Brooke Reports: How It Feels To Fly by Kathryn Holmes + INTERVIEW with ZOE

How It Feels To Fly

Author: Kathryn Holmes

Publisher: HarperTeen

The movement is all that matters.

For as long as Samantha can remember, she’s wanted to be a professional ballerina. She’s lived for perfect pirouettes, sky-high extensions, and soaring leaps across the stage. Then her body betrayed her.

The change was gradual. Stealthy.

Failed diets. Disapproving looks. Whispers behind her back. The result: crippling anxiety about her appearance, which threatens to crush her dancing dreams entirely. On her dance teacher’s recommendation, Sam is sent to a summer treatment camp for teen artists and athletes who are struggling with mental and emotional obstacles. If she can make progress, she’ll be allowed to attend a crucial ballet intensive. But when asked to open up about her deepest insecurities, secret behaviors, and paralyzing fears to complete strangers, Sam can’t cope.

What I really need is a whole new body.

Sam forms an unlikely bond with Andrew, a former college football player who’s one of her camp counselors. As they grow closer, Andrew helps Sam see herself as he does—beautiful. But just as she starts to believe that there’s more between them than friendship, disappointing news from home sends her into a tailspin. With her future uncertain and her body against her, will Sam give in to the anxiety that imprisons her?~Goodreads

This book was a fantastic read. It was funny and heart wrenching—full of uniquely diverse characters, a relevant subject matter and just brilliant narrative—How it Feels to Fly is a MUST READ.

I adored Sam. I saw so much of myself in her, her inner voice was so spot on to my every day that I couldn’t even you guys. I. COULDN'T. EVEN. I told my fiancé at one point while I was reading, “Sam is me.” Struggling with both anxiety AND body image issues is…so incredibly tough. Each, on their own, is hard but together? Sam seriously is one of the strongest characters I’ve ever read about. She handled all of her ups and downs with so much grace—even if she didn’t feel like she was—she was.

I loved the fact that How it Feels to Fly took place at Perform At Your Peak, a camp that teaches how to calm anxious feelings. Perform At Your Peak helps Sam deal with her anxiety by teaching her breathing techniques, channeling her feelings into arts and crafts, journaling and simply talking to someone.

And all of the characters in this book were awesome as well. Special shout out to my girl Zoe for being such a pain in the BUTT but ending up being one of my favsies. ALSO! May i just say that the dashes of sweet moments between Sam and Andrew were magnificent. I fell for Andrew just as Sam did. I don’t want to spoil anything but THANK YOU KATHRYN. What happens between Andrew and Sam was PURE GOLD. NOT at all what I was expecting yet so freaking gratifying and I LOVED it.

Also, how gorgeous is that cover? I adore it even more because of what it represents in terms of the book.

GAH! This book was everything to me. How it Feels to Fly is an INCREDIBLE debut and an absolutely canNOT be missed!

~Interview with Zoe~~

Hey Zoe! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Zoe: No problem. Happy to be here. I mean...it beats doing homework, right?

B: Let’s get right to it! If tennis didn’t take up most of your schedule, what are some things you would like to do in your free time?

Zoe: Whoa, how weird is your timing? Are you psychic or something? I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately. First: I'd watch and rank every horror movie on Netflix. Not an easy challenge, but I think I'm up for it. I've been preparing for years. This could be my moment.
After that...okay, so here's something absolutely no one knows about me. Not even Sam or Andrew. (Don't spread it around. I mean that.) I've always wanted to be in a band. So, I guess I have to learn how to play an instrument. Guitar, maybe. Or drums. Next stop: Rock Star.

B: You seem pretty darn confident, so with that being said, what would you say is your biggest insecurity?

Zoe: My biggest insecurity—what are you, my therapist? Ugh.
I have to answer? Seriously? Fine. I look stupid in dresses. My mom makes me wear one whenever she and Dad throw these receptions for Important Tennis People, and the things she picks out make me feel like I'm on "Toddlers and Tiaras," minus the fake teeth and hair extensions. Happy now?

B: You seem like the type who wouldn’t necessarily enjoy having a roommate, but was there something you particularly liked about rooming with Sam?

Zoe: You are correct. I need my space, please and thank you.
Rooming with Sam—I mean, it could've been worse. She doesn't snore. She's not too much of a slob. She wasn't trying to paint my nails or do my hair. If I had to room with her again, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
How's that for a recommendation?

B: Was there something you really admired about her?

Zoe: Great, we're getting all touchy-feely again. I guess I admire Sam's guts. When that girl decides to go for something, she goes for it, you know? And she cares. A lot. Which is pretty cool.
Also, she's insanely flexible. It was like living with Cirque du Soleil.

B: What was your favorite memory from your time at Perform at Your Peak?

Zoe: Nothing. Leaving.
Okay, okay. Spoiler alert, if you try to avoid that kind of thing. The best moment was when Katie finally crossed that stupid balance beam. I actually got a little emotional. What? I'm not made of stone.

B: One of my favorite things about you is that you can come up with quite the nickname. Any chance you’d be willing to bestow one on me?

Zoe: You like books, right? The obvious choice is Bookworm, but I can do better than that. Oh, hey—your name is Brooke. Do people ever call you Brookeworm? Maybe I'll launch the trend. "Worm" for short, obviously.

Quick Round!

B: Early Bird or Night Owl?