Infinite Sky

Mar 19, 2013 Reynje rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-or-realistic, cover-loving, heartbreak-warning, read-2013, young-adult

"And all the time the same question flails around my head, like a hawkmoth round a light-bulb: Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?”

C.J. Flood’s debut, Infinite Sky, is a novel that is at once both understated and emotionally devastating; a story that unfolds gradually with a quietness that belies the impending tragedy.

The prologue hangs like a shadow over the following pages of the novel. It is made clear from the start that this is a story marked by death, b...more "And all the time the same question flails around my head, like a hawkmoth round a light-bulb: Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?”

C.J. Flood’s debut, Infinite Sky, is a novel that is at once both understated and emotionally devastating; a story that unfolds gradually with a quietness that belies the impending tragedy.

The prologue hangs like a shadow over the following pages of the novel. It is made clear from the start that this is a story marked by death, but by withholding the identity of the character to die, Flood maintains a sense of compelling disquiet. We know grief awaits us, yet we don’t know for whom, or why. It’s an approach that works for this book, allowing the plot to progress at an unhurried pace without sacrificing any of the tension required to keep the story engaging.

This is a coming-of-age story, but Flood’s approach to Iris’ development is refreshingly frank and unsentimental. At thirteen, Iris is attempting to adjust to a life in which her mother has left the family, her father is drinking and distant, and her brother Sam is becoming increasingly altered and withdrawn. Flood is subtle in her depiction of each character’s response to their changed circumstances: she shows it in the neglect of their home, in Sam’s muted anger, in Iris’ habit of wearing of her Mother’s abandoned clothes.

In addition, and partly in response to her mother’s departure, Iris is feeling increasingly alienated from her friend, Matty. Bristling under the well-intentioned, if heavy-handed, pity of Matty and her mother, Iris becomes more aware of the nuances of their friendship, the shifting dynamic between them. Though secondary to the central plot, Flood also writes these elements of the story with insight and skill.

It’s against this backdrop of emotional upheaval that a family of Irish Travellers set up camp on the Dancy’s land, and Iris finds an unexpected friend in fourteen-year-old Trick. After some initial wary observation, Iris and Trick’s interactions develop from tentative sympathy to something deeper: a closeness that’s both friendship and first love intertwined. Yet Flood never allows this relationship to become overly romanticised or unrealistic, nor does she trivialise it. With an excellent grasp of her characters’ experiences and ages, Flood writes their bond with restraint, allowing Iris’ self-consciousness and Trick’s cognizance of local prejudice to shade their growing closeness.

Flood’s handling of the issue of discrimination and racism is particularly adroit, conveying the complexities of the conflict honestly, and without judgement. Her depiction of the local attitudes towards Travellers is unflinchingly candid; she doesn’t shy away from the slurs and assumptions that accompany the arrival of Trick and his family, nor does she paint an idealised picture of them. Rather, Flood presents the various sides of the issue with impartiality, striving instead to accurately present a situation where the many shades of grey prevent black and white judgement, or definitive allocation of blame.

When the various conflicts – both internal and external – reach the inevitable climax, Flood has created a situation that is intensely distressing. But there are no easy villains here. Each of the characters shares some culpability in the outcome, yet this isn’t a story that is trying to moralise to readers. Rather there is something heartbreaking about the very believability of this story, that these kind of actions and attitudes are both realistic and common.

Yet it’s Iris’ opening question in the prologue that lingers, and I appreciated Flood’s choice to tackle the complexities of grief and guilt when the situation is far from clear-cut. The novel asks us to consider difficult questions - and while it doesn’t necessarily provide the answers - its strength lies in acknowledging that these questions exist. That in life, and love, and death, sometimes there are no easy answers.(less)

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Mar 30, 2013 Isamlq rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-favorites, aaw-yeah

I'm still crying. This despite knowing early on that something sad was going to happen (the very first chapter prepares us for it, but not really.. not at all!) Reading this one and feeling all the things that it has me feeling, has me wanting to reevaluate what type of book gets a four or five star rating from me nowadays, because honestly, if it's about the emotion, Infinite Skies deserves all my 4-5 star emotion based ratings ( and then some, because I'm still crying here)

I am certain that an...more
I'm still crying. This despite knowing early on that something sad was going to happen (the very first chapter prepares us for it, but not really.. not at all!) Reading this one and feeling all the things that it has me feeling, has me wanting to reevaluate what type of book gets a four or five star rating from me nowadays, because honestly, if it's about the emotion, Infinite Skies deserves all my 4-5 star emotion based ratings ( and then some, because I'm still crying here)

I am certain that anyone who's got awesome siblings will feel lots over this over this... for most of the last chapters, the tears were flowing fast and free (and still are, as I type these words.)

Because the characters in this one! I'm Heartsick over Iris and Sam and then Trick. And yes, their parents as well:

Iris is young and open and sweet. Sam is young and angry, siblings the two of them, lost on why their family is the way it is. And I was angry on their behalf, at both their parents: one who's there (but not really) and another who's taken the more honest way and chucked it. And yet... the honesty with which they're all portrayed, that's what engaged my head at first. How the mother's had her fill and up and gone; how the father's left behind and is clueless about what's to be done; and how brother and sister continue to do what they're doing when the both of them are so obviously lost (gahh... heart sick all over again!)

But then there were moments too that eased things up, of the glimpses of brother and sister, both mindful of what the other (they're both experiencing) and of them both remembering some shared thing in the past. It's those things, that added touch of sweetness.. but it's also those that make the outcome of this all the more emotional for me.

Then there were those other sort of sweet moments, of a girl finding others beyond family; of a boy so different from what's familiar to her. How the two of them manage to build up a friendship that's begun out of curiosity then made into something sweet and.. yeah, sweet... and how this sweet tentative new thing is seen by those that matter to her so that when finally both parts of her story meet, there I was still wanting some other outcome to come out of it.

(Goodness... the last three chapters of a book had me crying nonstop..)

(... and I still haven't stopped! It's like CJ Flood's turned on the tap to my tear ducts..!)

4/5(less)

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May 21, 2013 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own-print, 2013-debut-author, british-author, read-in-2013, for-review-read, favorites

4.5 stars

Ever since her mum left Iris's family has been falling apart, her dad has been drinking too much and her brother Sam has become angry and withdrawn. Iris is only 13 years old but she is the one who is trying to hold them together, she does her best to take care of the house and cook for them all but it isn't easy and she's left feeling sad and alone. The day a family of travellers move onto their land changes everything, her father and Sam are both angry and want the travellers gone but...more 4.5 stars

Ever since her mum left Iris's family has been falling apart, her dad has been drinking too much and her brother Sam has become angry and withdrawn. Iris is only 13 years old but she is the one who is trying to hold them together, she does her best to take care of the house and cook for them all but it isn't easy and she's left feeling sad and alone. The day a family of travellers move onto their land changes everything, her father and Sam are both angry and want the travellers gone but Iris can't help but be curious about them. As she secretly gets to know Trick she realises that her family's prejudices against him aren't true and they form a close friendship that helps them both through some difficult times. As tensions increase between the two families Iris and Trick are caught in the middle but when tragedy strikes who will be the last one standing?

Infinite Sky is the kind of book that doesn't come along very often, one of those stories that touches your heart and will make you shed a few tears but that will also make you smile along the way. It's very clear from the prologue that something terrible has happened, Iris is at the funeral of someone she is close to but you are given no indication of who it is that died. The story then begins several months earlier and you spend the summer watching Iris blossom from a child into a young adult as she falls in love for the first time. At the back of your mind you always know that something bad is coming but that sense of foreboding doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable, in fact I think it is what makes this quite such an addictive read.

I don't want to go into much more detail about the story because I think it is a book that needs to be savoured and is best read with as little knowledge as possible. I'd rather talk about how much I loved the characters, Iris is a young girl that I think most people can relate to. She is going through a difficult time at home and is at that age when you start to question the things you are told and stop believing everything just because a parent tells you it's true. She is learning some hard truths about family and friendship and her experiences help shape her into the woman she is going to become. Iris is constantly being told that the travellers are bad news but she wants to make up her own mind about them by getting to know them. She is smart enough to realise that no family is perfect and that we should react to people based on the way they treat us not because of someone else's prejudice.

I didn't feel we get to know Trick as well as we know Iris, probably because the story is told from her point of view, but we know enough about him to hurt on his behalf when he is bullied and picked on by local teens. The events that unfold towards the end are heartbreaking and I think it was made even worse by the fact that that people who are most to blame are the ones who walk away from the incident unaffected. Infinite Sky is a book that will make you think, it touches on difficult themes but does so in a sensitive manner. The writing is beautiful for it's simplicity and it's hard to believe that this is C.J. Flood's debut novel, I know I'll automatically be reading anything she writes in the future. If you haven't already fallen in love with Infinite Sky then I urge you to pick up a copy as soon as possible, the setting makes it a perfect book for reading on a lazy summer afternoon and I'm sure you won't regret giving it a chance.(less)

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May 20, 2013 Siew Ee rated it 4 of 5 stars

With these words in the prologue, “Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill somebody you love?“, I asked myself whether I should go on. After all, the author has prepared the reader for the worst. I did read on because of two main reasons : 1) to find out who was the killer and the victim, both of whom were close to her heart; and 2) What happened? Ahem … that basically meant reading the whole book.

There’s Iris, a thirteen-year-old girl weathering a difficult teenage phase followin...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Posted first @ the fawn and the flight

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but this was exactly what drew me to reach for C J Flood’s debut novel Infinite Sky from the Waterstones’ YA bookshelf last week! So before I jump directly into the review, there really needs to be a few lines of appreciation for this beautiful book: the pale blue hardback is adorned with a whimsical design of a cornfield (as you can see in the image!), evoking (for me) that feverish, summer-nights feeling...more Posted first @ the fawn and the flight

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but this was exactly what drew me to reach for C J Flood’s debut novel Infinite Sky from the Waterstones’ YA bookshelf last week! So before I jump directly into the review, there really needs to be a few lines of appreciation for this beautiful book: the pale blue hardback is adorned with a whimsical design of a cornfield (as you can see in the image!), evoking (for me) that feverish, summer-nights feeling which is so crucial to the actual story. On the inside, there is a beautiful blue bird-print which surrounds the blurb of the book.

Upon reading said blurb, I ran to the cash register, heart beating, thinking: “THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR”, then handed over my £9.99 enthusiastically. It’s safe to say I really was sold on this book the moment I saw it, and it’s a wonderful addition to my bookshelf.

The story itself centres around thirteen year old Iris and the somewhat turbulent relationships she has with those around her: her mother has recently walked out on her and her family, which includes her concerned (if not fiercely-protective) father and her older, disillusioned brother Sam.

Her mother’s departure is what undoubtedly catalyses the series of events, breeding tension and anger between the three family members, driving distances between them. Sam falls in with the wrong crowd, shaves off his hair and gets into fights, whilst her father projects all his feelings of rejection and frustration into evicting the Irish travellers who have recently set up camp on the paddock in front of their home.

Iris, however, is fascinated by the gypsies, watching them frequently from her father’s window as they go about their daily lives, before she finally befriends the blonde teenage boy, Trick, who had caught her eye. Together, they meet in secret at night amongst the cornfields, connected by their whirlwind home-life and personal insecurities whilst the ongoing conflict and tension of their families around them spirals out of control.

What I particularly liked about this story was its ambiguities surrounding the ideas of humanity and loyalty. The characters each face situations which undoubtedly challenge their understanding of being ‘good’ people: Iris’ mother’s decision to travel, Iris’ conflicted loyalty to Trick and to her family, and the feud between Sam and Trick being some prime examples. I was struck constantly with conflicting ideas of what was right and wrong, what was good and bad (especially at the novel’s climax) and the idea that loyalty is a very fickle thing which was very refreshing to read in a YA story.

What I took from the novel, all together, was that a ‘good person’ does not inertly exist; that we all lie somewhere in between selflessness and selfishness – and that there is nothing honestly wrong with that. (less)

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Jan 30, 2013 Zara Arshad rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: won-in-giveaway, 2013-ya-contemporary-challenge, 2013-debut-author-challenge

I won this book in a 'Goodreads Giveaway'. This book is and ARC. I'm so excited to get it. And I'm so sorry for writing a late review.

This book was unlike the books I tend towards. It had a different taste. I guess that's why I didn't find it intriguing at the start. But as I went through with it, the story started to take a hold on me and captured my interest. Especially with gypsies involved.

Now SPOILER... The kid who dies at the end, that left me heart-broken. I swear it's been a while since

...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, uk-author, books-i-am-quoted-in

Infinite sky is a beautiful book which will make you smile and break your heart at the same time. I enjoyed it thoroughly and whizzed through it in one sitting because I literally couldn't put it down.

For me this book was really about the relationships you form with people and the challenges those relationships can face. The story follows Iris a teenage girl who makes friends with the gypsy boy who are camped up on her father's land. Her father is very prejudice against the gypsy family from th...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Humaira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?

I can't even begin to describe how much this book touched me. I was originally going to give it 4 stars but I am giving it 5 for being the first ever book to make me properly cry. I couldn't even control it, tears just blinked out from my eyes while reading the last 10/20% of this. It might be due to the fact that I have an older brother myself but whatever it was, this book just killed me.

(view spoiler)...more Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?

I can't even begin to describe how much this book touched me. I was originally going to give it 4 stars but I am giving it 5 for being the first ever book to make me properly cry. I couldn't even control it, tears just blinked out from my eyes while reading the last 10/20% of this. It might be due to the fact that I have an older brother myself but whatever it was, this book just killed me.

(view spoiler)

Iris is a thirteen year old British girl who lives on a farm that has been occupied by Irish travellers. This book really dwells on issues prevalent in Britain today such as the prejudice against travellers and others like gang youth culture, alcohol, child abandonment but all through the eyes of a young teen. I'm not saying that it is a very heavy book but some parts were just so relevant to life today.

There were so many issues in this book and it really makes you dwell on things such as family and loyalty which were both predominant themes. I really felt for Iris because it must have been hard that through an unintentional act something devastating happened and it makes you think, did he deserve that? How much can you forgive someone?

The beginning of the book did start off a little slow for me personally and I kept on waiting until Iris finally met Trick. Their burgeoning relationship was so cute.
The writing in this book was poignant and Iris' voice was crafted beautifully, it made me believe in her and what the author was trying to portray. All of the characters had depth to them and I believed in all of them.

Like I said earlier this book made a heavy impact on me personally and I thought about it quite a bit after finishing it, admittedly they were quite depressing thoughts, however I would recommend this book as a great coming of age story and one about the importance of family.

P.S. I like the British slang in this. I read so many American books that I sometimes forget how Britain is.(less)

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Jun 15, 2013 Melinda Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is one of those books where you know the ending right at the beginning. And so you know it's going to be a bit of a dismal read. The guesswork as to who exactly is going to make an unfortunate demise keeps it a little bit interesting and I know I've been yapping on about quality rather than quantity, but I think in this case the length (or the lack thereof) works against this book as there isn't enough time for me to appreciate the characters. Maybe because its written with young adults in...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

(This review can also be found on my blog (The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).

When I first heard of Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood, I knew it was a book that I was going to have to read as soon as possible. Firstly, because I have a thing for Irish travellers. I find them fascinating. Secondly, it sounded like a really good read. I must say that I fell in love with this story.

Infinite Sky is a coming of age story told by thirteen year old Iris. Iris' mother has left her, her br...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Amanda Sun rated it 5 of 5 stars

What an astonishing book. Lyrical and beautiful, Flood finds deep meaning in the smallest of things, each feeling familiar and at the same time, a wonder. I saw myself in Iris, trying to make sense of the complex adult world that we must live in, even as a child. This is a stunning debut by an incredible talent. Infinite Sky is an absolute delight, and Flood is an author to watch.

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Mar 09, 2013 Lorraine RushHourReads rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of a summer; one of rebellion, first love and an event that changes three young lives forever. It is the tale of Iris, a young country girl who falls for a young gypsy boy who moves into the family's paddock. Her family, torn apart by her mother leaving, react in very different ways. Her father pours his energies into removing the gypsies, while his children rebel.

Intrigue is set from the first page. The story begins with the funeral of a teenage boy. Is it Iris' wayward broth...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 40-book-challenge-2013

An impending divorce numbs the Dancy family; Dad is drinking, the house is filthy, Sam is falling in with a bad crowd, and Iris..., well, Iris might just be the only one who notices.

When a family of Irish travellers move into their empty paddock, a new sense of purpose is brought to the family. Contrary to her fathers single-minded determination to evict the settlers and to her brother and his gang's attempts to goad the travellers into violence, Iris befriends Trick, a traveller boy.
The first...more

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Mar 20, 2013 kb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4ever-young-adult, ayebooks, euro-sure-o, books-id-save-from-fire-flood

I am happy to report that this book is, by all means, beautiful, even though I had my doubts about it after reading that morbid-ish prologue. (A death of a kid right on the first page, hello.) I liked its unpredictability, the way the story and the characters slowly shed page by page and there go all the secrets spilling. I liked the sadness, the longing, the death, the grief, the anger, the melancholy, the innocence – all these universal ideas that came together in such a carefully but masterfu...more

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Jun 07, 2013 Jodie (Books for Company) rated it 4 of 5 stars

www.booksforcompany.com
In Short
- Infinite Sky is a unique read which tackles difficult 'subjects'.
- I loved both the main characters and felt they were developed well.
- I like how C.J. let the reader make their mind up about Trick and his character.
- The storyline kept my attention throughout the book.

In Long
I haven’t ever read a story like Infinite Sky before and I was excited to start reading it. I was intrigued by the storyline and wanted to get to know Trick’s character and see how C.J. had...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Kishel Ramirez rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-read-roll, tear-jerker

It took me a long time to finish this book. Maybe it was the narrating part that had me really dragging myself to read it all the way and I'm honestly glad I did.

I'm not familiar with the premise of the book. I haven't met any gypsy or maybe I did but we don't call them by that name in our place. I have a mother, a father and a sister, my brother died long before I born. This means, I can't relate to the protagonist of this book.

But as I read along, which as I've mentioned I'm happy about, I l...more

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Apr 28, 2013 ReadingToTheStarsAndBack rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-book-challenge

Originally reviewed at: ReadingToTheStarsAndBack

Infinite Sky was so emotional, I actually teared up towards the end.

Some reviewers have pointed out that it can be a little vague in places, but I think that’s how it’s meant to come across.

There was an innocence to Iris that was refreshing after reading YA novels that are about older teens.

In some ways it reminded me of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Not just because it contains death, but there was a spark in this novel similar to TFiOS.

T...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Kit Grindstaff rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. As a Brit expat, its Englishness gave me a sweet longing for those slow, lazy summers that Flood describes so well here. But don’t be fooled by sunny fields and cornfield hideouts: they’re woven through with the very gritty stuff of abandonment and loss, judgment and prejudice, in a compelling and heartfelt story told through the understanding eyes of its main character, Iris.

Left by their mum, Iris and Sam face summer with their dad, who's busy drowning his sorrows. Sam, par...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, contemporary-fic, deep-and-meaningful

Oh the pieces of my poor shattered heart. I think this wins the award for tear-jerker of the year, and I didn't even see it coming. Of course, you know something bad is going to happen when the prologue starts out with the following

You can't tell that the coffin holds the body of a boy.

He wasn't even sixteen but his coffin's the same size as a man's would be.

It's not just that he was young, but because it was so sudden. No one should die the way he did; that's what the faces here say.

I think ab...more Oh the pieces of my poor shattered heart. I think this wins the award for tear-jerker of the year, and I didn't even see it coming. Of course, you know something bad is going to happen when the prologue starts out with the following

You can't tell that the coffin holds the body of a boy.

He wasn't even sixteen but his coffin's the same size as a man's would be.

It's not just that he was young, but because it was so sudden. No one should die the way he did; that's what the faces here say.

I think about him, in there, with all that space, and I want to stop them. I want to open the box and climb in with him. To wrap him up in a duvet. I can't bear the thought of him being cold.

And all the time the same question flails around my head, like a hawkmoth round a light-bulb: Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?

Infinite Sky initially caught my attention with its gorgeous cover, but suffice to say that the contents do not disappoint. It is a beautiful and nuanced tale of a broken family, narrated through the eyes of Iris, the 13-year old narrator. Don't let the age put you off - this story is far more "adult" and Iris is a mature protagonist. Infinite Sky explores the prejudices and tensions that arise when a gypsy/traveller family moves into the field outside Iris's house. The author does an admirable job of remaining sympathetic to both sides, whilst also including side plots such as Iris falling in love with Trick, the fighter gypsy boy, her brother Sam's trail of self -destruction, and the downward spiral of her alcoholic father in the aftermath of her mother's departure.

Just do yourself a favour and read it. Perfectly captures the feelings of grief, first love and conflicting loyalties.

(view spoiler)

ALL THE AWARDS(less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Luu rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-debut, contemporary, stand-alone, young-adult

Trinásťročná Iris má nových susedov - rómsku rodinu. Otec je od začiatku voči nej nesmierne zaujatý a zakazuje deťom kontakt, ale Iris neposlúchne a zamiluje sa do chlapca Tricka.
Všetko.

Obrovské sklamanie. Strašne som dúfala, že to bude niečo podobné, ako See You at Harry's - mladá citlivá a vnímavá hrdinka, rodinné problémy... a v istom zmysle aj bolo. Spoiler pre obe knihy: (view spoiler) Iba...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Rhys rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review originally posted on ThirstforFiction.com

CJ Flood’s debut novel follows a relationship as ill-fated Romeo and Juliet. Infinite Sky is driven by the inevitability of conflict in the aftermath of a blossoming friendship between Trick, an Irish Traveller and thirteen-year-old Iris, upon whose land he is illegally staying. Much like Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Iris is forbidden from meeting Trick by her father, whose prejudice against travelers and barely supressed rage brings him to h...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-arcs, owned-copy, realistic-fiction, young-adult, books-i-reviewed

An exceptionally good coming of age story of a thirteen years old girl Iris, which broke my heart and mended it at the same time.
The book was told from POV of Iris, narrating in a voice which was pretty unusual yet believing. It felt like I saw her world through her eyes.

Living in a broken family and dealing with her own teenage problems was pretty hard for Iris, until a new gypsy family moved to her father's land and she quickly developed a friendship with their boy Trick Deran. Her father tol...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Richa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, arc, 2013-debut-author-challenge

Originally posted at City of Books - http://ecstatic-for-books.blogspot.com/

Infinite Sky was a little different from what I expected. Mainly because the main characters were so young – thirteen, to be exact. But despite that, their wisdom is incredible. I loved the genuine feel of this book. It’s the kind of book that really speaks to you – something you can easily believe and maybe even relate to in some ways. There’s a sort of innocence to this book, while at the same time you can see the unde...more Originally posted at City of Books - http://ecstatic-for-books.blogspot.com/

Infinite Sky was a little different from what I expected. Mainly because the main characters were so young – thirteen, to be exact. But despite that, their wisdom is incredible. I loved the genuine feel of this book. It’s the kind of book that really speaks to you – something you can easily believe and maybe even relate to in some ways. There’s a sort of innocence to this book, while at the same time you can see the undercurrents of more serious issues.

Infinite Sky follows Iris Dancy, a thirteen-year-old girl living in the countryside with her older brother and father. Her mother has just left them a while back, and the three of them are still trying to figure out life without her. A family of gypsies decides to stay next to their farm for a while, and that’s where the story begins. Iris meets Trick, a gypsy boy who shares the sense of adventure that she has. Iris and Trick soon become close friends, to the horror of Iris’ brother Sam, and her father.

Even though Iris is only thirteen, she has a clear sense of right and wrong, and she stands up for what she believes in. She knows that the gypsies are doing no harm to their family, so she has no problem with a little company next door. Her father takes her goodness for naivety, though, but Iris doesn’t care. She’s curious about Trick and no one can stop her from finding out more about him. I really connected with Iris in this book. I could feel what she was going through – her joy when she was with Trick, her anger after her best friend betrayed her, her anxiety about Sam. Iris doesn’t hold anything back, and she’s a really open person. I really liked that about her. Her love for her brother is admirable, and it was great to see how she could cheer him up when he was mad, and even knock some sense into him sometimes.

Trick, short for Patrick, is the son of the gypsy family next door to Iris. He has a bunch of little sisters, and helps his mom take care of them during the day. He’s a real help to his mom, and he’s very hard working. But sometimes he just needs a break, and that’s what Iris can give him. Trick is equally intrigued by Iris, and soon grows quite attached to her. I kind of have mixed feelings about Trick. I feel sorry for him because of his past, as well as the fact that Sam and his friends take every opportunity to bully him. But Trick makes a huge mistake at a point, something he can never take back. And I’m not sure what to think about that. He does have a great sense of loyalty, though, and I loved how protective he was of Iris.

Sam, Iris’ brother, is a really complex character. He’s gotten in with some bad people, and broken off an amazing friendship with someone he’s known since he was a little boy. Sam gives in to peer pressure a lot of times in this book, and that’s something that we can relate to, since I’m sure we’ve all done that at some point. But Sam gets in over his head, and the consequences of his actions are unimaginable. Sam’s mood changes really quickly, and I could never tell when he was honestly happy or just pretending. He’s a great artist, and I love the fact that he painted a mural for Iris on her wall because she asked him to. Sam really could be a great brother to her at times, and he’s also really protective of her. I just wish he hadn’t taken the wrong path, though.

Infinite Sky is set in the UK, and the characters are all Irish. That makes a huge difference in the style of this novel, especially because it’s set in the countryside. Words like ‘owt’ and ‘bog’ kept popping up, and I had no idea what they were! It’s a nice change, though, reading something from a different perspective. It has a very fresh feel to it.

Some parts of this book are quite heartbreaking, while others make you feel all warm inside. Infinite Sky does have some serious undertones, and I think the overall message of this book is amazing. The pacing is perfect; I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. Infinite Sky is an amazing debut from C.J. Flood, and I’m now definitely on the lookout for new books by her!

*Thank you to C.J. Flood for providing an ARC for review*(less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, british-reading-challenge, books-read-in-2012

This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies

Sometimes a book comes along and fills a hole in your heart that you never knew existed. For me most recently, that book was Infinite Sky by CJ Flood, which I was lucky enough to read well in advance of its publication date. I was really attracted to the cover of the book and was expecting to read a cute story of a girl finding love over the course of a summer.

But, happily, when I started reading Infinite Sky, it turned out to be so...more This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies

Sometimes a book comes along and fills a hole in your heart that you never knew existed. For me most recently, that book was Infinite Sky by CJ Flood, which I was lucky enough to read well in advance of its publication date. I was really attracted to the cover of the book and was expecting to read a cute story of a girl finding love over the course of a summer.

But, happily, when I started reading Infinite Sky, it turned out to be so much more than just a simple story of a boy and a girl. It's also a story about family and loyalty and secrets. I think the thing I loved the most about the book is how beautifully written it is. I am amazed that this is CJ Flood's debut novel and it makes me very excited for what she will write next...

Infinite Sky tells the story of one summer that changes everything for Iris, a 13 year old girl with quite a bit going on in her family life. Her mum's up and left to live in Tunisia. Her dad's a bit of an alcoholic and her brother is so angry all the time. When a group of travellers sets up camp behind their house, Iris finds herself curious about them, despite the things her dad and brother say about them, and makes friends with Trick. But it's only so long before tensions build-up between Iris's family and the travellers that kicks off into something far more serious.

Right from the first page, I loved and was rooting for Iris. She hasn't got an easy time of it and she really struggles between listening to her father who forbids it or of forging her own path and befriending these travellers. And Iris and Trick are quite sweet together, finding a place where they can be apart from the problems between their two families and talk to each other about bugs and life and each other.

Do you ever find yourself realising things about yourself or your relationships when reading a story that is completely separate to you or your life? The thing that got to me most about Infinite Sky is the relationships that Iris has formed, especially between Iris and her brother, Sam. I had a very similar and complicated relationship with my older brother who was very angry. Iris and Sam felt so real and believeable and it brought to mind so many things that I still feel and haven't dealt with about my brother and our childhood together. And I cried at how perfectly CJ Flood captured this on the page.

I think the power of this book is in how the characters relate to each other and how wonderfully crafted this summer and this cornfield where two people get to know each other and fall in love is. It felt like I could close my eyes and be in this story alongside Iris and Trick and everyone. Everything felt very real to me and I reacted to things very personally. It's hard not to take to heart these fantastic characters and experience everything alongside them from love to heartbreak to loss!

This is a beautiful book, one that I highly recommend!
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Feb 15, 2013 Rabiah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-event, arrived

Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.sg/20...

There's a different feel when you read a book set in the UK by a British author. Now days I find myself reading young adult and middle grade by American authors, and so when it comes to reading a book set elsewhere, the feel while reading it is pretty foreign... which is strange, as I've never lived in the US, and have always lived around Asia and been influenced by many cultures. Yet once again, as it does with the case of Jacqueline...more Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.sg/20...

There's a different feel when you read a book set in the UK by a British author. Now days I find myself reading young adult and middle grade by American authors, and so when it comes to reading a book set elsewhere, the feel while reading it is pretty foreign... which is strange, as I've never lived in the US, and have always lived around Asia and been influenced by many cultures. Yet once again, as it does with the case of Jacqueline Wilson and Cathy Cassidy novels, the whole British-feel of the story comes flooding back to me.
I loved Infinite Sky. I was drawn into the beautiful descriptions of Silverweed Farm and the countryside, as well as the intriguing mystery and suspense lurking throughout this story. The imagery in this novel is absolutely gorgeous, and I was swept away with it from start to finish.

I really adored Iris' character– she's sweet, makes mistakes and is open-minded. I loved looking in on this story through her point of view. She's impartial, and even though she does have faults which really doesn't help during the climax of this novel, she's a great character overall. I really found myself agreeing with her over the fake-ness of her best friend, and the changes her brother goes through.
Trick had me with the accent! I fell for him like Iris does from the start. His good nature, his messy accent, his sense of adventure. Of course, overtime there are doubts but in the end, I was still strong by him, despite the final outcome.

A lot of the diction in this book was a easy to get, but occasionally there would be a word here and there which took me a while to understand. I mean, it's all English, but one that's very different! Like crisps for chips, it took a slight adjusting, but in the end, it really helped build up the world around Iris.

I loved this novel, it's a quick, fast-paced read, but with so much emotional depth.An enthralling story, Infinite Sky is a fetching debut by C.J. Flood, which will allow all readers to be sucked into this enchanting world of trueheartedness, finding yourself and that growing up may not be all what you want it to be.

▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Chelsey (CJ) Flood for sending a copy of Infinite Sky for review and BTG2013! ▪ ▪ ▪(less)

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Feb 15, 2013 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-books, received-to-review

This was originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
Sometimes a book touches your soul enough to leave a wound. This is one of those books. A poignant, heart breaking tale that jolts one carefree child instantly in the world of adulthood, leaving her childhood in tatters, engulfing her in pain, like she has never experienced before. The main character Iris is young for her age, but by the time the book reaches the end she has grown emotionally beyond her years.
This book should come with...more This was originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
Sometimes a book touches your soul enough to leave a wound. This is one of those books. A poignant, heart breaking tale that jolts one carefree child instantly in the world of adulthood, leaving her childhood in tatters, engulfing her in pain, like she has never experienced before. The main character Iris is young for her age, but by the time the book reaches the end she has grown emotionally beyond her years.
This book should come with hankies because the as the story unfolds the sadness weeps out of the pages. An unfortunate accident, a game of misadventure entwined to create a tale of tears.
Iris lives an idyllic life on a farmland where she can happily watch the seasons come and go as the harvests appear and disappear. Her life is fine until her mother decides she needs freedom – freedom to be herself and not belong to anyone else. Without another care or worry, she leaves Iris, her dad and her brother to fend for themselves and they are just about managing to cope, walking that very thin line before falling in chaos. The situation goes from bad to worse when the gypsies move into the paddock field. Her father is about to reach boiling point, her brother has stepped onto the wrong wayward path, with no way of finding his original route and Iris, well Iris has fallen for the kind, gorgeous gypsy boy against her father’s wishes.
The gorgeous friendship that grows between Iris and Trick, is innocent and yet meaningful. It has a Romeo and Juliet feel to it, as it obvious from the start that neither set of parents would approve. Yet they enjoy each other’s company and want to spend time together. They were not to know what would happen in the near future.
As the story progresses, their lives spiral out of control and things come to a head. The situation could have been stopped, but no one was watching for the signs, all too busy surviving their own problems.
I was completely caught up in the emotion and drama of this tale. Reminiscent of Annabel Pitcher’s novel’ Ketchup Clouds’ and Celia Rees ‘This Is Not Forgiveness’. Don’t expect to leave this book without tears and don’t expect to walk away unscarred. This will leave a memory in your mind for weeks to come. A stunning debut that blends the cruelties of life with fiction.
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Apr 08, 2013 Sophie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-debut, for-review, uk-author

*4.5 stars*

CJ Flood’s debut is beautifully written just as I was promised: soft, poetic and thoughtful.

The entire novel oozes with a warm and dreamlike atmosphere of a beautiful English summer. The Derby farm that Iris and her family live on makes everything seem magical and hazy and Iris’s love and knowledge of nature only made the setting come even more alive. The arrival of Trick and his family of travellers in Iris’ paddock was almost romantic and gave the novel an overhanging sense of threa...more

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May 05, 2013 Jill Mackenzie added it

As far as I know, this book is STILL only available through indedpendant sellers via Amazon. But I really hope it makes it's way to the USA soon, because, man, I really REALLY want everyone I know to buy it, and read it, like NOW. I loved it. Truly, truly loved it. You know, it's not just that I like or read "sad books" exclusively, but I love any book that makes me feel something. And this one did. Something so deep, in fact, I've been up through the whole night re-reading specific passages tha...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Iffath rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, uk-ya

I started INFINITE SKY with the expectation of something pretty, something that would take my mind off things. It was, and it did.

The novel is about 13-year-old Iris, who befriends a mysterious gypsy boy, whose family has taken up residence near her home. Gypsy travellers are seen in a very negative manner in the story, Iris' father even forbidding her to talk to any of them. But her eyes are not prejudiced, and so begins a heart-warming relationship with the boy, Trick.

I really liked Iris' char...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Katy Noyes rated it 4 of 5 stars

This seems to be part of a growing trend in young adult fiction for tales where a young character dies.
We find out on the first page there has been a death but only find out who at the end. The journey of Iris over one summer, as her family struggle to cope with the absence of their (travelling, free-spirited) mother and the arrival of a family of travellers on their land.
I enjoyed the exploration of Iris and her brother as they miss their mother, but didn't find her budding relationship with t...more

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