When She Flew

by Jennie Shortridge

Book Overview

A new novel about faith, family, and finding the courage to do the right thing from the author of Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe . Police officer Jessica Villareal has always played by... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451227980
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Really makes you think...

I read "When She Flew" in one sitting. This is the kind of book that pulls you swiftly into its fast-paced storyline, and places you firmly in the shoes of its main characters. See the world through the eyes of a thirteen year-old girl who has been raised "off the grid" by her father, and watch how the girl's world-view evolves as she gets a taste of the mainstream society from which she has been sheltered. The female police officer at the center of the story has always done things by the book. She is now confronted by a vexing dilemma - whether to do what the rules tell her she must, or to do what she knows is the right thing. This book will make you think about so many things, you will enjoy every minute of it.

This is a good one

WHEN SHE FLEW is a poignant and compelling read, about a true incident. It is timely because of child abductions and kidnappings that have appeared in our news recently, and the complexity of emotions within them. It is heart-warming and compelling because of the love and care--misguided or not--at the center of the drama. The characters are realistic and interesting. The story, with no easy resolutions, will leave you touched and involved long after you put it down. Jennie Shortridge is a very talented storyteller, and this is one of her best.

Jennie's Best Yet!

As is explained in the other reviews, this book was inspired by a true story about a father and daughter who were found living in the woods near Portland, OR. I have read and enjoyed Jennie Shortridge's's other novels, but this one is by far my favorite. She does a terrific job of exploring the character of the young girl, Lindy, as well as the female police officer, Jess, who takes on the responsibility of caring for Lindy and her father once they are found. I also love the focus on the forest setting in this novel. Lindy has understandably become intimate with her surroundings, and Shortridge creates vivid pictures of the place where Lindy and her father have made their home. I hope that Shortridge continues to incorporate nature in her work as she does here.

A satisfying read!

I've read Shortridge's other books, and enjoyed them, but When She Flew takes it to a whole new level. It's believable (based on an actual incident), has two equally-engrossing protagonists (one approaching 50, one a young adolescent). It seems rare to have nailed the 'voice' of two such diverse characters. The author does what I wish more would do: foregoes the "easy out" of an obvious villain. Maybe that's why this book is so satisfying--the characters all seem like people we really know (warts and all). I really recommend When She Flew--it's satisfying as an "entertainment" read, but also provides meat for the philosophical reader to chew on.

A tale you'll long remember

Before it was published Ann Patchett gave the manuscript of Bel Canto to her friend Elizabeth McCracken, her first reader. McCracken started reading it while eating at a pub. As she was reading, she knew the book was going to hit big and had the urge to tell the bartender and patrons about the amazing story she was reading. I had that same delicious sense of conspiracy and delight when I read the Advanced Reader's Copy of Jennie Shortridge's When She Flew. It's a luminous story of loss and connection that lifts you up and gives you a chance to lead a double life as you follow intriguing characters caught in a heart-tugging dilemma. The story is based on true events that happened in Portland, Oregon when a veteran and his daughter were discovered living in Forest Park. After authorities and the media descended they eventually disappeared under the scrutiny. Intrigued by the story, Shortridge interviewed the police involved in the case. She then imagined a cast of characters that bloom among her sharply-drawn settings and taut, finely-honed plot so you feel like you're breathing the same air as the characters. What I love about all Shortridge's novels is the way readers come to know her story people through her intimate portrayals and how they make us think about the important questions that are raised. In When She Flew the reader is left to ponder so much, but especially what it means to be a parent and society's standards for raising children. This novel hits all the right notes and I cannot recommend it enough. Jessica Morrell