Review: Flight by Sherman Alexie
A Young Man Undertakes a Bizarre, Transformative Journey
Sep 22, 2009
Zits may not be the angriest protagonist in literary history, but he surely must come close. In Flight, author Sherman Alexie introduces the reader to Zits (not his real name, but as he puts it his "real name isn't important") on his first day in a new foster home. The nickname derives, of course, from the overabundance of acne he's afflicted with.
Zits is 15 years old, with all the emotional baggage one carries at that age and much more. His Irish mother died when he was six and his Native American father abandoned them, by his account, "two minutes after I was born" and, ever since, Zits has been kicked around from foster home to foster home – twenty, in all. The first chapter, in which Zits meets yet another blithely dysfunctional foster family, perfectly captures his witty, if world-weary, teenaged view of the mess that is his life, as well as his complete disdain for all adult authority.
The Set-up
After getting off to a less-than-ideal start with the folks, Zits reacts in the way he knows best – he runs – but the cops catch up to him. He's taken into custody and befriended, to an extent, by a well-intended cop. In fact, Officer Dave tries to mentor the boy, regarding him as more than just the pimply loser Zits perceives himself to be. However, Zits isn't ready to hear what Officer Dave has to say. Instead, he falls in with a charismatic, slightly older teen he meets in detention. The older boy lures Zits into committing an act of extreme, random violence, by virtually brainwashing him into believing he will benefit from it.
Zits goes along with the program and commits the horrible act – a mass shooting at a bank, during which he gets shot in the head. However, he doesn't die. Instead, he's launched through a series of time traveling, out-of-body experiences, or to be more accurate, experiences in other people's bodies.
Facing His Major Issues
These events force Zits to come to grips with major issues in his own life, by witnessing, up close and personal, acts of astonishing cruelty and racism (both by and against Indians), as well as those of tremendous generosity and self-sacrifice. Zits also comes to a better understanding of love, betrayal of trust and failure, through the eyes of different people he inhabits, including an aged, Old West Indian tracker, an Indian chief's son, a philandering pilot and his own father.
With a fast-paced, clever narrative, and breezy, witty writing, author Sherman Alexie does a superb job of revealing Zits' awe, shock and slow maturation at each step in his journey, while keeping his voice consistently that of a cynical, all-knowing teenager. And, despite its teen protagonist and fantasy-filled plot, violence, sexual situations and adult language push this book well into the PG-13 range. Not only is the book appropriate for mature adolescents and high schoolers, but Alexie's teen voice rings so true, he ranks with J.D. Salinger in his ability to depict the angst, confusion and self-righteousness of youth, without relying on contrived teen-speak or other condescending gimmickry.
Engaging, Outrageous and Funny
In a rollicking tale that invites comparisons to Catcher in the Rye and Slaughterhouse Five, Flight is as engaging, outrageous and funny as its young protagonist. His romp through time and space ends on a touching note. And, if it comes off a bit pat or sentimental for some, it may seem less so after considering the revelatory effect such a bizarre experience would have on a tough, but vulnerable, boy who really just wants to be loved.
Flight by Sherman Alexie, Black Cat (April 17, 2007), ISBN: 978-0-8021-7037-8
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