Came Back To Show You I Could Fly

‘It’s been more than 25 years since Robin Klein’s poignant story of the friendship between lonely, timid 13-year-old Seymour and affectionate, effervescent, but seriously troubled 20-year-old Angie won the CBCA Book of the Year (Older Readers), a Human Rights Award and a White Raven commendation at the Bologna book fair but the novel has, remarkably, retained all its freshness and is surely no less relevant in this era of ice addiction than it was in 1989.’ Adelaide Advertiser ‘This coming-of-age story of finding yourself, helping others and the power of friendship is timeless.’ ReadPlus Angie remains one of the best female characters I’ve ever encountered in YA, because Klein wrote her with so many cracks and complexities. She’s imperfect, but the compassion you feel for her is the most invaluable take-away from the book.’ – Danielle Binks ‘The novel was groundbreaking when it was first published in 1989, and it remains fresh and urgent…Perhaps Klein’s greatest achievement is showing Angie through different characters’ eyes and perspectives. With her flamboyant dresses and tattoo of a flying horse on her shoulder, she is a beautiful goddess to Seymour, but her family disproves of her revealing clothes and tawdry earrings. Even though we perceive her flightiness and the recklessness of her choices, we align ourselves with Seymour’s optimistic, but unrealistic, view.’ Australian ‘It is more than 25 years since Robin Klein’s poignant story of the friendship between lonely, timid 13-year-old Seymour and affectionate, effervescent, but seriously troubled Angie, 20, won awards but the novel has, remarkably, retained all its freshness and it no less relevant in this era of ice addiction than it was in 1989.’ Daily Telegraph

Robin Klein was born 28 February 1936 in Kempsey, New South Wales into a family of nine children. Leaving school at age 15, Klein worked several jobs before becoming established as a writer, having her first story published at age 16. She would go on to write more than 40 books, including Hating Alison Ashley (adapted into a feature film starring Delta Goodrem in 2005), Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left (adapted into a television series for the Seven Network in 1992), and Came Back to Show You I Could Fly (adapted into a film directed by Richard Lowenstein in 1993).

Klein’s books are hugely celebrated, having won the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Award in both the Younger Readers and the Older Readers categories, as well as a Human Rights Award for Literature in 1989 for Came Back to Show You I Could Fly. Klein is widely considered one of Australia’s most prolific and beloved YA authors.