Flying Lessons [Flying Away]

AGE: 12-14

In 1955, Hadara`s small Israeli village has one of everything: one grocer, one nurse and one junk dealer. Hadara`s only distinction is that she’s the only child without a mother. Her father is a citrus grower, and he loves his trees as though they were his children. Hadara decides that it`s time to distinguish herself and fly away from her loneliness. Monsieur Maurice, the village shoemaker, has a mysterious past and he sparks Hadara`s imagination by telling her about Jews in his homeland who could fly. Hadara cajoles Monsieur Maurice into giving her flying lessons. He tells her to study the birds and practice jumping, and then one day she will fly above the village. But as her lessons go on, Hadara learns that she can`t escape from the loneliness of not having a mother. Flying Lessons is a poignant coming-of-age story which explores the importance of dreams and reality, and the delicate balance between them.


Semel weaves dream-like images and innocent profundity into a coming-of-age tale of great power....Sensitive translation preserves the lyricism of Semel`s deeply moving work.
Publishers Weekly 

A novel that connects the suffering, the longing and willpower of childhood with magic....It is a delicate, sweet, haunting story.
The Washington Post 

An Israeli story rich with imagination....The author succeeds in describing such different people and brings them all to life...Full of inspiration.
Westenwald Hessen