AUGUST 2016 - AudioFile
Kate Reinders narrates this campy story about Mana, a high school cheerleader who finds herself battling aliens in a quest to find her missing mom. The audiobook starts slowly, but Reinders's sprightly delivery keeps the story moving until Mana and Lyle, her possible love interest, start kicking some alien butt. Reinders has a youthful, upbeat delivery but can grow serious when she needs to in tense moments. She’s perfect for this sci-fi series, equal parts laughs, lighthearted flirtation, and adventure. There’s diversity in FLYING, too. Mana is Asian, and her best friend, Seppie, is black. Be prepared to listen to the next installment; FLYING will leave you up in the air. L.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
05/02/2016
With nods to numerous science fiction and fantasy works (including Dr. Who, Heroes, and World of Warcraft), this series opener from Jones (the Need series) is complex and nuanced while maintaining a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek vibe. Mana is a cheerleader—a flyer, to be exact—who excels at tumbling and loves what she does. She’s tiny, part Native Hawaiian, and protected on all sides by friends and family. When her mother goes missing and her crush starts spitting green acid, Mana has to figure out who to trust—quickly. Partnering with her best friend, Lyle, and an associate of her mother’s, Mana tries to come to terms with the existence of aliens, not all of whom want to share the Earth, while dealing with her burgeoning feelings for Lyle. Mana’s personal growth takes center stage as she learns to rely on herself during shootings, burglaries, and the development of mysterious new powers. Frequent twists and plentiful action keep the story moving briskly with only a few instances where disbelief needs to be suspended. Ages 13–up. Agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. (July)
From the Publisher
“Jones easily wins readers to Zara's side, portraying her as a funny, globally conscious teen who also 'collect[s] fears like other people collect stamps' (obscure phobias serve as chapter titles). Genre fans will enjoy the sizzle between Nick and Zara as well as the paranormal cast.” —Publishers Weekly on Need
“Carrie Jones's terrific fantasy/romance/thriller is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This is a taut, satisfying thriller.” —School Library Journal on Need
School Library Journal
05/01/2016
Gr 8 Up—Mana loves her quiet life. She loves that her mother babies her. She loves that her two best friends, Seppie and Lyle, constantly support her, both on the cheerleading mat and off of it. Although, lately things have been a little confusing with Lyle. And then there's Dakota, the cute percussionist in the school band. Mana is looking forward to seeing Dakota at the basketball game, until he begins spitting green acid out of his mouth and trying to kill her. Without realizing what's happening, the heroine begins to activate some superhuman gymnastic fight moves. Before the night is over, she learns that aliens are real, they have ransacked her house, and her mother is missing. The aliens are hunting for something, and everyone seems to think that Mana has whatever it is that they're after. Who can she trust? And will she find her mother before it's too late? A witty and self-aware heroine carries this entertaining adventure story. Breezy banter and a few well-placed one-liners are sure to incite smiles. The novel's greatest strength is its relatability. Everyone has envied someone with a mother like Mana's or has pitied someone with a mother like Lyle's. The protagonist's conflicted feelings about her crush will be instantly familiar to readers who have ever developed unexpected feelings for a friend. Frequent sexual euphemisms make this a better choice for older teens. VERDICT This quick, lighthearted romp is a perfect choice for readers who like their romance served with a side of alien butt-kicking action.—Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN
AUGUST 2016 - AudioFile
Kate Reinders narrates this campy story about Mana, a high school cheerleader who finds herself battling aliens in a quest to find her missing mom. The audiobook starts slowly, but Reinders's sprightly delivery keeps the story moving until Mana and Lyle, her possible love interest, start kicking some alien butt. Reinders has a youthful, upbeat delivery but can grow serious when she needs to in tense moments. She’s perfect for this sci-fi series, equal parts laughs, lighthearted flirtation, and adventure. There’s diversity in FLYING, too. Mana is Asian, and her best friend, Seppie, is black. Be prepared to listen to the next installment; FLYING will leave you up in the air. L.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2016-04-13
A bubbly, affectionate cheerleader must rescue her mother from an out-of-this-world danger.High school junior Mana isn't a good student, but she loves and is loved by her white mom and Hawaiian dad. In her mostly white New Hampshire town, Mana and her two besties quip between enthusiastic cheerleading routines. But in a bizarre kidnapping attempt, Mana's crush, Dakota, is revealed as a vicious alien who spits green acid, flaps a long, froglike tongue, and spouts casual racism. Mana and Dakota scuffle at halftime, Mana avoiding blasts of acid by employing gymnastics moves she just knows are far beyond her normal capabilities, until a mysterious secret agent in sunglasses saves the day. Back at home, Mana's mother has vanished, their house has been ransacked, and Mana is attacked by a gray-skinned, web-footed murder monster (which, in an unfortunate bit of cultural appropriation, is called a Windigo, after the "old Algonquin story"). Mana, along with Sunglasses Guy and her two cheerleader BFFs (a dark-skinned girl and a light-skinned boy), has to save her mother, evade shape-shifters, and keep a dangerous bit of tech from the men in black. The constant bickering and banter between the four sputters erratically, occasionally stalling the pace of otherwise cinematic escapes and feats of gymnastic tumbling, but the comic tone does not falter.Funny and fast-moving, with a compelling setup for potential sequels. (Science fiction. 12-16)
