Flight

Flight by Sherman Alexie, published in New York by Black Cat, 2007.

Plot: This novel is focalized through a American Indian juvenile delinquent, pseudonym "Zits." Zits was abandoned early in life and is transferred from foster home to foster home until he is thrown in a juvenile detention facility. While serving some time, Zits meet a "beautiful" blonde boy that goes by the name "Justice," who implants a violent, revolutionary mindset into Zits, who proceeds to shoot at civilians at a bank--an emotional and volatile scene. Zits is shot in the head and travels back in time (through some form of deus ex machina) he inhabits the minds of various historical figures and witnesses to important American Indian moments in history. Zits ultimately learns to fight against his urge to destroy, and chooses to turn himself in after his visions.

Analysis: I would definitely teach this book in the early high school setting because of its explicit content. That being said, this novel has a ton of valuable moments in which the character's identity develops and helps him acclimate to the world at large. This is now one of my favorite young adult bildungsromans--especially on account of the strong morals it comes out to teach.

Teachability: This book is teachable, but I would ultimately recommend that students read it independently. It's just so easily consumed that teaching it in class seems almost like a waste of time. I certainly feel that it has a lot to offer, but ultimately it feels like the kind of pop literature that can only push a student's mind so far. I give this novel an 6 out of 10 for teachability, but a 9 out of 10 for enjoyment. And after all, shouldn't we be ultimately reading for enjoyment in the first place?