We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler - HIGH

We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler, 304 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2019. $18.

Language: R (25 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG (Sex off the page); Violence: PG (Abusive father)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS  - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

While Catherine's mother battles cancer, Catherine knows she can no longer stay with her abusive father without her mother.  Clutching her mother's brooch, she flees her home in search of a better life. Catherine soon becomes Victoria and begins the life of her dreams with the VanDrexel Family Circus. Fast forward 50 years to Victoria's granddaughter Callie.  Forced to begin a new school, Callie uses the wisdom of her grandmother to help her navigate the halls and social life of her new school.  Callie follows in her grandmother's footsteps as an accomplished tight rope walker, but longs to join the circus once again.

We Walked the Sky is a beautiful novel told in the present and past.  Two girls, generations apart, learn to accept a new life, embrace challenges and find family in unexpected places."      This was a very endearing novel.  Each characters was well rounded and developed. I loved how Callie would read a message or quote from her grandmother, then the next chapter would flashback and tell the story of how it came to be.  The overall message of finding family in unusual places is well written, but I feel like the author could have accomplished this without so many swears.  Despite that, students will really enjoy this book.          

Jessica Nelson Media Specialist