I'm wrecked after reading this. A story about two boys -- best friends -- growing up in some of the worst imaginable circumstances of abuse and poverty. But, one of those boys is on death row, and writing to his best friend via letters as their stories play out in alternating chapters from a third person POV. You know things are going to spiral, and you see it coming, but the pain at the end is unimaginable.

But so is the hope.

A powerful story about friendship and tough circumstances. This one's been angled at the juvenile justice system a little harder than I think it merits. That's part of it, but a surprisingly small part of the story. What resonates is that this is a story about male friendship, about the choices (good and bad) that teens can make, and the way those choices ultimate seal or break those relationships.

Bliss is an excellent voice in YA, and his passion for writing about poor teens is something I wish we saw more of in YA. But I'm glad his voice is here, seeing these kids and reminding them that they matter. That really comes out in the letters from Luke to Toby in prison. 

By Kelly

“We are not living in a world that stands still."

I have feelings after reading this books. Not bad feelings or even good ones, just a lot of feelings. This book definitely pulls at your heart and leaves an impact. It’s so much a character study of friendship and the messiness of life. It’s almost overwhelming, but in a good way. We’ll Fly Away follows best friends Luke and Toby living in their small North Carolina town. We see their friendship, their fights, and what happens when it all goes horribly wrong.

Things I Liked

The story really is just a snapshot of a life. It’s earnest, honest, and exposed. I love stories about friendship and We’ll Fly Away delivered in showcasing the dependency, the anger, and the love between these two in a heartfelt and painful way.

I LOVED the letters that Luke wrote to Toby. It not only added a cool timeline element to the story, but I enjoyed getting to know him more and really get into his mindset.

Things I Didn’t Like

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romances in the story, and they unfortunately got more prevalent as the story progressed. I honestly thought they were not needed at all.

I feel like We’ll Fly Away is almost painful to read. (Yes, I did cry) I don’t know if it’s something you can really enjoy, so much as just respect the story that’s being told and the lives these characters have lived. The story feels personal, so it was really easy to complete invest yourself. If you’re looking for a reading experience that will leave you thinking and feeling something, look no further than We’ll Fly Away.

I received a copy of the book from Harper Collins via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

By Danielle