The Boy Who Could Fly Without a Motor

From the Publisher

"[A] compelling fantasy."—Parenting

Children's Literature

This whimsical story set in 1935 is about a nine-year-old boy named Jon who lives with his parents in a lighthouse on Clementine Rock off the coast of California. Jon's only friend is his dog named Smacks, and he has a thirst for science, especially parapsychology, the study of psychic phenomena and telepathy. Jon is particularly interested in this phenomenon since he learned about the famous Ghosts of Clementine. The belief is that the ghosts are those of 129 Chinese railroad workers who crashed at Clementine Rock in 1850. Jon wants badly to end his loneliness, so he begins concentrating on sending telepathic messages to anyone who will listen. One day he meets the person who has been listening to him. The man is a Chinese magician named the Great Ling Wu, who is quite irritable and brash toward Jon. Jon listens intently to Ling Wu because he sees that Ling Wu can fly without a motor and Jon wants to learn how. Ling Wu tells him the secret only on the promise that Jon will never tell anyone or he will suffer immensely. Soon Jon begins to fly, and each time he flies he goes further and further until one day, he goes too far and is spotted. This leads to a military investigation and ultimately a visit to the U.S. President. Jon realizes that he does not want to ever fly again and finally sees an angry Ling Wu, again. Ling Wu eventually helps Jon keep his feet on the ground by teaching him an important lesson about life. Taylor has created a fast moving story that keeps the readers attention until the final page. Through the detailed and informative writing the reader gains a good understanding of the era and how children used their imaginations. This is a wonderful book for children whowant a creative and suspenseful read. 2002, Harcourt Books,
— Christy Oestreich

From The Critics

Nine-year-old Jon Jeffers lives nineteen miles off the coast of San Francisco with his mother, father, and dog, Smacks. Jon thinks he is the loneliest boy in the world, with nothing to do but watch the lighthouse beacon. The nation fears the coming war and President Franklin D. Roosevelt wants to know about every advancement that might help the fight. Jon would like to be involved in some of the adventures he can only imagine. He thinks to himself, "If only I could fly." Soon, Jon begins wishing so hard for his dreams to come true that he is visited by mysterious man who teaches him the secrets of levitation. Jon fails to keep his promise of secrecy, and soon things go awry. Taylor has given us a story of pure fantasy, set in a real time. The story reads almost like a parable and might be studied for its unique genre and deeper message more rather than content. The short text makes for a perfect read aloud, especially to younger children. Suggested target audience: Upper elementary to middle grades. 2002, Harcourt Children's Books Division, 138 pp.,
— Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Taylor spins a fantasy about Jon Jeffers, a lonely nine-year-old who lives with his parents in a lighthouse on an island 19 miles off the San Francisco coast. Anxious to break the tedium of his isolated life and fascinated by a parapsychology article in Popular Science, he summons Ling Wu, the ancient ghost of a Chinese magician, who teaches the boy to fly. Jon ignores his warning to levitate only "where no one will see," nearly provoking an international incident involving the Army, the Coast Guard, and the FBI. Finally Jon confesses that he, and not a "scout for Martian invaders," is responsible. He becomes so famous that he is invited to the White House to meet President and Mrs. Roosevelt. However, his joy in flying is short-lived because carrying heavy cans of paint becomes the only way he can stop from levitating and he wearies of the Coast Guard patrolling to ensure that communist Russians don't kidnap him. Jon eventually resummons Ling Wu, who cures him of his special skill, leaving the child earthbound but happy to play with his dog. The many references to world events-Lindbergh, the invention of radio, Communism, and J. Edgar Hoover-firmly ground the book in 1935. Although some of the dialogue strains credulity, the plot, the large-size font, and the many references to the paranormal will appeal to many children.-Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

It's 1935 and Jon Jeffers is terribly lonely. He lives with his mother and father, who is a lighthouse keeper on a tiny island off the coast of San Francisco; his only friend is his dog, Smacks. If only he could fly, he could escape the forsaken pile of rocks and ghosts of shipwrecked sailors said to haunt the place. When a mysterious magician appears on the beach, he consents to teach Jon to fly if he swears to keep the secret of how to concentrate brain cells to levitate. But his flying gets out of control when the crew on a fishing trawler spots Jon and think he's a space alien. That leads to an investigation by the Coast Guard and ultimately sends Jon to the White House, where he proves to President Roosevelt, Eleanor, and the press that he can indeed fly. But he won't reveal how because if he breaks his oath not to tell, he risks being boiled in dragon's bile or having his toes nailed to a shark's back. Using telepathy, Jon desperately summons the magician, who cures him, in more ways than one. Despite the appealing, small page size and the spacious layout and type, the beginning is tedious, the plot needs humor, and the tone smacks of a dime novel. The intriguing title suggests a fascinating story and while the premise has the right elements, the writing lacks flow and dynamics (aero or otherwise). The few touches of cleverness can't rescue the message, "Be careful what you wish for." It doesn't fly. (Fiction. 8-10)