Book Review: When She Flew

Title: When She Flew

Author: Jennie Shortridge

ISBN:  0451227980

Pages: 352

Release Date: November 3, 2009

Publisher: NAL Trade

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Source: Library Thing Early Reviewers

Rating: 3 out of 5 Bookworms

From Goodreads.com:

Police officer Jessica Villareal has always played by the book and tried to do the right thing. But now, she finds herself approaching midlife divorced, estranged from her daughter, alone, and unhappy. And she's wondering if she ever made a right choice in her life.

But then Jess discovers a girl and her Iraq-vet father living off the radar in the Oregon woods, avoiding the comforts--and curses--of modern life. Her colleagues on the force are determined to uproot and separate them, but Jess knows the damage of losing those you love. She recognizes her chance to make a difference by doing something she's never dared. Because even though she's used to playing by the rules, there are times when they need to be broken...

Review:

When She Flew is a story of a somewhat emotionally broken police officer who discovers a little girl, Lindy, who has been living in the woods with her Iraq-veteran father for several years. Upon discovering the small, transient family, Officer Villareal has to decide whether to tear them apart for the sake of "following the rules" or defy her superiors and the regulations of the state in order to keep the girl with her father. When She Flew tells dual tales: that of Officer Villareal as she copes with the outcome of the choice that she made and Lindy and her father as they try desperately to stay together amidst media scrutiny and the suspicion of the rest of the world.

The beginning of this book was a bit slow and drawn out, but around the middle of the book the action begins to pick up and the story gets more interesting. Much of the plot is predictable; there are no real surprises or twists. But the story is enjoyable and the subject matter is rather interesting. The book does a good job of exploring social norms and raising the question as to whether such norms are necessarily "right." The circumstances of Lindy and her father certainly raise interesting issues regarding the child welfare system in this country and whether it may do more harm than good in certain situations. When She Flew would be an excellent choice for reading groups who are seeking a spirited and stimulating discussion/debate.

Overall, When She Flew was an interesting and fairly well-written novel. It was a quick read after the first few chapters and it raises thought-provoking issues. I would recommend this book for those who like contemporary fiction (although the author was inspired by true events, which is even more interesting) and especially for reading groups who like a lively discussion.