[Debby G Posts: 561 Status: Offline WWW]

I really enjoyed this YA novel/Printz winner. Maybe I'm totally stupid, but...


SPOILER









Did Gabriel, the brother, live? I thought he was killed when the guy threw him against the TV, but then Cullin saw him walking up to the house at the very end. So I'm thinking he wasn't killed. Though there's the chance Culline was just imagining his homecoming.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,822 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

I thought he lived! Right? Because "things come back"? I took it at face value that he lived.

Unless I missed something?

[TracyH Posts: 675 Status: Offline WWW]

I thought he lived, too. Loved this book!

[Debby G Posts: 561 Status: Offline WWW]

Oh, phew. Thanks. I thought he survived, but I wasn't sure. I guess Cullin's previous daydreams of seeing his brother threw me off, and then Gabriel got bashed in the head, and the news headline about no second chances in Lily made me think maybe Gabriel wouldn't get a second chance.

[TracyH Posts: 675 Status: Offline WWW]

Agh! What if you're right?!

Okay - I refuse to believe it, even if you are.

[Debby G Posts: 561 Status: Offline WWW]

According to this interview with the author, http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articles/interviews/894184-338/flying_high_the_improbable_true.html.csp  the ending is ambiguous.

Even more interesting, he faced three and a half years of rejections for this award-winning novel!

[Vijaya Posts: 6,662 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

I really enjoyed this book and Gabriel has to come back ... I know it could just be his imagination, but I also have one and I imagined him back

Vijaya

[Alison A Posts: 359 Status: Offline Writing! WWW]

I loved this book, not only the great characters and plot, but also the setting since I'm from Arkansas and have written several stories set in towns like Lily.

For me, Gabriel lives. Cullen needs him. Everyone in that town needs him.

[TracyH Posts: 675 Status: Offline WWW]

Good heavens. I can't believe there were so many rejections. It's one of my favorites.

[jodyjl Posts: 390 Status: Offline]

This was an amazing novel, and he is an author to watch, for sure.

I definitely thought he came back, but now I want to read the entire novel again. Maybe I'm simply one of those readers who thought he came back because I wanted it so badly to end that way.