Taking Flight

“This book is truly as stunning as it is timely. I read it with my heart in my mouth and was reminded once again of the beauty, resilience and grace of young people.” —Jacqueline Woodson, New York Times bestselling author of The Day You Begin“With gorgeous language, sweeping illustrations, and an abundance of compassion, this book shares the heartache and hope that bring many families to a new life in a new land.” —Pat Zietlow Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Be Kind★ “In second-person prose and close-hatched, realistic images, Sheth and Carozzi’s deeply felt tale braids together tales of three young refugees … Digitally enhanced graphite illustrations crisply portray the youths’ homelands and individual experiences in a title that spotlights difficult, necessary journeys and ends with images of hope.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Kashmira Sheth was born in India with Gujarati as her mother tongue, and began learning English in fifth grade. She had lived in Bhavnagar and Mumbai before moving to United States when she was seventeen to attend Iowa State University, where she received a BS in microbiology. Before becoming an author, Kashmira had many different jobs, including running a dance school and choreographing and performing Indian dances, working in a bakery, and working as a food microbiologist. She is the author of several picture books, chapter books, and middle grade and young adult novels.

Nicol Carozzi is a Veronese architect, teacher, and illustrator. He was awarded first prize for the EurHope illustration competition in 2013, and has been a shortlisted illustrator for three Folio Society competitions. His author-illustrator debut Brave as a Mouse received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist and was a Bank Street Best Children’s Book.