The Girl Who Could Fly
A 400-year-old book of dark spells, a mysterious vial of volcanic ash and a late grandfather’s World War II secret, lead to the kidnapping of twelve-year-old Olive Hanson from her home just outside of Halifax. Spirited away to a remote island off the coast of Iceland by the nefarious Mr. Guōmondsson, Olive must unlock the secret before it’s too late. But she does have one powerful weapon on her side—she can fly. Read the first chapter.
by Ian Roy
PUBLISHED JUNE 2021 | ISBN 978-1-7775549-1-0 • FICTION / MIDDLE GRADE • 224 PAGES / COVER ILLUSTRATION BY HELAH COOPER / 5.35 × 8 IN / SOFTCOVER
EXCERPT
The vial of ash was rolled up in a piece of old canvas. I carefully unrolled the canvas and took out the vial. “Don’t you think we would have noticed if there were diamonds in here?” I asked, holding it up to the light.
I gave it a little shake and a small dust cloud swirled inside. The ash was dark grey and very fine. I tilted it from side to side to see if anything was hiding in there.
“No diamonds,” I said.
“Open it. Just in case.”
I pulled out the cork and held the vial close to my nose. Some of the dust swirled out. I sniffed it, but it didn’t smell like anything.
Con suddenly let out a shriek and grabbed my elbow. My hand jerked upward and sent the volcanic dust right into my face. It went into my mouth and my nose and even into my eyes. I couldn’t see a thing, but I could clearly hear Con laughing beside me.
REVIEW(S)
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This wonderful middle-grade book takes that delightful universal wish, and runs with it—turning out a somewhat dark and dangerous fable about a twelve year old girl, a sailor and a shipwreck, an eagle, an Icelandic island, ancient runic symbols, a 400 year old book of black magic, and yes, an inconspicuous vial of volcanic-like ash which seems to confer that very remarkable power just discussed.
Olive Hanson is an endearing, funny, and somewhat precocious young girl. Upon the death of her much beloved Grandfather, Olive and her mother take up residence in his former cottage in Halifax—a move which exposes Olive to GrandDad’s long-ago mysterious past and a particularly intriguing hint of some “unfinished business”.
Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here), uncovering and resolving GrandDad’s history, aided by with her hilarious wise-cracking long-time friend and neighbour, Con (Constantine) places Olive on a path wrought with danger, mystery, and an unexpected rendezvous with what may be her cross-generational destiny.
Intelligently written and brimming with authentic young characters and their voices, (the chemistry between Olive and Con in particular is funny, charming, and terrifically engaging), the author is to be commended on a lively and entertaining read that transports and satisfies from start to finish.
Highly recommended to both children and adults, this is a fun, imaginative and captivating story— you will likely be as charmed by it as this reader certainly was.
TERRI, BOOKLYMATTERS
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Sometimes after you’ve read the first sentences in a book you just know you are in for an action-packed thrilling adventure. Ian Roy’s debut middle-grade novel, The Girl Who Could Fly, did not disappoint.
Filled with suspenseful, page-turning, short chapters, this novel is perfect for reading aloud or reading silently. I liked how Ian added extra little tidbits that would interest middle-graders about Iceland, such as the fact that NASA crews went there to train for moon landings because of its landscape.
12-year-old Olive and even her friend Con face some pretty difficult and sometimes unique challenges in this book that will keep readers interested until the very end.
SUE SLADE, DARTMOUTH BOOK EXCHANGE