Parents might reach for this book when their child is struggling to speak about their grief or anxiety, especially after the loss of a friend. Flying Solo tells the story of a sixth-grade class that arrives at school to find no teacher or substitute. They decide to run the day themselves, a challenge that forces them to collaborate and trust one another. This unique situation becomes the backdrop for a deeper story about Rachel, a student who has been silent since the death of a classmate six months earlier. The book gently explores themes of grief, guilt, friendship, and the courage it takes to find your voice again. For ages 10 to 13, it's a powerful and accessible story that uses a compelling school adventure to open conversations about difficult emotions.
Deals directly with grief, guilt, and anxiety related to the death of a child.
Sensitive Topics
The book's core sensitive topic is the death of a child (a classmate), which is handled directly and in retrospect. The cause of death is not specified, only that it was sudden. The approach is entirely secular, focusing on the emotional and psychological aftermath rather than any spiritual dimension. The book also provides a sensitive portrayal of trauma-induced selective mutism. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: Rachel begins to speak and heal, and the class comes together in a moment of communal support and understanding.
Ideal Reader
This book is ideal for a thoughtful 10 to 13-year-old who is processing a personal or communal loss, particularly the death of a peer. It's also an excellent choice for a child struggling with social anxiety, feelings of guilt, or the sense that they cannot speak up about something important. It resonates with readers who appreciate character-driven stories with deep emotional currents hidden beneath a compelling plot.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared for the direct discussion of a child's death and the raw emotions associated with it, especially guilt. The climactic scene where Bastian accuses Rachel and the class of their past treatment of Tommy is emotionally intense. A parent might want to preview the chapters titled "1:00 P.M." and "2:00 P.M." The concept of selective mutism as a trauma response may also be a useful point of context for a pre-reading or post-reading conversation. A parent has noticed their child has become unusually quiet or withdrawn after a difficult event, like the death of a community member or a friend moving away. The child might be internalizing difficult feelings like guilt or sadness and says things like, "I don't want to talk about it." This book provides a safe, third-person story to begin that conversation.
Age Experience
A younger reader (10-11) will likely focus on the exciting premise of kids running the class and the mystery of Rachel's silence. They will understand the sadness but may key into the themes of teamwork and problem-solving. An older reader (12-13) is more likely to grasp the psychological nuances of Rachel's trauma, the complexities of shared grief within a group, and the weight of Bastian's anger and guilt.
What Makes It Special
Its unique hour-by-hour structure creates a compressed, high-stakes timeline that makes the emotional journey feel immediate and intense. Unlike many books about grief that focus on an individual's journey, this story masterfully portrays grief as a communal experience. The way the entire class becomes a vessel for one student's healing is a powerful and distinctive narrative choice. It also offers a rare and empathetic depiction of selective mutism in middle-grade literature.
Read plot summary
When the substitute teacher for Mr. Fabiano's sixth-grade class fails to appear, the students make a pact to run the school day on their own. The narrative, structured hour by hour, follows their attempts to maintain order and follow the lesson plan. The central emotional plot involves Rachel White, who has been selectively mute since the traumatic death of a classmate, Tommy Feathers, six months prior. Tensions escalate throughout the day, culminating in a confrontation between Bastian Fauvell and Rachel that forces the entire class to confront their shared grief and individual guilt surrounding Tommy's death. This emotional crisis ultimately helps Rachel find her voice again.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Rachel stopped talking on the day Tommy died. Why do you think grief and guilt made her silent? What finally gave her the courage to speak again?
2
Bastian was angry with his classmates about how they treated Tommy before he died. Do you think his outburst was fair? How else could he have expressed his feelings?
3
The class made a pact to run the day by themselves. What were some of their smartest decisions, and what were some of their mistakes? Would you have made the same choice in their position?
4
At the end of the day, the students chose Karen to explain everything to the principal. Why was she a good choice for this job? What qualities did she have that made them trust her?
