Jeremy Walsh’s parents assume he’s been abducted by the elderly man he met on a cross-country flight, but it’s the other way around. Two unlikely companions meet in midair: 13-year-old Jeremy, sent against his will by his career-absorbed father to spend the summer with his bipolar mother, and Harry, one-legged and afflicted with mid-stage Alzheimer’s, who escapes the confinement of home for what … home for what may be his last adventure. Their journey begins, trailed by Harry’s wife and Jeremy’s parents, who threaten to cut it short. It’s a race against time and circumstance.
“In Adrian Magnuson’s Taking Flight a curmudgeon losing his memory and a snarky teen fleeing his parents find a common passion in bird watching. Endearing characters, delightful story and a poignant final scene give this book wings along with the beautifully depicted birds.” —Frances Wood, author of Brushed by Feathers: A Year of Birdwatching in the West
“Taking Flight is an evocative and moving contemporary novel. It is, at every level, a story about love. For one character it is a coming of age tale, for the other the end of an age. Both are runaways, yet each ultimately is searching for home. I highly recommend this heart-touching, beautifully written book.” —Andrea Hurst, president of Andrea Hurst Literary Management
“Filled with well-developed, real-life characters, Taking Flight’s heart-breaking but satisfying story hits on all cylinders: action, comedy, and emotion.” —Terry Persun, award winning author of Sweet Song
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Great book! Totally enjoyed the characters and the situation. Just enought humor and tragedy. As chacters develop, it a question as to which one to love or hate.
Totally recomend reading for the very young or older. Sometbing we can all relate to!
I would read it again and I would really recommend it it was a very good book
A great story about relationships, aging and what truly makes a family.
LOved it
I read a lot, but usually I forget what the book was even about shortly after I finish it. With “Taking Flight,” I still remember the characters and the beautiful story. I found the two main characters to be very likeable, and the “bad” characters to be loathsome, just like they should be. There were parts that I found a bit hard to believe would ever happen in real life, but nevertheless made the story very interesting, and hard to put down. There were sad, funny, infuriating, and exciting parts throughout the book, making it a very enjoyable read.
I had a difficult time becoming involved in this book. I was unable to read it all.
A poignant story about a sad disease with unexpected joy.
Powerful book. Great look into what Alzheimer’s is really like. Enjoyed it from start to finish. Have started my own “bird list”.
I liked the characters, and it was okay, but too many flashbacks to suit me. Some may love it the fact of the young and old connecting like they did.
Great characterization. Could not put it down.
This story reaffirms that family is determined more by mutual love and respect and less by DNA. A wonderful relationship develops between two disparate characters
A book you are sorry to see end, and wish for a sequel.
Charming, funny, insightful, pure delight and very well written. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
A must-read coming of age tale — in the face of A;zheimer’s, a boy finds love.
A GREAT READ
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the characters are well written and real, and the plot is a delight.
A little slow at times but the overall story was great. Tragic in a way because Alzheimer’s is such a horrible disease that steaks the minds of those we love. The old man and the boy relate to each other and understand each other in ways that they could not with their loved ones. The ending was predictable but sad, yet the story was full of life!
It gives a day by day look at someone struggling with Alzheimers, and the interaction with all who know him and love him.
Very Good. Some tips on how to deal with declining memory
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Beautifully told story about the real migration of these butterflies was fascinating .