth, and acknowledging the importance of family. So, a star for some of the great themes that the book put out.
Overall, yes, I was extremely disappointed with the book. There were some redeeming qualities, but the negatives were just to numerous. Now, a lot of these points are subjective, and I don't expect you to agree with me. I just personally had so many issues with this book that I couldn't enjoy it. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, but it's how I feel. I don't necessarily recommend it, but I encourage you to read it yourself and form your own opinion.
But let me start out this review by saying this book is not for children.
It's just not. There are numerous conflicts in the book that require a more mature grasp of reality. Torture, abuse, imprisonment, lobotomy, religion, death, drugs, and lies. Not to mention that there were certain sexual innuendos as well as moderate curse words. All of it was heavily present, and the final result was a book whose audience has been incorrectly marketed.
Of course, the premise seems innocent enough. A little girl develops the ability to fly, and she is sent away to X-men's school for gifted youngsters. Innocent premise with pretty morbid details.
What I hated about this book was the author's obvious bias towards certain subjects. Now, I am aware that she kinda-sorta attempted to reverse these biases in the end, but it just didn't work. What I'm majorly talking about is the negative attitude toward religion, with an emphasis on Christianity. Piper's parents were portrayed as idiots, quite frankly. Stereotypical, southern idiots that blindly cling to tradition and continuously swear on the Bible. The author painted them in a very negative light. They wouldn't let Piper fly because it wasn't natural, because God didn't make people to fly. Betty would constantly claim that the good Lord would protect them, and once the author went so far as to say that Betty was incorrect in her belief that God would save them. Betty was described as ignoring Piper because she was "too busy praying." Piper's southern home town is described as wholly Christian and conservative, not to mention gossipy and judgmental. In fact, after Piper was rejected by the town, the author literally wrote "... not a single Christian soil among them was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt." The list could go on and on, but the thing is that all of these influences were very subtle for the most part. The author's use of negatively connotative diction patronized Christianity and its seemingly absurd beliefs. This is ridiculous! This would be true of any other religion or lack of as well. Everyone who proclaimed their religious faith were portrayed as idiots, and I highly, highly doubt this was done without intent. I would be able to accept Forester's development if it wasn't so darn stereotypical, and I would be more forgiving if the flaws would have been used to show that everyone, no matter their religion, is human. That everyone makes mistakes, but everyone has the ability to remedy this past actions. Of course, this is not how it goes down.
Another issue: the negative view towards homeschooling. Homeschooling is not only portrayed as a purely Christian activity, it is also portrayed as an isolating institution that pumps out shoddy education. I mean, the story is literally about a homeschooler (as evident in the short, non-revealing description) wishing nothing more than to go to traditional school, and her passion drives her to desperate matters. Plus, Piper can't speak any type of proper English, and her parents are again portrayed as brainless, so the fact that they partake in homeschooling has obvious negative biases. Piper spends the first third of the book whining about how she doesn't have any friends-- hinting that homeschoolers are not allowed to have any sort of social life. This is more of a personal issue, as I'm homeschooled right now. I've been to almost every type of school, and you know what? I will always prefer homeschooling. It's not because I'm lazy; it's not because I can't handle "real" school. No, I prefer the in-depth education that I can only receive outside of the bureaucratic-eqsue, time-wasting classroom. You have a social life, and you are prepared, if not better prepared, for adult life. Whew, sorry-- mini-rant. But I hate how popular culture portrays this perfectly legitimate form of schooling in a negative way. Now, before you say "But it wasn't like that in the end!" It pretty much is.
Ah, I need to move. Otherwise I'll be a-rantin' all night. ;)
Of course, with the discussion of the biases behind me, let's talk about the mass amounts of adult content. Mass amounts. My little, 10-year-old sister read this before me. As she was reading it, she repeatedly mentioned how "confused" she was and how "sad" she felt. I wondered as to why this was the case, so I decided to pick it up myself. Man, was I surprised. There is an entire dedicated to the torture of our main character, in which . There are discussions of lobotomy as well as other forms of mental treatment. Animal abuse is present. Sexually-charged actions do occur like . Curse words are more often suggested, but there are a few instances of it actually being typed out. Etc., etc., etc. This book just had a lot of content that I have never experienced in a book marketed to children. It's almost worse that all of these serious subjects were watered down. So, while their terribleness was hinted at, the reader could not experience the true, serious weight of the subject. This in itself is a crime, as the young readers are left with a feel-good, airy-fairy version of hardships and evils, which of course leads to ignorance while destroying a part of their innocence. All and all, a lot of the violent content in the books could have been left out. Or, it could have been more described and more in-depth, but it should have been marketed to an older audience.
As for the story, writing, characterization, etc., it was all average. Nothing special. The story was extremely stereotypical, as I have hinted before. There was nothing original; it was basically X-toddlers. The ending was typical. Writing was extremely confusing and run-on at times. I had trouble understanding what Forester was trying to describe; I can only imagine the frustration of younger readers. Again, the writing itself isn't even geared toward the book's intended audience. Characters were average. No one was really memorable. I liked Piper a bit. She was very strong-willed and pretty mature. However, I really enjoyed Dr. Hellion by the end.
With this being said, there were some redeeming qualities. There were some important lessons about staying true to your self, seeking truth, and acknowledging the importance of family. So, a star for some of the great themes that the book put out.
Overall, yes, I was extremely disappointed with the book. There were some redeeming qualities, but the negatives were just to numerous. Now, a lot of these points are subjective, and I don't expect you to agree with me. I just personally had so many issues with this book that I couldn't enjoy it. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, but it's how I feel. I don't necessarily recommend it, but I encourage you to read it yourself and form your own opinion.
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December 15, 2010Have you ever picked up a book and thought, "Hmm, that sounds interesting," then, upon reading it, think it's middle-ground, only to change your mind yet again because the final third is so good it more than makes up for everything else? That was my experience with The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester. I'm not saying the first two-thirds were sub-par or dislikable, just that I wasn't hanging onto
every twist and turn in the plot. By the end, however, I was hoping there was a sequel on the horizon, though there doesn't appear to be one yet.
I'm enamored with Forester's characters: Piper, who endeared herself to me with her cheery outlook on life that reminded me of Anne Shirley (from L.M. Montgomery's Green Gables series), Conrad, who was, at first, detestable, but grew to be my absolute favorite character, and I even found myself liking Dr. Hellion. The character development among the major players was handled quite well, and I truly cared for all of them by the end. If is a sequel is to come out, I'd like to see more fleshed out secondary characters as well as some light shed onto the mysterious J. There were too many things left hanging for there to not be a continuation despite the pretty bow typing up the majority of the story and bringing a sense of closure to the end.
The back cover of the book is what initially had me picking it up. I like reading about people who are exceptional. Ultimately, the book is about a bunch of kids with super powers. Our main character, Piper, for example, can fly. Upon discovering that Piper is "special," the government steps in and takes her away from her family to live in a secluded institution for people like her called I.N.S.A.N.E. (which stands for something scientific, but I forget what ^^;). At first, the school seems ob e wonderful and save, but we soon discover that there is something sinister lurking beneath the surface, something the government will go to great lengths to hide, even from the children under its protection...
Without going into further detail since I hate being spoiled and try not to ruin a book for other potential readers, I'll end by saying that this book had a lot of twists and turns, some of which I never saw coming. While some parts of the novel were ho-hum for my fickle mind, I stayed engaged and found The Girl Who Could Fly to be a great way to pass the time.
every twist and turn in the plot. By the end, however, I was hoping there was a sequel on the horizon, though there doesn't appear to be one yet.
I'm enamored with Forester's characters: Piper, who endeared herself to me with her cheery outlook on life that reminded me of Anne Shirley (from L.M. Montgomery's Green Gables series), Conrad, who was, at first, detestable, but grew to be my absolute favorite character, and I even found myself liking Dr. Hellion. The character development among the major players was handled quite well, and I truly cared for all of them by the end. If is a sequel is to come out, I'd like to see more fleshed out secondary characters as well as some light shed onto the mysterious J. There were too many things left hanging for there to not be a continuation despite the pretty bow typing up the majority of the story and bringing a sense of closure to the end.
The back cover of the book is what initially had me picking it up. I like reading about people who are exceptional. Ultimately, the book is about a bunch of kids with super powers. Our main character, Piper, for example, can fly. Upon discovering that Piper is "special," the government steps in and takes her away from her family to live in a secluded institution for people like her called I.N.S.A.N.E. (which stands for something scientific, but I forget what ^^;). At first, the school seems ob e wonderful and save, but we soon discover that there is something sinister lurking beneath the surface, something the government will go to great lengths to hide, even from the children under its protection...
Without going into further detail since I hate being spoiled and try not to ruin a book for other potential readers, I'll end by saying that this book had a lot of twists and turns, some of which I never saw coming. While some parts of the novel were ho-hum for my fickle mind, I stayed engaged and found The Girl Who Could Fly to be a great way to pass the time.
March 16, 2021
Wowza! This book was AMAZING! Piper can fly. Simple as that. She loves to fly & doesn’t understand why her parents don’t want her to, & think it’s wrong. They are a religious family that lives in a small town-with some judgy people..mainly the town gossip(I wanted to smack her several times lol). Her parents like to do things the way they have always been done in the family, & Piper is different than any family before her, & brings all her uniqueness into the family. The town is afraid of Piper when they see her fly. Her parents don’t know what to do. She goes to a top secret school for kids w/extraordinary abilities. At 1st she loves school-the amazing food & finally having friends-friends who all have amazing & different abilities. She is special even among them though. It becomes clear school isn’t what it seems. The quote on the front from Stephanie Meyer is 100% accurate-this is the “oddest/sweetest mix of Little House on the Prairie & X-Men.” Piper is a small town girl through & through-in all the best ways. I’ve said this about a character before, but when I hear her voice in my head while reading-it’s Tammy lol Debbie Reynolds was the best..& that innocence, charm, heart, & believing & hoping in the best always-so heartwarming. Piper MAKES you want to believe & hope in the impossible. She makes you want to be better. People may try to hold you down-always be yourself & fly. The institute was fascinating-all the different levels & the significance. Dr Hellion was a mystery to me from the very beginning-a great mystery. I loved how this flowed, how fast paced, & how everything came together. There was so much suspense, danger, & action. I read this almost all in 1 sitting lol There are so many twists & turns I had no idea what would happen next. This is a story for anyone who has ever felt different, & how important it is to embrace who you are & fight to be able to be who you are. Lovable characters, fascinating story, & amazing writing. In love. Piper, Sebastian, & Jasper have my heart. Highly recommend! Loving the 2nd book so far too. Of course, I love this stunning cover by a favorite Iacopo Bruno. Beautiful!💜
September 18, 2012
This just may be the best book I’ve read all year! The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester is a marvel, with features that delight such as characters you can relate to, a plot that goes from innocent to intense, and vivid, hilarious prose. Forester is quite the story teller, and you can distinctly feel her enigmatic and comic voice through out the story. One of my favorite parts was Forester’s description of a minor character Bella. I’m paraphrasing, but the author described Bella as the daughter of an artist and a sculptor raised on a community organic farm in the San Bernito valley who was so constantly bombarded with unconditional love that she didn’t have a mean bone in her body. That just tickled me!
I laughed hard. I cried a little, and I couldn’t stop cheering for little Piper McCloud. I loved The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester and I think you will too. Oh and did I mention that it’s published by Scholastic? It’s 100% Family friendly, very easy to read, and still enjoyable to adults-and that’s something I love!
Ratings:
Sexual Content: None
Swearing: None
Adult Content: Very mild, then more moderate (Themes of cruelty and anti-diversity, one character who is an extreme gossip. One instance of Child Abuse, and one section dealing with bullying.)
Books I’ve read that are similar to it: A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Original article Published 9/18/2012 at www.MyNovelAddiction.blog.com
I laughed hard. I cried a little, and I couldn’t stop cheering for little Piper McCloud. I loved The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester and I think you will too. Oh and did I mention that it’s published by Scholastic? It’s 100% Family friendly, very easy to read, and still enjoyable to adults-and that’s something I love!
Ratings:
Sexual Content: None
Swearing: None
Adult Content: Very mild, then more moderate (Themes of cruelty and anti-diversity, one character who is an extreme gossip. One instance of Child Abuse, and one section dealing with bullying.)
Books I’ve read that are similar to it: A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Original article Published 9/18/2012 at www.MyNovelAddiction.blog.com
March 21, 2011
TBR Reduce Challenge #18- 2011 (Stefanie)
The Girl Who Could Fly is a very well crafted story with a lot of imagination and creativity and while it's obviously for younger readers, I didn't expect it to be so harsh and cruel. Never the less, the writing is well done and I did enjoy some of the characters, but for the most part I couldn't love this one as much as I wanted too.
The Girl Who Could Fly is a very well crafted story with a lot of imagination and creativity and while it's obviously for younger readers, I didn't expect it to be so harsh and cruel. Never the less, the writing is well done and I did enjoy some of the characters, but for the most part I couldn't love this one as much as I wanted too.
December 12, 2020
3.5 / 5 ⭐️ j’ai apprécié suivre les aventures de Piper tellement elle est attachante et unique. c’est une belle histoire d’amitié et de découverte de soi dont je parlerai certainement à mes élèves. ce sont ces pouvoirs spéciaux, des amitiés précieuses, c’est la découverte de soi que vit Piper, la découverte de ses forces et de ses limites et c’est l’entraide entre les personnages qui rend cette histoire particulière. bien que j’ai trouvé qu’il y avait quelques longueurs, j’ai alors lu entre les lignes et ai tout de même apprécié ma lecture.
February 3, 2009
I’ve never read much Hemingway, but I think the guy was on to something. From Cormier to Bradbury, all my favorite authors have one thing in common: They don’t waste words. On the other end of the spectrum, here’s an excerpt from The Girl Who Could Fly: “As fate would have it, Piper was given less than four seconds to retroactively relive all of the events of her last months in a staggering journey that reordered by 180 degrees everything she’d accepted as real and true to be fake and lies, so that her head was spinning and her knees were shaking and she no longer knew which way was up or down.” Wow! Try saying that ten times fast. And that’s just one example. The book is similarly dense, plodding, and clunky throughout. This is a first novel for Victoria Forester, and I get the impression she’s a reasonably talented writer in desperate need of an editor. (I assume she had editors. Where in the world were they on this book?)
The opening chapter was promising, but then the book turned into some sort of odd Harry Potter/Artemis Fowl/X-Men hybrid, and it all went downhill from there. Despite the ridiculous verbosity, everything in this book feels like an underdeveloped rough sketch. If not for a mildly interesting plot twist in the middle, I’m not sure I could have finished it.
And then there’s the issue of audience. The protagonist is nine years old. In my opinion, this book is way above the average nine-year-old’s reading level. On the other hand, I can’t imagine too many parents of nine-year-olds possessing the stamina to read this book to their child and make it all the way through to the end.
I was really curious to find out what other people had to say about The Girl Who Could Fly, so I checked out reviews on Amazon, all of which were absolutely glowing. OK, I get it. Amazon is trying to hawk a product. I checked out Goodreads reviews next, thinking I would find a more objective and discerning audience. I couldn’t believe the number of five-star reviews for this book. All I can say is: Huh?
The opening chapter was promising, but then the book turned into some sort of odd Harry Potter/Artemis Fowl/X-Men hybrid, and it all went downhill from there. Despite the ridiculous verbosity, everything in this book feels like an underdeveloped rough sketch. If not for a mildly interesting plot twist in the middle, I’m not sure I could have finished it.
And then there’s the issue of audience. The protagonist is nine years old. In my opinion, this book is way above the average nine-year-old’s reading level. On the other hand, I can’t imagine too many parents of nine-year-olds possessing the stamina to read this book to their child and make it all the way through to the end.
I was really curious to find out what other people had to say about The Girl Who Could Fly, so I checked out reviews on Amazon, all of which were absolutely glowing. OK, I get it. Amazon is trying to hawk a product. I checked out Goodreads reviews next, thinking I would find a more objective and discerning audience. I couldn’t believe the number of five-star reviews for this book. All I can say is: Huh?
February 1, 2009
This book was recommended by one of my favorite authors, Stephenie Meyer. On her site she states, The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester "is the oddest/sweetest mix of Little House on the Prairie and X-Men."
The librarian likes to talk with me about the books I read and where I get my suggestions. So, when I picked up the book today - (TODAY, I read this book in a day!), I gave her Stephenie's take about it being a cross between Little House on the Prairie and the X-Men. Just saying it out loud made me feel kinda sheepish and the librarian burst with laughter. (In the library! shhhhhh!) Well, she said, "I guess that's quite a smattering of interests." And we both chuckled a while more. But Friends, it truly is fascinating, sweet, intriguing, enjoyable, imaginative, and adventurous.
If you enjoyed The Goosegirl or Princess Academy by Shannon Hale I think you'll just love this book, too.
The librarian likes to talk with me about the books I read and where I get my suggestions. So, when I picked up the book today - (TODAY, I read this book in a day!), I gave her Stephenie's take about it being a cross between Little House on the Prairie and the X-Men. Just saying it out loud made me feel kinda sheepish and the librarian burst with laughter. (In the library! shhhhhh!) Well, she said, "I guess that's quite a smattering of interests." And we both chuckled a while more. But Friends, it truly is fascinating, sweet, intriguing, enjoyable, imaginative, and adventurous.
If you enjoyed The Goosegirl or Princess Academy by Shannon Hale I think you'll just love this book, too.
February 23, 2009
Piper McCloud can fly, and when the neighbors find out, a super-secret organization comes and takes her away to live with other kids (and plants and animals) with special talents. At first we are led to believe this organization (I.N.S.A.N.E.) wants to help them, but the true motives are much more sinister.
I liked this book, but I have a hard time pinning down the audience. I would say 3rd-5th grade, but there is a scene where Piper is tortured for her misbehavior and it seemed too mature compared to the rest of the book. Also, the cruelty can be intense. It would be hard to refer this book to the right reader.
I liked this book, but I have a hard time pinning down the audience. I would say 3rd-5th grade, but there is a scene where Piper is tortured for her misbehavior and it seemed too mature compared to the rest of the book. Also, the cruelty can be intense. It would be hard to refer this book to the right reader.
April 1, 2009
Well-written with interesting and complex characters, this book was better than its summary led me to believe. Piper McCloud is a sheltered farm girl who discovers she can fly. When she reveals this to her close-minded community, the expected fear of anything different surfaces and forces Piper into a special school with other 'gifted' children.
While presenting the age old conflict of individuality vs. conformity, this book provides complex characters and unexpected twists of plot. It is a fun, light read appropriate for children, but contains powerful lessons about the strength of the human spirit and the power of the heart.
While presenting the age old conflict of individuality vs. conformity, this book provides complex characters and unexpected twists of plot. It is a fun, light read appropriate for children, but contains powerful lessons about the strength of the human spirit and the power of the heart.
April 26, 2021
I remember when I used to love every book I read.
This one was at that phase in my life.
This one was at that phase in my life.
September 29, 2021
Erg leuk boek!
March 22, 2023
I rated The Girl Who Could Fly 4 stars for many reasons. There was a valuable lesson - always stand up for what you think is right. This book was full of humor, sadness, and happiness. I recommend this book to anyone who likes super powers and fiction books.
May 14, 2010
"My ma told me that there isn't anything in this life worth having that comes easy. She told me that every road I walk down's gonna have a price. But what she didn't tell me and what I learned since I've been here is that if you don't choose the road you're gonna walk, sooner or later someone else'll do that choosing for you."
~ Piper McCloud
Every once in a while there comes across a book that is seemingly perfect in every way. It may have nothing new to offer by way of plot, characters or story progression…and yet by the time you reach the last page, you are left with a feeling of resolution and contentment. ‘The Girl Who Could Fly’ is one such book.
Piper McCloud is a talkative country girl born to the brusque and non-fanciful pair of Betty and Joe McCloud. The McClouds just want to fit into the small but inquisitive farming community. Anything extraordinary must be stifled and must never reach the malicious ears of the town-gossip; Millie Mae Miller. And there IS something extraordinary brewing at the McCloud homestead – Piper. Piper can fly. She can soar up into the sky, twirl through clouds, and get a bird’s view of all the secret happenings in the village. But despite her parents’ best efforts, Piper’s secret unravels before the village folk in an unexpected manner. In danger of being ostracized and suddenly in the eye of a publicity storm…Piper finds herself in a tizzy.
And then like a shining beacon, comes the beautiful Dr.Letitia Hellion and her entourage of expressionless dark suits. Without much persuasion, they whisk Piper off to a top-secret, maximum security institute for special children called I.N.S.A.N.E. (think X-Men and yet, not so much like the X-Men). Finally, Piper is attending a proper school, making hesitant friends and vindictive enemies. She is seeing the world from a different view-point. Dr.Hellion’s view-point. The good(?) doctor has soon got Piper convinced that flying is a bad and downright dangerous thing. Something which must not be repeated at any cost. And Piper agrees…her spirit is submerged and her one great desire in life, heavily doused under a promising layer of a luxurous lifestyle.
But something is rotten in the state of Denmark , or at I.N.S.A.N.E.to be more precise. What lurks behind the seemingly gentle and caring façade of Dr.Hellion? Is mean and nasty fellow student, Conrad really a rotten egg? What experiments are being conducted at the different levels of the institute? Who are the friends and who are the foes?
All this and much more are revealed in the story of Piper McCloud – an optimistic, feisty and extraordinary little girl. Victoria Forester has a delightful way of weaving a plot. She creates a picture that pulls you in, adds in a few homilies which are pertinent to the plot, churns out an eclectic bunch of characters who never stay true to their profiles and ultimately gives a twist that leaves you smiling at it’s sheer brilliance.
While the resolution of certain pitfalls may seem a tad too pat for many readers’ liking…I personally felt that it was a welcome change from the unnecessary taffy-pulling that some of today’s YA-Lit are subjected to. No monologues, no unnecessary dialogues and characters with enough gumption to hold all the threads in place. An adventure encompassed in 300 odd pages is not a bad thing at all…especially when there’s an author like Forester at the helm, keeping it together with her superlative story-telling abilities.
~ Piper McCloud
Every once in a while there comes across a book that is seemingly perfect in every way. It may have nothing new to offer by way of plot, characters or story progression…and yet by the time you reach the last page, you are left with a feeling of resolution and contentment. ‘The Girl Who Could Fly’ is one such book.
Piper McCloud is a talkative country girl born to the brusque and non-fanciful pair of Betty and Joe McCloud. The McClouds just want to fit into the small but inquisitive farming community. Anything extraordinary must be stifled and must never reach the malicious ears of the town-gossip; Millie Mae Miller. And there IS something extraordinary brewing at the McCloud homestead – Piper. Piper can fly. She can soar up into the sky, twirl through clouds, and get a bird’s view of all the secret happenings in the village. But despite her parents’ best efforts, Piper’s secret unravels before the village folk in an unexpected manner. In danger of being ostracized and suddenly in the eye of a publicity storm…Piper finds herself in a tizzy.
And then like a shining beacon, comes the beautiful Dr.Letitia Hellion and her entourage of expressionless dark suits. Without much persuasion, they whisk Piper off to a top-secret, maximum security institute for special children called I.N.S.A.N.E. (think X-Men and yet, not so much like the X-Men). Finally, Piper is attending a proper school, making hesitant friends and vindictive enemies. She is seeing the world from a different view-point. Dr.Hellion’s view-point. The good(?) doctor has soon got Piper convinced that flying is a bad and downright dangerous thing. Something which must not be repeated at any cost. And Piper agrees…her spirit is submerged and her one great desire in life, heavily doused under a promising layer of a luxurous lifestyle.
But something is rotten in the state of Denmark , or at I.N.S.A.N.E.to be more precise. What lurks behind the seemingly gentle and caring façade of Dr.Hellion? Is mean and nasty fellow student, Conrad really a rotten egg? What experiments are being conducted at the different levels of the institute? Who are the friends and who are the foes?
All this and much more are revealed in the story of Piper McCloud – an optimistic, feisty and extraordinary little girl. Victoria Forester has a delightful way of weaving a plot. She creates a picture that pulls you in, adds in a few homilies which are pertinent to the plot, churns out an eclectic bunch of characters who never stay true to their profiles and ultimately gives a twist that leaves you smiling at it’s sheer brilliance.
While the resolution of certain pitfalls may seem a tad too pat for many readers’ liking…I personally felt that it was a welcome change from the unnecessary taffy-pulling that some of today’s YA-Lit are subjected to. No monologues, no unnecessary dialogues and characters with enough gumption to hold all the threads in place. An adventure encompassed in 300 odd pages is not a bad thing at all…especially when there’s an author like Forester at the helm, keeping it together with her superlative story-telling abilities.
February 16, 2009
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I basically like the main character, Piper, and I also like the initial setting of a farm--which makes this book rural fantasy, the new subgenre I've been telling people about (Ingrid Law's Savvy is the best-known example). On the other hand, the later chapters are a little bumpy. Piper McCloud can fly, so her anxious, tradition-bound parents spend the early years of her life trying to hide her gift. Eventually the neighbors find out, and so does the media. Then the lovely, too-smooth Letitia Hellion shows up with some men in black and takes Piper away to her underground facility. It's a place where Letitia works to deprive Piper and other gifted children and even animals of their gifts, making them NORMAL, the all-important goal of practically every grown-up in the book (subtle message, eh?).
Now, Piper is such a Pollyanna that it's a little grating at times, and the loyalties and betrayals among the kids at the school don't always feel convincing. Mostly, though, I think the section where Dr. Hellion sets out to crush Piper's spirit is just too much. And the big reveal scene--difficult to pull off--feels like pop psychology on a plate. The Girl Who Could Fly is an unsettling combination of good cheer, didacticism, and darkness. However, I will say that Piper's descriptions of flying make me want to fly, too!
Now, Piper is such a Pollyanna that it's a little grating at times, and the loyalties and betrayals among the kids at the school don't always feel convincing. Mostly, though, I think the section where Dr. Hellion sets out to crush Piper's spirit is just too much. And the big reveal scene--difficult to pull off--feels like pop psychology on a plate. The Girl Who Could Fly is an unsettling combination of good cheer, didacticism, and darkness. However, I will say that Piper's descriptions of flying make me want to fly, too!
July 14, 2010
This book starts out with a quote, "To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." e.e. cummings. The characters in this book will stay with you. They face some tough issues. It's a testament to the human spirit. I think there will be some character in the book you will identify with. There's a boy that's given everything but love and it's meaningless junk to him. There's a quote that says something really profound, "There is a place deep, deep inside every person that is hidden and hard to find. If things get bad enough and life gets too hard, though, some people will go to that place and never come back from it. Certainly, all outward appearances will suggest otherwise. They will look as they always did. They may even act somewhat like their old selves, but the truth is, the real truth is that they are hiding in this place deep inside where no one can touch or hurt them again." Stephanie Myers said it well, "It's the oddest/sweetest mix of Little House on the Prarie and X-men. This book doesn't hide how evil people can be and how amazing they can be.
November 4, 2010
Cute and fun, but Also quite sad at times. As an older reader, I wanted more depth to this, more questions answered, but I can see where she had to pull back a little for the sake of the target audience. And the main characters just wouldn't have been the same had they been older. I just adored Piper, and her parents, and all the kids at the "school".
April 17, 2012
This book is so heartfelt and heart-warming!!! I ate it up without stopping for a minute. Not a second was wasted while reading this book. The characters were so well built and believable, you could almost believe that the whole story could actually happen in real life. I would recommend this book to people who like heart-felt sci-fi novels and fantasy. This book was AWESOME!!!!!!!!
July 8, 2020
I remember adoring this and thinking it was one of the best middle grade books I'd ever read.
May 9, 2012
If your copy's like mine, there's a blurb from Stephenie Meyer about how this book is a mix between Little House and X-Men. Surprise, surprise, I disagree with Stephenie Meyer about something. This time, it's a matter of "close, but no cigar," Ms. Meyer. For the most part, the book reads at a similar level and with a similar feel as the first few Harry Potter books. Courageous kids, special abilities, boarding school, some real evil characters. The Little House bit of Meyer's comparison comes from the beginning portion, which I would argue is more Anne of Green Gables, because there's a gossipy village involved, which wasn't usually the case with Little House. It's the oddest part of the novel, since it feels transplanted from the 1800s/early 1900s--it wasn't till news traveled around the globe in 24 hours and film trucks arrived at the farm that I realized we were talking more contemporary. Once Piper arrives at school, there's no doubt that it's contemporary. Aside from the strange time-shifty feeling, it's a cute novel, sweet, but not saccharine.
May 10, 2023
“I always wanted to teach people to fly, but I don’t wanna do that no more. Flying’s alright but if I had the chance, I’d teach ‘em to be happy instead. You know? You think you can teach someone to be happy?”
(05/09/2023) re-reading bc I'm sick and this is my comfort book.
***
~original review~ (10/02/2018)
This definitely makes my top 10 favorite books. I've read it so many times.
“My ma told me that there isn’t anything in this life worth having that comes easy. She told me that every road I walk down’s gonna have a price. But what she didn’t tell me and what I learned since I’ve been here is that if you don’t choose the road you’re gonna walk, sooner or later someone else’ll do that choosing for you.”
December 31, 2009
I loved this book! It was a fun, fast read (just over 1 day for me) and I loved Piper. She was adventurous and not afraid to be true to herself. I loved that she insisted on doing the right thing, even when it was dangerous. The school that Piper goes to does remind you a little of X-Men, but there's no Professor Xavier in this book. This was Forester's first book and I hope she writes more. Kids would love this book as well as adults.
May 29, 2009
I was forced to end my reading strike (for the rest of May) when I picked this book up and innocently read the first couple of pages. While parts of the book are awkwardly written, I couldn't help but fall in love with the main character and kept reading just to make sure she ended up okay. The story was captivating and the message was good. This was a great quick read.
October 15, 2013
A thrilling, adventurous story with twists and turns, wit, and humor about a group of brave children with special abilities, fighting for themselves and for each other.
I loved the ending, but I would love to read more about J. and Dr. Hellion.
Amazing writing style, great characters, smartly presented moral, exciting plot. Highly recommended to not only children, but adults too.
I loved the ending, but I would love to read more about J. and Dr. Hellion.
Amazing writing style, great characters, smartly presented moral, exciting plot. Highly recommended to not only children, but adults too.
November 23, 2022
Un premier tome très sympathique bien amené et très prenant. Les enfants vont adorer c'est certain !
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