The Closest Thing To Flying

When Semira discovers a diary written by Hen, a girl living over 100 years ago, she finds the friend she has been desperately seeking. A friend who brings not just comfort, but inspiration to be brave, to fight for her place in the world, and maybe even to uncover the secrets of her own past.

Awards:
Winner; Reading Rampage 2020 andYoung Quills 2020 Historical Fiction Award

Shortlisted: Stockton Book of the Year Award, Juniper Book Awards, Leicester Reading Rampage 2020, RED Books Award 2020, Northeast Book Award 2019

Nominated: 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal

“Jemima’s Review for Young Quills Award;
This is an incredible book. It is thought-provoking and has a memorable plot. In the book you meet many characters but my favourites are probably Semira, Hen (Henrietta Waterman) and Kitty (Aunt Katherine). I like how they stand up to unfairness. The message of the book is definitely to stand up for what you believe in and what is right. I dislike Robel and Hen’s parents as they deny Hen, Semira and Kitty the will to fight for fairness. The way the writing was presented was unlike anything I have read before because there were diary entries written by a girl 100 years ago. The plot was exciting and thought-provoking as well as being easy and fun to read. I think the most memorable part of the book was definitely the end as it was very motivating. I would recommend this book to anyone 10+ as some of the information would be easier to understand if the reader was older. I would rate it 5/5.”