librarianryan 's review for:

As the Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman
2.0
emotional reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

 
Charlie is a girl who is not one for being out with nature. However, she is going to be spending a week in a nature hiking camp communing with God. This is a trip not just about God, but about feminism and the place of women within their spirituality and in their community. I should also mention that Charlie is the only black girl in the group. This book does have an Eisenhower Honor and a Stonewall Honor. One of the side characters is trans and you’re led to believe that Charlie is probably lesbian. Which is why Charlie is arguing with God. I do not know if this book has a volume two. I hope it doesn’t. However, the story does not end, and they haven’t even made it to the full point of the hike. Throughout Charlie is talking to God: “Why am I here? Why did you send me here?  There are no conclusions, no points made.  It sets off to make a point about feminism and getting away from the men and being who you are.  But it’s left completely in the air. I really wanted to like this book, I was hoping it was going someplace profound. However, the author launched a balloon in the air and left it sitting.