Flight

Fifteen-year-old Zits , a half-Irish, half-Native American boy, wakes up in yet another foster home, counting the zits on his face and the scars on his soul. Orphaned young, shuffled through twenty foster homes, he's angry, alienated, and convinced he's unlovable. Zits is haunted by memories of his mother's love and his father's abandonment, but mostly he's defined by shame—about his looks, his heritage, and his inability to belong. He's a chronic runaway, a petty thief, and a self-described "blank sky." Zits ' only possessions are a few clothes, some books, and photos of his parents. He's lea

Theme 1: Justice and the Ghost Dance

Flight uses its narrative to examine systems of power and the individuals who challenge them. Sherman Alexie shows how ordinary people find extraordinary courage when faced with injustice, and what it costs them to stand firm.

Theme 2: Bank Lobby, Guns Drawn

This thread running through Flight gives the story its emotional weight. Sherman Alexie weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Flight

Flight has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Sherman Alexie's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Justice and the Ghost Dance" — Sherman Alexie, Flight

About the Author

Sherman Alexie is the author of Flight. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.