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- Fly By Night
Fly By Night
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
10+
ISBN
0060876271
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Editor reviews
2 reviews
A heroine (and a goose) to stand behind
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
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Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
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If youre looking for a plucky heroine (and a really angry goose), then look no farther than Frances Hardinges Fly by Night. Mosca, a 12 year-old orphan, really has nothing to her name other than her pet goose (Saracen, who brings new meaning to the words foul fowl) and her ability to read. In a world where most books are banned and most people cant read, that ability will take her farther than she could have ever imagined.
Moscas father was the one who taught her to read and after his death, shes stuck with her (not-very-nice) uncle. When a traveling wordsmith by the name of Eponymous Clent arrives in town, Mosca hitches herself to him in dramatic fashion even though hes not exactly trustworthy (she has to break him out of jail for them to escape). Shes starved for words and for intelligent conversation.
Their travels soon take them into the deepest conspiracies (some of which may or may not involve her father) of the land. Everyone surrounding Mosca, even Clent, may be friend or foe (and sometimes their status changes on a whim). Her only constant friend is Saracen and goodness knows he cant stand anyone else (he is one vicious goose, which comes in handy quite a few times throughout the story).
Brave and tart Mosca may be just what the land needs, as her actions and decisions change the world around her. Who would have thought one 12 year-old and a crazy goose could have such an effect? Surely not any of the adults around, who constantly misjudge her and are constantly surprised when she winds up getting the best of them.
The character development in this book is really just a wonder and the language is rich and satisfying. If this book were a meal, Id go back again and again for seconds, rolling the words around in my mind like a nice chocolate sauce. Theres drama and intrigue, adventure and danger, and even some humor thrown in. I highly recommend this one for readers aged 9-ish and up (though it doesnt read young and certainly doesnt talk down, so readers aged 12 and up could certainly enjoy it as well&heck, adults really should pick this one up&its really just a beauty). At nearly 500 pages, it may be a bit long for those on the younger end of the scale, but it is so entertaining that I think theyll gobble it up anyhow.
Moscas father was the one who taught her to read and after his death, shes stuck with her (not-very-nice) uncle. When a traveling wordsmith by the name of Eponymous Clent arrives in town, Mosca hitches herself to him in dramatic fashion even though hes not exactly trustworthy (she has to break him out of jail for them to escape). Shes starved for words and for intelligent conversation.
Their travels soon take them into the deepest conspiracies (some of which may or may not involve her father) of the land. Everyone surrounding Mosca, even Clent, may be friend or foe (and sometimes their status changes on a whim). Her only constant friend is Saracen and goodness knows he cant stand anyone else (he is one vicious goose, which comes in handy quite a few times throughout the story).
Brave and tart Mosca may be just what the land needs, as her actions and decisions change the world around her. Who would have thought one 12 year-old and a crazy goose could have such an effect? Surely not any of the adults around, who constantly misjudge her and are constantly surprised when she winds up getting the best of them.
The character development in this book is really just a wonder and the language is rich and satisfying. If this book were a meal, Id go back again and again for seconds, rolling the words around in my mind like a nice chocolate sauce. Theres drama and intrigue, adventure and danger, and even some humor thrown in. I highly recommend this one for readers aged 9-ish and up (though it doesnt read young and certainly doesnt talk down, so readers aged 12 and up could certainly enjoy it as well&heck, adults really should pick this one up&its really just a beauty). At nearly 500 pages, it may be a bit long for those on the younger end of the scale, but it is so entertaining that I think theyll gobble it up anyhow.
User reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
3.8
Plot
3.8(4)
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Ho Hum
Overall rating
1.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by Laura
I actually don't really know what to say about this book, I was forever
bored and found myself repeatedly wanting to hit myself over the head
with the very book I was reading.
The author's never ending paragraphs and long winded sentences
made this an impossible read that I wouldn't recommend to anyone lest I
were to wish them into a coma.
I actually don't really know what to say about this book, I was forever
bored and found myself repeatedly wanting to hit myself over the head
with the very book I was reading.
The author's never ending paragraphs and long winded sentences
made this an impossible read that I wouldn't recommend to anyone lest I
were to wish them into a coma.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Great Characters
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
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Characters
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by Mairi
The orphaned Mosca Mye, who is kept a virtual prisoner in her uncle's mill, decides to flee the village where she grew up. She has always been a bit of an outcast. As she travels with a mysterious man named Eponymous Clent, though, she discovers that the very thing that made her different- her ability to read- could thrust her into the middle of an undeclared war between the guild of Stationers and the guild of Locksmiths.
I love books, and I love books about books, which is why I was drawn to Fly By Night when it was first published a few years back. I did not read it then, though- I waited until all of my friends had read it and told me how good it was to check it out of the library. Once I had started to read it, I could barely put it down.
This book has many strengths, but none of them quite match up to Mosca, who is one of the most believable and entertaining characters ever.
The orphaned Mosca Mye, who is kept a virtual prisoner in her uncle's mill, decides to flee the village where she grew up. She has always been a bit of an outcast. As she travels with a mysterious man named Eponymous Clent, though, she discovers that the very thing that made her different- her ability to read- could thrust her into the middle of an undeclared war between the guild of Stationers and the guild of Locksmiths.
I love books, and I love books about books, which is why I was drawn to Fly By Night when it was first published a few years back. I did not read it then, though- I waited until all of my friends had read it and told me how good it was to check it out of the library. Once I had started to read it, I could barely put it down.
This book has many strengths, but none of them quite match up to Mosca, who is one of the most believable and entertaining characters ever.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Bookalicious
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Bria
Mosca leaves a boring life. She does not do much in her small town, and her life has no adventure in it. That all changes when she meets Eponymous Clent, a con man. Together they travel the county and help out in saving the world. Mosca learns that it is not always better to live a boring life.
I loved this book. I can't describe it well, but i loved it. the main charachters were fun, and the places the went were amazing. I loved the way it was written. the people in it, and well just about everything. Amazing!!
Mosca leaves a boring life. She does not do much in her small town, and her life has no adventure in it. That all changes when she meets Eponymous Clent, a con man. Together they travel the county and help out in saving the world. Mosca learns that it is not always better to live a boring life.
I loved this book. I can't describe it well, but i loved it. the main charachters were fun, and the places the went were amazing. I loved the way it was written. the people in it, and well just about everything. Amazing!!
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Words take flight
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
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Characters
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Writing Style
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by mimagirl
I have been eagerly looking forward to this book since it first came out. When our library finally ordered it in, I was ecstatic. I'm pretty sure I was the first person to read my particular copy. When I opened it I inhaled deeply, savoring the luscious smell of a new book.
And then I began to read.
The words sprung off the pages and painted colorful pictures. The story was inventive, intriguing and original. Each chapter was creatively titled - "A is for Arson", "B is for Blackmail", and so on. I was in awe of the first-time author's ability to weave a tale and mold a world and characters that one feels passionately about. Last night I had about half of the book left to read, and I stayed up to finish it. (Naughty me!) I literally couldn't put it down. The adventure and suspense was building - and then unexpected twists kept occuring - and before I knew it I had reached the end!
I loved the author's style and I loved the story. I will most definitely be picking up any other books she happens to write. The only thing that saddened me was when it became clear at the end of the book that the author was most likely an atheist, and therefore had evidently made a world in which God does not exist.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend this rip-roaring fantasy for you to read. Sit back and watch words take flight. . . .
I have been eagerly looking forward to this book since it first came out. When our library finally ordered it in, I was ecstatic. I'm pretty sure I was the first person to read my particular copy. When I opened it I inhaled deeply, savoring the luscious smell of a new book.
And then I began to read.
The words sprung off the pages and painted colorful pictures. The story was inventive, intriguing and original. Each chapter was creatively titled - "A is for Arson", "B is for Blackmail", and so on. I was in awe of the first-time author's ability to weave a tale and mold a world and characters that one feels passionately about. Last night I had about half of the book left to read, and I stayed up to finish it. (Naughty me!) I literally couldn't put it down. The adventure and suspense was building - and then unexpected twists kept occuring - and before I knew it I had reached the end!
I loved the author's style and I loved the story. I will most definitely be picking up any other books she happens to write. The only thing that saddened me was when it became clear at the end of the book that the author was most likely an atheist, and therefore had evidently made a world in which God does not exist.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend this rip-roaring fantasy for you to read. Sit back and watch words take flight. . . .
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
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