This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano ✨

In this modern, nerdy, and feminist twist on a classic Cinderella tale, Ellen Lopez-Rourke spends her last summer before college navigating friendships and love all while playing the real-life sport of quidditch. Although J.K. Rowling's recent transphobic statements (among other things) have cast a sour light on the beloved franchise recently, Meriano makes it clear from the beginning that her characters reject those notions and are young Gen-Z, intersectional, feminist activists. This coming-of-age story is one that I would have loved to read when I was younger, and I feel like many young readers will deeply connect with the tone and message of the book. I recommend it for any young reader who loves Harry Potter, and even those who don't will find someone to relate to within the pages of the story.

This Is How We Fly totally took me by surprise. It was pitched as "girl plays quidditch for the summer" and after everything JKR said this summer I was like hmmmm I dunno, but I'll give it a shot.
I loved the beginning, I love familial issues in contemporary books, because you explore more sides of issues than just "girl likes boy" and there are also bisexual/lesbian characters in this, so I was happy to see the representation.
I loved Anna Meriano's writing, it was so descriptive, but sometimes it lost me like, 'wait, where are we?' But other than the occasional confusing moment, I loved the verbiage and overall dialogue.
I was having problems getting into it after about 30-60 percent but then someone mentioned it's a "loose cinderella retelling" and I instantly flew into it in a new light.
I really enjoyed the exploration of gender politics, familial issues, and sports.
Thankfully, the other parts that involve Quidditch like HP/the franchise don't really play into this book, it's just about the character who just so happens to play the sport.

4 stars
~
A book about quidditch? That calls JKR out on all her BS? COUNT ME IN!
This book was everything I hoped! A bit too much self-absorbed teen angsty-ness for my taste, and I would have loved to see a little more of the blooming romance and had that storyline a bit more developed, but still—so good.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Ellen, she was a little too self-absorbed and the way she addressed activism and progressivism often felt self-righteous to me. However, she was a really well developed, strong character. Honestly, every character in this book was so well written and well rounded.
There was this one chapter (maybe two) where Ellen and Karey kept calling other characters out for ableism… but the things they were calling out weren’t ableist. It kind of felt like the mentions were thrown in there to make up for the lack of disabled characters or like the author was going “oh look how progressive I am”. It felt shallow and for show because it literally wasn’t ableism—and that’s coming from a disabled person.
But! I honestly can’t get over those characters! Even the characters I hated were so freaking impressively written. As a writer, I aspire to be that good at writing characters. The plot and pacing was also really well done and I was absorbed from page one. It was such a well crafted book and Anna Meriano has serious talent and skill.
The only things I didn’t like were those awkward comments about ableism and things like the angst and lack of romance which are personal taste.
I 100% recommend this to any Potterhead who loves the wizarding world but is… so done with the fool who wrote Harry Potter

Title: This is How We Fly
Author: Anna Meriano
Pub Date: 12/15/2020

This is How We Fly is the story of Ellen, freshly graduated from high school and feeling lost in the last summer before college. Her friends are drifting away and moving on with their lives, her dad is working too much, and her step-mom seems to have it out for her. Feeling like everything would be better if she just let everyone live their lives without her, Ellen finds her community, and herself, in the unlikely sport of Quidditch. This loose modern Cinderella retelling ended up being my favorite read of the year.

What I liked:
There are not enough characters in the world to fully describe all the things I loved about this book. The friendships felt so real and every frustrating moment dug deep into my heart and felt like I was experiencing it right along with Ellen. Her pain was my pain, but then her joy felt like my joy too. So importantly, this book didn't shy away from topics surrounding JK Rowling and her problematic views. It called out anti-trans rhetoric, and made it clear there was no place for it in the Quidditch community. The book contains a few Harry Potter references, (and obviously has quidditch) but it stands on its own even if you don't have any Harry Potter knowledge at all. I was left in absolute tears at the beautiful perfect ending of this book, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

One thing I didn't love:
I'm not a huge fan of the "evil step-mother" trope, possibly because I'm blessed to have just about the most incredible step-mom in the world, so I could have done without the super heavy constant barrage of awful behavior from her, but since this is a Cinderella retelling I suppose it's understandable. Overall this book was basically perfect and an easy five stars.

Ellen’s summer begins with skipping her high school graduation, because what’s the point if her family can’t be bothered to turn up? Plans for summer with her two best friends Xiumiao and Melissa are quickly dashed, and to top it all Ellen is grounded. The only exception to this grounding: quidditch. <br />The story worked for me because the characters are flawed, but three dimensional. I had forgotten how it felt to live at your parents home in that tense last summer before the freedom of college/university. This Is How We Fly authentically evoked those feelings of having outgrown a situation and being incapable of keeping the peace, no matter how hard you try. <br />Although quidditch is central to the story, readers shouldn’t worry if they don’t know anything about playing the sport (not game, sport!), or if they aren’t particularly sporty. Neither is our protagonist. What is engaging is to see how Ellen grows and changes through her involvement in the summer quidditch league, and the confidence and belonging she gains by being part of an inclusive team.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3672422589

Ellen finds herself in limbo—the transition out of high school and into college, child-teen to teen-adult. But she least expects to find friendships, relationships, acceptance among a group of Harry Potter fans the summer before university.

A coming of age story that involves Quidditch and an evil stepmom? This “loose Cinderella retelling” was a breath of fresh air. Quidditch being the centerfold, everything revolved around Ellen finding her place. I enjoyed it! The flow and story written from Ellen’s POV were a delight.

I wasn't impressed with this book. There were some nice moments and I could see some of the intent behind the story, but that was about it. And I could only see these things sometimes.

The idea behind this book was nice...But it didn't quite pan out. There were a lot of unfortunate things that happened to the main character, Ellen, but things never really seem to look up. I can see where we can learn some lessons from the things Ellen is going through, but the lessons never really come round circle. A lot of this book left me with an unresolved feeling and wondering why the heck x, y, and z were mentioned if nothing was going to be done about them. I just think there were a lot of missed opportunities here.

The whole "loose Cinderella re-telling" thing...Yeah. I don't really know why they included that in there. I can see some similarities, but when they say loose, they mean *loose*. I don't feel like having the knowledge that this was a retelling helped this book in any way. It just felt like something they threw out there.

Also, there were only a few characters I really liked and Ellen wasn't one of them. I really hate it when I don't like the main character, but I was glad there were some side characters I liked reading about. Ellen was just a little too much for me. She was frustrating and kinda whiny (and I recognize she had some hard stuff going on, but...still) and just not a pleasant character.

Overall, this is not one I'd recommend. It contained too many ideas that weren't resolved and too much angst that wasn't reconciled. I had really hoped for more.

For a good part of this book, I was incredibly frustrated with it. It features one of my least favorite tropes which is the "I'm not like other girls", but in terms of the fact that Ellen had never played or understood sports before she joined quidditch. It probably would not have been that big of a deal, but considering I have been an athlete all of my life, all of the digs about jocks and sports rubbed me the wrong way, but luckily I looked past and kept reading. This book turned out to be a really heartfelt story that actually portrayed a realistic family dynamic. I appreciated how Connie and Ellen's relationship developed over the course of the book, but I wish there had been more development by the end of it, but in the final scene where Connie and Greg apologize to Ellen, I did tear up. So, even though there relationship was frustrating, it was moving, because they talked about issues that a lot of us face. This book featured a lot of things that frustrated me, but also featured things that I loved, like the friendships, and so the good overpowered the bad and I really ended up enjoying this book.

Thoughts and Themes: I never really got into Harry Potter so I was a little worried that I wouldn’t have a great time reading this book. I was pleasantly surprised though as I really enjoyed reading this book. There were so many portions of it that I was highlighting on my kindle and just putting exclamation points because of how much these things resonated with me.

I really liked how this book points out the problems with JFK and really makes a point to discuss those issues. I thought it was so important that this book made there be a focus on equity especially on gender in the sport and how they made this important to the main character and her friends.

I really enjoyed this Cinderella retelling and how it reinterpreted it and made it a contemporary story. I liked that it didn’t keep strictly to what a traditional Cinderella story is and liked that the twist this book had on that type of story. I liked how in this book there is a shift in who saves whom and in the way the relationships shift throughout the novel.

Characters: The story is centered around Ellen, her best friends, and the quidditch team that she is playing with for the summer. I really enjoyed how the dynamic between Ellen and Melissa shifted through the novel and Ellen realizing how she was the one who was not being the best friend she wanted everyone else to be. I also really liked how each of the characters develops throughout the book as they come to realize things about themselves.

Something that I really liked about this story that most young adult books don’t have is the family that is included throughout. I connected with the struggle that the main character feels as she thinks that her parents are against her and conspiring against her. I also liked how strict they were even if she was going to college in a few weeks/months. It felt a lot like the way that I felt about my parents at that age and there were some moments I really felt for her.

Writing Style: The story is told in the first person from the viewpoint of the main character. I thought it was good that the story was told from this perspective as we get more of how she feels about the things that are happening. I liked that we only got Ellen’s perspective because it made me feel bad for her and feel as if these other characters were the villains in her story. I liked how you can see how she feels throughout this book and you see her feelings towards others shift as their actions change.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC of This is How We Fly!

Little did I know I was going to fall head over heels for this Young Adult book. I devoured it in a day.. The story, reminiscent of a modern Cinderella, follows the story of 17-year-old Ellen Lopez-Rourke. She's Vegan. She's an activist- we love to see it. It's her last summer in Houston before starting college, and she expects it to be filled with fun adventures with her two best friends. However, Ellen ends up grounded by her ~e~v~i~l stepmother for the entire summer. Her best friend Melissa convinces Ellen's parent's to let her out of the house to play on the local summer quidditch team- and perhaps Ellen has found the place where she fits best.

This is the kind of YA book that moves mountains. It discusses relevant and important topics such as queerness, gender identity and biracialism. These topics are NOT linear and I thought Meriano really exemplified how an individual can be more than just one part of themselves. Humans contain multitudes!

The leader of the story, Ellen, is strong-willed, passionate, and loyal. She is also confused. She is confused by her stepmother's anger towards her, why her best friends are acting distance, and she is questioning her own gender identity. Ellen finds solace in joining the quidditch team, something she never expected. This is How We Fly reminds readers that there is power is trying something new and not judging things we don't understand. I also loved Ellen's voice. I knew exactly who she was and her interactions and thoughts jumped off the page.

I highly recommend This is How We Fly. It invokes empathy, compassion, and LAUGHS.

This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano is about Ellen Lopez-Rourke, who has just graduated from high school and is looking forward to one last summer of hanging out with her best friends before they all split up to attend different colleges. A wrench is thrown in the plans when her parents ground her for the whole summer. The only time she is allowed out of the house is for Quidditch practice, a game Ellen just started playing at the beginning of the summer and instantly loved.
This book is rather deceptive. It tackles many different issues from familial communication to romantic communication to sexual orientation. So much of this book centered around mixed up messages and lack of communication.
Connie and Ellen’s dad did seem like they were being too harsh on Ellen. The glaring communication issues (especially from Connie) left me feeling slightly frustrated but I also remembered how it was when I was younger. Teenagers are frustrating beings to begin with. Connie’s lack of communication was not helpful and certainly created more problems then it solved. Meriano did an excellent job of showing how human’s are pretty terrible at communication, at every age.
Ellen was kind of annoying, as teenagers are sometimes, especially when they do not get their way. She was also passionate about her beliefs. I ended up liking her though, despite her mistakes and annoyances.
This book is for anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter and want a small dose of it in reality alongside some heartwarming coming-of-age teenage angsty lessons wrapped up in a lovely tale about one summer.
Overall 4/5

I thought this was a great character-driven novel. Meriano depicts a high school graduate who is relatable and realistic. Ellen is a 17-year-old vegan feminist who’s trying to enjoy her last few months before she leaves for college. She struggles to fit in within her own family with her uptight stepmom, perfect little sister, and father who works long hours. Every encounter with her stepmom, Connie, ends up in conflict. She’s misunderstood and feels like her father never sticks up for her. My heart ached for Ellen throughout this entire novel. Being a teen girl is HARD!!! Being a teen girl who is questioning her gender identity and who feels like she doesn’t have the support of her friends or father is just heartbreaking.

I loved Ellen’s growth throughout the entire novel. Through Quidditch, she learns that she is strong—physically and emotionally. And she starts learning how to let others’ comments skirt off her back. I believe a lot of readers will be able to relate to the character Meriano has created. I would love for Meriano to continue writing about Ellen as she goes through college!

I also cannot fail to mention the LGBTQ+ representation in this novel. This representation in YA novels is extremely important and Meriano has created LGBTQ+ characters who are multi-dimensional. I believe that many teens/young adults will be able to find someone in this novel who resembles them which is so important!

This is How We Fly follows 17-year-old, Ellen, during her last summer before starting her freshman year at college. Ellen finds herself grounded because homegirl is at the ultimate level of snarky teenage 'tude. Have no fear, BFF Melissa is a brilliant magical unicorn of a suck-up and convinces Ellen's evil (sometimes) stepmother and father to let her out of the house. Yup, Ellen's parents back down because they give them what they want...exercise (no, not the gym) in the form of quidditch. Ellen and Melissa would describe them selves as quidditch-playing feminist dorks who read a lot of fanfic. Messy nerds who love drama. There's also Xiumiao, who is (ex?) BFF and MIA. Ready to move on from high school. I loved the Harry Potter nerd bonding and the snark made me LOL. This is How We Fly is a story of friendship, family, drama, ideological topics, and fighting for what you want.

Thanks to Penguin Teen for an advanced copy!

Like many people out there, I enjoy the occasional sports-themed rom-com or YA novel. However, This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano highlights a different kind of athletic activity: Quidditch. This young adult book, set to be released December 15th, is a great feel-good contemporary about growing up and finding a place to belong.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book! Being a fan of Harry Potter, I knew what Quidditch was and that people actually played it in real-life, but I didn’t really know any of the logistics of it. Meriano does a fabulous job of showcasing this wonderfully wacky sport and how it has developed into a worldwide phenomenon. Additionally, to see Ellen use Quidditch as a way to express herself and find a sense of belonging was wonderful to see.

Meriano leaves references at the end of the book to real-life sources to find actual Quidditch leagues around the world which really helped showcase this diverse athletic community! There was also some great LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation in this story which further highlighted the diversity and inclusivity of the Quidditch Community!

While I liked the plot, I did find Ellen to be a bit over dramatic at times and found it a bit hard to connect with her. I might just be getting too far removed from my own teen years to relate to her, but Ellen seemed almost too angsty at times. This book also tackles a lot of progressive issues like feminism, gender identity, gender roles, veganism, and societal standards. While I appreciated the way these issues were highlighted, it was almost overwhelming at times and I found there to be too many mentions of too many different issues.

Overall, I think this is a great YA book and I hope to see Quidditch highlighted in more stories in the future! If you're looking for a quick read that will satisfy your craving for neediness and a little bit of competition then this book is a fabulous choice!

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

First I would like to thank Penguin Teen for sending me an ebook ARC of this book. This book was a great coming of age novel. I related a lot to the characters and their struggles such as strict parents, dating, career plans, and sexuality. The whole Quidditch aspect made it an even better read for me. I recommend that age 13 and up read this. This book also addresses the importance of human rights and feminism. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a great read.

Ellen is a seventeen year old on that line between just having finished high school and getting ready to head off to college. Living with her father, stepmother and stepsister, she is fighting for her voice within her home. She is feeling all of these emotions and trying to bring awareness to endless social injustices, even though she doesn't feel heard, or even like she is allowed to feel the way she feels about these things inside her own home. Her "evil step mother" just wants to put her in a box and not make waves...

Ellen reminded me so much of my own teenage daughter who is so outspoken about making the world a better place and fighting each and every systematic injustice in the world. I totally felt for Ellen. Not only is she maneuvering through the landmines that make up her relationship with her step mother, she is in a delicate place with one of her very best friends. Her best friend since pre-k is distancing herself from their best friend trio and it is breaking Ellen's heart...

Thank goodness she has Quidditch to occupy some of her summer. Ellen and her remaining friend, Melissa join a Quidditch league where they play a magic-less adaptation of the Harry Potter game. She is meeting new people and having fun in the process.

All in all, I really liked this book. It was full of complex characters and relatable situations.

Quidditch and teen angst are the perfect catalysts for this fun and entertaining read. This is How We Fly (TiHWF) has a bit of a Cinderella feel to it but Ellen, the quirky yet mostly loveable protagonist isn’t going to any fancy ball. Instead, she’s off to join a Quidditch team that teaches her more about herself and who she wants to be in life than any ball a pumpkin carriage could cart her to.

It’s the summer after senior year and the summer before college, Ellen is at odds with her friends, at odds with her wicked step-mother- who, of course, loads Ellen down with a never-ending chore list - and when Ellen acts out and ends up grounded for the summer, she has one thing to get her out of the house: Quidditch! Ellen follows her friend to a Quidditch practice and what she finds there is a level of acceptance amongst the players that she hasn’t found anywhere else.

I always say I love a good character driven story but TiHWF is both strongly character and plot driven. I have to say the Muggle Quidditch team gave me serious FOMO and oh man, how I wish there was a team by me! Aside from my Quidditch FOMO, Meriano addresses the issues that young women face in that in-between space between high school and college. That yawning abyss of being both a teen and an adult and the struggle to find the balance between who you want to be, who everyone expects you to be and who you actually are.

While Ellen is certainly a flawed character, she is much like many teen girls and faces the same struggles with acceptance, immaturity – especially with relationships, and the restlessness of that last summer before adulthood takes over. I didn’t always like Ellen but I did understand her. This is a coming-of-age story that really gave me all the feels. Fighting for what you believe in and learning to be unashamedly proud of who you are is an important message that everyone needs to hear.

My thanks to Penguin Teen and author Anna Meriano for providing me with a DRC of This is How We Fly!

Attention Cinderella/ Harry Potter Fans! This one is for you!
I absolutely loved the concept of this book, it has a Cinderella retelling theme about a girl who joins a Harry Potter inspired Quidditch team.This totally reminded me of college we actually played Quidditch which is super fun BTW. Our protagonist, Ellen, is such a strong-willed person who will stand up and fight for what she believes in. During this last summer before college starts, Ellen finds herself joining an all-gender, full-contact Quidditch team that gives her a chance to not only find herself, but find who she wants to be in life. Meriano also explores the topics of family dynamics and finding her own voice in this world. Every scene was just so full of detail that it made it hard to put the book down.

I struggled to get through this book, it felt too cliche for me. I was a bit weary going in with the whole quidditch thing, and my concerns were proven right. While I thought the love story was cute, it personally doesn’t really meet the bar for me.

Part lighthearted story about a quidditch team, part family drama, part burning down the patriarchy, this was an entertaining, quick read that never quite found its footing for me.

I read a lot of YA, but maybe I’m just getting too old for this type of YA because man... Ellen was just insufferable for the majority of the story. There was just too much hot tempered anger and bitterness toward everyone around her for my taste.

I loved the quidditch game play and I liked how adamant Ellen was in all her social justice views despite wishing her communication was a little less abrasive and more substantive but ultimately found most of the characters either annoying or depthless. The ending redeemed it slightly for me but mostly because of secondary characters decisions and not Ellen.