FLIGHT: A STORY OF SEEKING REFUGE, by Alan Gratz, Scholastic Press, Sept. 1, 2026, Hardcover, $10.99 (ages 9-12)
In Flight, author Alan Gratz offers a 96-page bonus story about one girl’s treacherous immigration journey that can be read alongside the novel Two Degrees, or on its own.
Daniela López is on a life-or-death journey.
Forced to flee their beloved home in Honduras, Dani and her family were headed north in search of safety–until a treacherous mistake ripped Dani’s parents away. Now, Dani and her younger brother Carlos are on their own, and they have no choice but to keep going, in the desperate hope of finding their parents at the Mexico-United States border.
But to get there, they will have to ride on top of a roaring freight train known as “The Beast.”
Rickety and deadly, The Beast makes hairpin turns at terrifying speeds and shoots through dark tunnels. And there is the constant danger of being caught by gangs and kidnappers along the way.
Surrounded by hundreds of fellow refugees, Daniela will have to figure out who she can and cannot trust–and fast. Otherwise, she and Carlos might not stand a chance of surviving… —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press
Flight is the compelling story of a girl who is fleeing to the United States after climate change forces her family to leave their home in Honduras.
The story follows Dani and her brother Carlos who have been separated from their parents. Dani is scared and unsure of the future, other than she has to keep Carlos safe and get him to the Mexico-US border.
Dani’s story was originally part of Gratz’s Two Degrees. He had done all the research and plotted out her story when he realized the ensuing book would be about 100 pages longer than he wanted. So, he cut her story.
Flight gave Gratz the chance to tell Dani’s story in its entirety. And, in true Gratz fashion, the story is compelling, well-researched and full of suspense and action. Gratz’s writing is confident and accessible, making it a good choice for readers who want to know more about contemporary world challenges and events. At 96 pages, it’s also a good choice for readers who prefer shorter, standalone novels.
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