From the Publisher
A hauntingly intense tale thrumming with hope! A stunning, powerful debut.” — Tiffany D. Jackson, award-winning author of Monday's Not Coming
“A deep dive to illustrate the quiet strength of those in the darkest situations, If These Wings Could Fly is atmospheric, brilliantly drawn, and ultimately hopeful.” — Mindy McGinnis, author of The Female of the Species
“Heartbreaking, important, and layered with so much hope, this book breathes magic into every chapter.” — Akemi Dawn Bowman, Morris Award Finalist and author of Starfish
“McCauley expertly blends the devastation of family with the invincibility of first love and sisterhood. This debut marks the start of a bold new talent!” — Justin A. Reynolds, author of Opposite of Always
"[A] lyrical novel [with] authentic, intimate first-person narration... Strong writing that features some dreamily lovely turns of phrase... A powerful, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful debut." — Kirkus Reviews
"Poignant and powerful, this novel uses magical realism to examine choice in a difficult world. There are titles for teens that address the realities of dating violence, but it’s more difficult to find stories of family violence; in her debut, McCauley traverses the tender ground with grace." — Booklist
"McCauley offers just a touch of magical realism here, layering a painfully honest exploration of domestic violence with a subtle eeriness... Her narration is elegant and thoughtful... a refreshing portrayal of two teens who negotiate their own challenges while acknowledging those of others." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A beautiful, powerful, and emotional story that tugs at your heartstrings as it empathetically and honestly steers you through the pain of domestic violence.” — Farrah Penn, author of Twelve Steps to Normal
“If These Wings Could Fly is a tense and emotional story that will in turns break your heart, make you swoon, and leave you feeling hopeful.” — Elizabeth Eulberg, author of Past Perfect Life
“A careful, sharp exploration of rage, love, and what it means to balance on the knife edge between them.” — Rebecca Barrow, author of This Is What It Feels Like
"McCauley makes a moving debut with this hard-hitting novel set in a small, tightly knit town." — Publishers Weekly
Akemi Dawn Bowman
Heartbreaking, important, and layered with so much hope, this book breathes magic into every chapter.
Booklist
"Poignant and powerful, this novel uses magical realism to examine choice in a difficult world. There are titles for teens that address the realities of dating violence, but it’s more difficult to find stories of family violence; in her debut, McCauley traverses the tender ground with grace."
Rebecca Barrow
A careful, sharp exploration of rage, love, and what it means to balance on the knife edge between them.
Mindy McGinnis
A deep dive to illustrate the quiet strength of those in the darkest situations, If These Wings Could Fly is atmospheric, brilliantly drawn, and ultimately hopeful.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"McCauley offers just a touch of magical realism here, layering a painfully honest exploration of domestic violence with a subtle eeriness... Her narration is elegant and thoughtful... a refreshing portrayal of two teens who negotiate their own challenges while acknowledging those of others."
Tiffany D. Jackson
A hauntingly intense tale thrumming with hope! A stunning, powerful debut.
Justin A. Reynolds
McCauley expertly blends the devastation of family with the invincibility of first love and sisterhood. This debut marks the start of a bold new talent!
Farrah Penn
A beautiful, powerful, and emotional story that tugs at your heartstrings as it empathetically and honestly steers you through the pain of domestic violence.
Elizabeth Eulberg
If These Wings Could Fly is a tense and emotional story that will in turns break your heart, make you swoon, and leave you feeling hopeful.
Booklist
"Poignant and powerful, this novel uses magical realism to examine choice in a difficult world. There are titles for teens that address the realities of dating violence, but it’s more difficult to find stories of family violence; in her debut, McCauley traverses the tender ground with grace."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"McCauley offers just a touch of magical realism here, layering a painfully honest exploration of domestic violence with a subtle eeriness... Her narration is elegant and thoughtful... a refreshing portrayal of two teens who negotiate their own challenges while acknowledging those of others."
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"McCauley offers just a touch of magical realism here, layering a painfully honest exploration of domestic violence with a subtle eeriness... Her narration is elegant and thoughtful... a refreshing portrayal of two teens who negotiate their own challenges while acknowledging those of others."
Kirkus Reviews
2019-12-08
The intricacies of family violence are explored in this lyrical novel.
As she begins her senior year of high school, Leighton precariously balances her commitment to her two younger sisters with her desperation to flee her father's ongoing abusive behavior. Smart, driven, and self-possessed, she's been focused on earning her way into NYU and is unprepared for the emotional shake-up that comes with a romance that grows between her and Liam, a fellow student whose nuanced kindness eventually wins her over. Details about an ever growing population of almost preternatural crows in her small Pennsylvania town and her family's house's spontaneously repairing itself when her dad breaks things in the midst of his rages are juxtaposed against Leighton's authentic, intimate first-person narration, providing an element of the otherworldly that is likely to either appeal mightily to or confuse readers, depending on their taste for magical realism. Strong writing that features some dreamily lovely turns of phrase and language stands out, and the dynamics of domestic violence, including Leighton's simultaneous love for and frustration with her mother, are portrayed in all their complexity without feeling pedantic. Leighton and her family are white. Liam's mother is black and his father is white, and his experience as one of the few people of color in their town adds texture to his character development.
A powerful, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful debut. (Fiction. 14-18)
