When She Flew
By Jennie Shortridge
Penguin Group (USA)
November 2009
352pp
Here’s the blurb from the publisher:
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 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…
The Short of It:
When She Flew is a gem of a little book. This story gently unfolds into a beautiful thing.
The Rest of It:
This is one of those stories that flows effortlessly. From the moment I picked it up, I knew it was going to be one of those books. As I was reading about Jessica and her relationship with her own daughter, I was struck with how realistically her life was drawn. The life of a cop, a female cop no less…the need to maintain a game face at all times, the pressure to hold it all together, it all rings true. Women struggle to be everything, to everyone and sometimes fail in the process. Jess isn’t perfect, and we see her flaws but she is an easy character to relate to. I appreciated the fact that Jess was strong, but flawed. It made her more human.
As she deals with Ray and Lindy, the ‘forest people’ trying desperately to make a life of their own on what little they have, we see what happens when oil and water meet. Jess has ideas of what a good parent is and she berates herself daily, over the mistakes she has made with her own daughter. However, when she sees the fierce love that Ray has for Lindy, she begins to realize that there may be more than one way to be a good parent. That providing the basics such as food and shelter is just a part of what being a parent is.
The story is told with alternating points of view, one of which being Lindy’s. Lindy is a delicate bird. At the age of thirteen, she is becoming a young lady and has learned to appreciate all she has. Taken from an abusive mother, her father sheltered her from society, yet raised her to be self-sufficient, to live off the land. She is educated and wiser than her years but she is anything but fragile. Like a bird, she is ready to take flight but possesses a sensibility that most young girls do not possess at this age.
Ray, Lindy’s father, is an Iraq war vet battling post-traumatic stress. He lives on a very small income and creates a sanctuary for Lindy out in the middle of the forest. Shortridge takes great care with Ray. As a reader, you cannot judge Ray. He’s troubled but makes the best decisions he can for the sake of his daughter. I was touched by his tenderness.
While I was reading the book, there was a small part of me expecting a very pat ending. I am happy to report that this is not the case. Shortridge crafts a beautiful story with well-developed characters. When I finished reading it, I felt the weight of it, and lingered in its warmth for a bit.
To purchase the book, visit Amazon or an independent bookseller of your choice.
Check out the rest of Jennie’s tour stops here.
Source: A big ‘thank you’ to TLC Book Tours for asking me to be a part of this tour and for providing me with a review copy of the book.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Jennie Shortridge has provided me with one SIGNED copy to give away to a lucky reader. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada. There are two ways to enter. Please follow the instructions carefully because I want every entry to count!
1. Comment on this review for ONE entry. Include an email address so that I have a way to contact you.
2. For another entry, Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include @TiBookChatter. After you Tweet, post a separate comment here telling me you did so. If you do not post a second comment, then it won’t count. Sorry!
This giveaway will run through Sunday, January 3, 2010 (8pm Pacific). The winner will be selected randomly and announced on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. I will contact the winner for his/her mailing address so be sure to include a way for me to contact you.
Good luck!
Book Chatter 
Nice review. I read this last month and really liked it. Shortridge is an auto-buy author for me.
I didn’t realize it also involved a female cop. Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I just put this on my wish list after reading a review on Serena’s blog. After reading yours I know I want to read it.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I would love to enter the drawing.
tekeygirl at gmail dot com
Wow, this sounds really good. I was on the fence with this one, but the few reviews I’ve seen so far have changed my mind. Thanks for the giveaway!
Great post! Sounds like such an interesting read. Please throw my name into the hat for the giveaway. Cheers!
What a great review! I am so glad to hear that it did not end as you had expected; I am not a fan of those that have a pat-ending.
I would love to be entered in your giveaway, Ti 🙂
Mstermind1 at gmail dot com
I love that it didn’t have a pat ending, either. The conclusion was very satisfying to me, and I loved having Jess for our heroine. I could totally relate to her.
Great review, Ti! Like you, I almost expected a pat ending–and I think a part of me wouldn’t have minded because I was so involved with the characters. Still, it wouldn’t have been as realistic or true to the rest of the story, so I’m glad it turned out the way it did. I do think, however, that things came together a little too easily for Jess and her daughter at the end given their issues, but the outcome itself was very satisfying.
No need to enter me in the giveaway. Good luck to everyone who enters!
Glad to see that you enjoyed this book Ti…Great review. (I have it so no need to enter me in the giveaway 🙂
This sounds like a good read. I haven’t read a bad review for it yet. I would love to enter your drawing. Thanks Ti for the great review!
bthgordon at yahoo dot com
Thank you, Ti, for this truly insightful review. I love it when readers “get” the author’s intention in crafting a story, a character, a scene. Because we all have different experiences and preferences and just plain read and comprehend differently, of course, that’s not always possible, so it’s a joy to connect with readers like you!
You didn’t mention that this story was inspired by a true one, possibly because that fact is fairly well hidden in the book itself. Legal issues and all. But I did lots of research for this story with the actual police officer involved in the case, hiked into the forest and found the real people’s encampment, walking in their footsteps, feeling their ghosts. They disappeared shortly after being found in 2004, but I think about the girl all the time. I hope she is doing well.
Thanks so much, Ti, for hosting my book on its tour! See you on Facebook!
Jennie
Thanks for stopping by Jennie!
I was surprised to hear that it was based on true events. I meant to include that bit of course but was so taken with the story, that I got sidetracked!
Great review, Ti. I love what you said about the ending (and endings in general), I’m glad it felt right to you.
I haven’t read When She Flew (would actually love to be entered in the drawing!) but I have read another Shortridge book that I really loved called Eating Heaven. Have you read that one?
Thanks so much for the time spent reading and reviewing When She Flew! We really appreciate it!
I have not read Eating Heaven but I did read Love & Biology in the Center of the Universe and enjoyed it quite a bit.
I badly want this book. I read “Eating Heaven” earlier this year and it is still very vivid in my mind. And though I totally bawled through the last half of the book, it was very fortifying and memorable. Jennie Shortridge is definitely one of my favorite authors!
Thanks for the giveaway!
susanaudrey316 at gmail dot com
I so enjoyed “Eating Heaven” and with the reviews this one is getting, I can’t wait to read it.
litandlifeATgmailDOTcom
I tweeted about the giveaway!
I missed out when I passed up this book tour. It sounds like a wonderful book. Literally all reviews have been glowing. I think I’m going to end up with Dawn’s copy, so no need to enter me.
Please enter me Ti as this sounds like one that I would really enjoy!
I haven’t read this author yet but I will now, so far I’ve always like Ti’s picks!
This book sounds very interesting, I would love a chance to read it. I have not read any books by Jennie Shortridge yet, but will definitely check out her books after reading your review.
Nice review Ti. I love how you said the ending left you lingering in its warmth. No need to enter me.
I love your review! I’ll add this book to my wish list! Please count me in for the giveaway. Thanks!
I enjoyed her earlier book, so I bet I’d like this–sounds great! Count me in 🙂
I’ve heard lots of great things about this book so I’d love to be entered in your giveaway. (As I gave myself a book buying ban for 2010, this would be my only chance to get it and read it this year!)
I’d love to win!
Here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/bibliofreakblog/status/7261690753
Please enter me. I’m always in search of a good read. Thanks.
tweet – http://twitter.com/jtgreenw/status/7261822071
What a beautiful review, Ti! I really enjoyed this book as well. i’ll be posting my review in a few days. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
Great review – this looks fabulous! I’d love to win it.