The Girl Who Could Fly (2008)

The Girl Who Could Fly is a 2008 New York Times bestselling children's novel by Victoria Forester.

Plot

Piper McCloud is a farm girl who lives in Lowland County with her parents, Betty and Joe McCloud. She is characterized as talkative and imaginative. Her parents, primarily her mother, shield her from the outside world because she has the innate ability to float. This power was discovered when Piper was a baby by Betty, who believes it is karmic punishment because she was too old for children when Piper was born. After noticing that baby birds learn to fly from being pushed out of the nest, Piper decides to jump off of the roof. This works and she discovers she has the ability to fly as well as float. This worries Betty, and Piper is forbidden from continuing her pursuit of flying. Disregarding this, Piper perfects her flying in secret.

Betty later tells Piper that they'll be going to the Fourth of July picnic. This excites Piper, since it is her first social event (and chance to make friends) outside of the doctor and church. However, Millie Mae Miller, the McClouds' neighbor and local gossip, has spread a rumor that Piper is mentally unwell and that's why she isn't allowed to go to school. Piper meets a girl named Sally Sue, and the two begin to become friends. Before this friendship can grow, however, Sally Sue is revealed to be Millie Mae's daughter and begins being rude to Piper over the rumors. Piper lashes out and reveals she saw Millie Mae kick the Millers' dog. Sally Sue is scared and - not knowing that Piper can fly - thinks she is spying on her family.

After this debacle, the children organize a baseball game, for which Piper is picked last. Piper embarrasses herself when she continuously misses the ball during the game, which delights Millie Mae and seems to make Betty and Joe feel bad. Determined to prove herself, Piper flies into the air to catch a fly ball. Everyone falls silent and fearful, grabbing their children and leaving the scene. The next morning, Piper finds her house surrounded by reporters trying to get the latest scoop on 'The Girl Who Could Fly'. A bodiless voice (later revealed to be J) tries to communicate with Piper in her room.

The McCloud family is soon contacted by Dr. Letitia Hellion, the head of an organization called I.N.S.A.N.E. (Institute of Normality, Stability, And Non- Exceptionality). After a visit from Dr. Hellion, Piper eventually agrees to reside in the academy and board, on the condition that she does not fly. Her father gives her a hand carved bird tied to a blue ribbon wrapped in a handkerchief before she leaves as something to remember him by.

When she does arrive, she enters the school and takes the elevator down to Level Thirteen with Dr. Hellion, who explains that not only do they foster humans, but plants and animals with unique abilities as well. Piper is given a uniform and asked about her food preferences before arriving at Level Thirteen, where all the children live and learn. She meets the other members of the academy as well, including Ahmed and Nalen Mustafa (who can control the weather), Bella Lovely (who can change the color of objects), Boris Yeltsinov (introduced later in the story, and can turn objects to stone), Conrad Harrington III (who has super-human intelligence), Daisy (who has super-strength), Jasper (who has forgotten his ability), Kimber (who can manipulate electricity), Lily Yakimoto (who has telekinesis), Myrtle Grabtrash (who has super-human speed), Smitty (who has x-ray vision), and Violet (who shrinks or grows based on her emotional state). All of the students are hostile to Piper at first, but after outwitting Lily, she earns most of their respect. Conrad, however, is still openly hostile to her and the rest of the class.

One mealtime, Bella is seen making rainbows. At first, everyone cheers until they realize Bella is crying. Conrad had told her the nefarious true intentions of I.N.S.A.N.E. (to eradicate their gifts), and Bella is not able to cope with this. She has a nervous break, forgets her powers, and it announced she will be sent home.

Piper bonds with Dr. Hellion and the kids but at the graduation of a now powerless Bella, Conrad finally pushes her to her tipping point. He steals her hand-carved bird and throws down the chute to the incinerator. She attacks Conrad and they are both sent to Dr. Hellion's office. While on their way, Piper escapes to the incinerator and meets a growling rose, which a machine nearby sprays a gray, acidic substance on. She meets a turtle with a heavy block crushing its back. Piper decides to leave her bird and save the animals. She frees the turtle who leaps into the air, escaping out of a window. Whilst trying to catch it, Piper finds a black cricket and finds he is being bound with sticky glue. Using some Q tips, she gets rid of the glue and takes the cricket, which she names Sebastian. She hears two adults coming and hides in a dark room, where she finds a chained giraffe. She strokes it lovingly and it glows in happiness.

While hiding, she hears Dr. Hellion's voice. When the scientists find the black cricket missing, CCTV reveals Piper took it. Dr. Hellion walks to her office, thinking Piper is there. Piper flies with difficulty to the woman's office and spots a phone, which she uses to dial her parents. Conrad ends the call and dissects the phone, proving it to be bugged. He hands her her wooden bird and explains he made a replica and threw the replica in the trash. He tells her to keep the cricket and play along. Conrad immediately blurts to Dr. Hellion that Piper was hiding something, and tells her Bella took a black cricket and let Piper touch it. Dr. Hellion questions him about the fight over him throwing Piper's bird in the trash, which he denies and Piper holds her bird up.