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jennifergallo's review
4.0
This novel is set in 2019 during the Colin Kaepernick NFL kneeling scandal BEFORE the viral BLM movement took hold in the summer of 2020. Two best friends and high school cheerleaders, Eleanor and Chanel, are navigating their senior year during a time of social and political uncertainty. Their cheer squad decides to take a stand by taking a knee at the first football game of the season but their act of rebellion has disastrous consequences for the students involved. Chanel, who is black, is singled out and suspended while none of the other members of the squad suffer consequences. This novel explores issues of friendship, race and privilege.
I read the bestselling debut novel by these authors 'I'm Not Dying with You Tonight' and this book did not disappoint! Both of the authors live in Atlanta which is also the setting of the book. Although this book is meant for teens, I think it resonates for both teens & adults. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Black Lives Matter / anti-racist movement or the nuances of interracial friendship & relationships in modern day America.
Check out Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones; Gilly Segal and be sure to get this YA novel wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3kkvD7M
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3kmV8oW
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2Xtml0u
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/2XoNuS5
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3tQPsH8
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/39kH8G8
TAGS: fiction, contemporary, young adult, romance, people of color protagonists, race, politics, black lives matter, blm
*Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, & the authors Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #WhyWeFly #NetGalley @NetGalley #sourcebooksfire @sourcebooksfire #KimberlyLatriceJones @kimberlylatricejones #GillySegal @really.gilly
I read the bestselling debut novel by these authors 'I'm Not Dying with You Tonight' and this book did not disappoint! Both of the authors live in Atlanta which is also the setting of the book. Although this book is meant for teens, I think it resonates for both teens & adults. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Black Lives Matter / anti-racist movement or the nuances of interracial friendship & relationships in modern day America.
Check out Why We Fly by Kimberly Jones; Gilly Segal and be sure to get this YA novel wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3kkvD7M
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3kmV8oW
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2Xtml0u
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/2XoNuS5
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3tQPsH8
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/39kH8G8
TAGS: fiction, contemporary, young adult, romance, people of color protagonists, race, politics, black lives matter, blm
*Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, & the authors Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #WhyWeFly #NetGalley @NetGalley #sourcebooksfire @sourcebooksfire #KimberlyLatriceJones @kimberlylatricejones #GillySegal @really.gilly
cojack's review
3.0
More like 3.5 stars. This is one of those books I *wanted* to like more than i actually did. The messages are good and important, but the execution falls flat. The characters are not engaging at all, and the ending/resolutions are unsatisfying.
You can read my full review for Common Sense Media here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/why-we-fly
You can read my full review for Common Sense Media here: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/why-we-fly
thenextgenlibrarian's review
3.0
What happens when taking a stand by taking a knee causes division among a town?
cakep3's review
1.0
This book is unrealistic, and not well written for so many teens, and in so many ways. Here’s why, in my opinion.
1) Although this book is about student athletes, it is mentioned on around page 60 that Three’s dad is maxing out credit cards and taking out huge loans to pay SOLEY for his future in football. I know a few football players, and their parents do not do such things. Also, it’s mentioned that he runs 6 miles as a warm up each day, and drinks 3 protein shakes. That’s honestly disgusting.
2) I can’t tell which person is Chanel, and which one Eleanor is. I haven’t been able to tell which one had the concussion, and which one has not. It’s honestly disappointing to have to not finish this book because of the fact that it wasn’t written well enough for me to understand that.
3) Forgive me if I’m wrong, but there’s also no description of where this book takes place, other than the U.S., if that’s even provided. I may just be guessing about that, because the way that they act, the measurements that they used, like pounds and miles, and the fact that they are all die hards for football.
So, I rest my case. I had to DNF this book, and it’s a 1/5 stars for me.
1) Although this book is about student athletes, it is mentioned on around page 60 that Three’s dad is maxing out credit cards and taking out huge loans to pay SOLEY for his future in football. I know a few football players, and their parents do not do such things. Also, it’s mentioned that he runs 6 miles as a warm up each day, and drinks 3 protein shakes. That’s honestly disgusting.
2) I can’t tell which person is Chanel, and which one Eleanor is. I haven’t been able to tell which one had the concussion, and which one has not. It’s honestly disappointing to have to not finish this book because of the fact that it wasn’t written well enough for me to understand that.
3) Forgive me if I’m wrong, but there’s also no description of where this book takes place, other than the U.S., if that’s even provided. I may just be guessing about that, because the way that they act, the measurements that they used, like pounds and miles, and the fact that they are all die hards for football.
So, I rest my case. I had to DNF this book, and it’s a 1/5 stars for me.
ashleyholstrom's review
Leni and Nelly are two BFFs on the cheerleading squad who organize taking a knee during the national anthem at the first football game of the school year. But the only one who gets punished for it is Nelly, who is Black. Their friendship is on the line, as are their futures, as Leni recovers from her latest concussion and Nelly has to figure out how to expunge her suspension from her record. It’s a story of figuring out who you are and what you’ll stand—or kneel—for.
Put Why We Fly on your radar for October.
✨ From Ugh, Mental Health and the Internet at Crooked Reads.
Put Why We Fly on your radar for October.
✨ From Ugh, Mental Health and the Internet at Crooked Reads.
amlkeller's review
2.0
A whole book about kneeling during the national anthem and literally one mention of the reason for doing it. Stupid.
linzer712's review
2.0
The topic is important and promising, but when it came down to it the characters didn’t emotionally resonate and many parts of the the book just didn’t seem real. The cheerleaders all kneel and face backlash but never have any substantial discussion about race? The narrators rarely think about their own races and when the Black narrator is the only cheerleader punished it’s treated like no big deal in the school community and even in the National conversation, even though their protest went viral? Oh, and the team wins nationals and even that isn’t really emotional or recognized. Sadly, it was just flat.
misha_ali's review against another edition
2.0
I was really excited to read this book. Co-written by two authors, each bringing their own experiences and world view to this story about friendship that comes up against a difficult moral stand and where things go from there sounded really promising. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver for me at all.
The two best friends, Leni and Nelly, are an excellent opportunity to explore how a racial issue and standing up for what you think is right can lead to diverse consequences for different people and how we can understand our own privilege and repair bridges when a well-meaning but ill-considered stand takes its toll on a friendship. Unfortunately, I don't buy that Leni and Nelly are best friends or even like each other at all. They are not at all supportive of each other, hardly talk to each other through the course of the book, and even when directly told that one hasn't asked the other her feelings at all, nothing changes.
All the characters go through a furor of press and consequences over taking a knee but the only person to have a long term impact is
I don't really understand what these kids are thinking or doing and the whole main conflict dies down almost immediately via a fast forward and off-stage resolution. Really unsatisfying and honestly confusing.
The two best friends, Leni and Nelly, are an excellent opportunity to explore how a racial issue and standing up for what you think is right can lead to diverse consequences for different people and how we can understand our own privilege and repair bridges when a well-meaning but ill-considered stand takes its toll on a friendship. Unfortunately, I don't buy that Leni and Nelly are best friends or even like each other at all. They are not at all supportive of each other, hardly talk to each other through the course of the book, and even when directly told that one hasn't asked the other her feelings at all, nothing changes.
All the characters go through a furor of press and consequences over taking a knee but the only person to have a long term impact is
Spoiler
Nelly and her consolation prize at the end is that she's appreciated by a small group of fellow woc at an event.I don't really understand what these kids are thinking or doing and the whole main conflict dies down almost immediately via a fast forward and off-stage resolution. Really unsatisfying and honestly confusing.
_basicbookworm's review
3.0
When the cheerleading team decided to take a knee at the first football game of the season, best friends Eleanor and Chanel had no idea the fallout that would happen.
This book was incredible and really took a deep look into friendship, privilege and race. This one was so interesting to see each girl’s viewpoint and how their backgrounds led to them being affected in different ways. I loved that this was told in dual POVs because it really allowed me to understand what was going on in each girl’s head. I’ve heard great things about Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal’s previous book, and after reading this one, I definitely want to read more by them!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy.
This book was incredible and really took a deep look into friendship, privilege and race. This one was so interesting to see each girl’s viewpoint and how their backgrounds led to them being affected in different ways. I loved that this was told in dual POVs because it really allowed me to understand what was going on in each girl’s head. I’ve heard great things about Kimberly Jones & Gilly Segal’s previous book, and after reading this one, I definitely want to read more by them!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy.
muffinjessica's review
4.0
The author really nailed all the various characters:
Chanel's parents - how they had such high expectations for her, having her plan her life, expecting her to behave a certain way at all times, her dad icing her out when she made a mistake.
Elenaor - wanting to help, but being clueless as to how, and not quite realizing it.
Chanel - the pressure of pleasing her parents and her reluctance to share any feelings perceived as weak for fear of being shut down, how siblings discover things about one another once one moves out of the house.
A lot of themes were explored in the book, but not resolved. I didn't have a problem with that as I feel that's just how life is. It is interesting to read about how best friends can silently drift apart even when they see each other daily.
I wasn't a fan of the pacing of the 2nd half of the book. It went by much faster and I felt there were random large jumps in time. I'd start a chapter thinking the events were days after the previous chatper, only to find an entire month or more had passed.
Chanel's parents - how they had such high expectations for her, having her plan her life, expecting her to behave a certain way at all times, her dad icing her out when she made a mistake.
Elenaor - wanting to help, but being clueless as to how, and not quite realizing it.
Chanel - the pressure of pleasing her parents and her reluctance to share any feelings perceived as weak for fear of being shut down, how siblings discover things about one another once one moves out of the house.
A lot of themes were explored in the book, but not resolved. I didn't have a problem with that as I feel that's just how life is. It is interesting to read about how best friends can silently drift apart even when they see each other daily.
I wasn't a fan of the pacing of the 2nd half of the book. It went by much faster and I felt there were random large jumps in time. I'd start a chapter thinking the events were days after the previous chatper, only to find an entire month or more had passed.