If These Wings Could Fly

Perfect for fans of Laura Ruby, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Mindy McGinnis, Kyrie McCauley’s stunning YA debut is a powerful story about the haunting specter of domestic violence and the rebellious forces of sisterhood and first love. Winner of the William C. Morris Award! Tens of thousands of crows invading Auburn, Pennsylvania, is a problem for everyone in town except seventeen-year-old Leighton Barnes. For Leighton, it’s no stranger than her house, which inexplicably repairs itself every time her father loses his temper and breaks things. Leighton doesn’t have time for the crows—it’s her senior year, and acceptance to her dream college is finally within reach. But grabbing that lifeline means abandoning her sisters, a choice she’s not ready to face. With her father’s rage worsening and the town in chaos over the crows, Leighton allows herself a chance at happiness with Liam, her charming classmate, even though falling in love feels like a revolutionary act. Balancing school, dating, and survival under the shadow of sixty thousand feathered wings starts to feel almost comfortable, but Leighton knows that this fragile equilibrium can only last so long before it shatters. A Powerful Survival Story: Leighton must navigate her father’s explosive temper in a house that hides the damage, forcing her to question what is real and what is simply a fragile illusion. Sisterhood and Sacrifice: Torn between a scholarship to her dream college and protecting her younger sisters, Leighton faces an impossible choice that could change all of their lives forever. Atmospheric Small Town: As tens of thousands of crows descend upon Auburn, their mysterious presence mirrors the secrets and simmering tension threatening to tear the town—and Leighton’s family—apart. A Tender First Love: Amid the chaos, a sweet romance with her classmate Liam offers a glimpse of hope and happiness, a revolutionary act in a life defined by fear.