Flight of a Starling by Lisa Heathfield

Flight of a Starling

by Lisa Heathfield

The stunning new novel from award-shortlisted Lisa Heathfield, author of Seed and Paper Butterflies. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, Lisa Williamson, Sarah Crossan and Sara Barnard.

Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends, have spent their lives on the wing – flying through the air in their trapeze act, never staying in one place for long. Behind the greasepaint and the glitter, they know that the true magic is the family they travel with.

Until Lo meets a boy. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to stay still. And as secrets start to tear apart the close-knit circus community, how far will Lo go to keep her feet on the ground?

Flight of a Starling is a heartbreaking read with an important message.

‘We are obsessed with Seed’ – YA Love Magazine

’It broke my heart over and over. Destined to be one of THE most important books this year’ – Melinda Salisbury, author of The Sin Eater’s Daughter, on Paper Butterflies

Lisa Heathfield launched her writing career with Seed, her stunning young adult fiction debut about a cult, before writing Paper Butterflies, her beautiful and heart-breaking second novel. Before becoming a mum to her three sons, she was a secondary school English teacher and loved inspiring teenagers to read. Lisa lives in Brighton.

Reviewed by Joséphine on

4 of 5 stars

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Initial thoughts: I spent the last quarter of the book crying. Even though the outcome was already clear from the prologue, the details still broke me. No matter how difficult and impossible things seem in the moment, a rash act can end it all. Talking to someone and looking for other anger and grief outlets are a much better solution. Most of all, look for reasons to live, even if all there is are the stars in the sky and birds below.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 July, 2017: Finished reading
  • 19 July, 2017: Reviewed