Taking Flight

Taking Flight (2010), is Irish author Sheena Wilkinson’s first young adult novel. The story follows 15-year-old Declan Kelly who goes to live with his privileged cousin, Vicky, when his mum overdoses on pills and alcohol. Declan bonds with Vicky’s expensive show jumping horse, Flight. He thinks maybe he has a future working with horses, but Vicky’s jealousy might ruin everything. Taking Flight won a 2011 Children’s Choice Book Award.

Taking Flight is narrated by Declan and Vicky in alternating first-person perspectives. Declan lives with his mum, Theresa, in a run-down public housing estate in West Belfast, Ireland. Declan has a rough life. His dad was killed in a car wreck, and his elderly Gran died soon after. Theresa is an alcoholic who sits home all day. Declan struggles in school and gets into fights, notably with his ex-friend, Emmet who was driving the car that he and Declan wrecked on a joyride. Emmet’s rough dad, Barry, has an on-again-off-again affair with Theresa. Declan is fed up with Theresa’s drunken abuse. One night, he finds her blue and unresponsive. She is hospitalized after her suicide attempt and committed to a psychiatric unit to work through her alcoholism. Declan goes to live with his Aunt Colette and Cousin Vicky.

Vicky’s life is the opposite of Declan’s. Although her parents are divorced, Vicky loves her dad’s new wife, Fiona. Vicky lives with her adoring mom, Colette, and visits her lawyer dad and Fiona on weekends. Vicky has everything: a nice home in a posh neighborhood, a loving family, money, a computer, a phone, lots of friends, and a beautiful horse named Flight of Fancy. Vicky recently made the school show jumping team and takes private lessons to ensure her success. Vicky does not like Declan, whom she calls “The Hood.” She does not want him in her home or around her horse. Vicky goes out of her way to let Declan know he is not welcome.



Declan thinks Vicky is a spoiled “Class A Bitch,” but he has nowhere else to stay. Colette is kind and accepting. Her brother was Declan’s father. She and Theresa grew up next door to each other in the housing projects, but Colette hated it there and worked hard in school to get out. Theresa stayed behind. Declan works with Colette to help Vicky with Flight’s care and trailering. Declan meets Cam Brooke, the trainer at the horse yard where Flight is stabled. Knowing he has to meet his school’s work experience requirement, Declan volunteers to be a stable hand. He excels at the job, and Cam tells him he is great with horses but needs people skills. Declan learns how to ride.

Vicky grows more jealous of Declan, who seems to handle Flight even better than she does. She spitefully says Declan must be the reason his mum tried to kill herself. Declan punches her and flees. Disgusted with Vicky, Colette goes to find Declan. He apologizes, and Colette advises him that “People don’t have to end up doing the same as their parents, you know.” Vicky has her eye on Rory, a handsome boy on the school rugby team, and they begin dating. Rory encourages Declan to explore courses at the agricultural college. Declan’s teacher, Mr. Dermott, thinks he can earn the grades he needs if he starts working hard. Vicky’s friends notice how poisonous she sounds when she mentions Declan.

Theresa leaves the treatment program early and Declan returns home to the projects. He continues working at the stables even after his requirement is complete. When Declan mentions to Vicky that Colette is going out with a man named Brian, Vicky is furious. She vindictively threatens to tell Cam that Declan was a joyrider: Vicky thinks Cam will fire Declan when she hears this, because Cam’s parents were killed by joyriders in a car crash. Declan panics and takes Flight out for a run. He falls from the horse, and Flight runs into traffic and is hit by a car. Declan thinks Flight is dead. He runs home and does not speak to Colette, Vicky, or Cam. Flight is badly injured but has the potential to make a slow, but full recovery. Vicky knows she is a big part of the reason that Flight was hurt, but she does not tell anyone. Rory sees how hate-filled Vicky has become and leaves her.



Declan discovers that his mother is drinking again. She goes off on a bender with Barry. Flight’s accident tears Declan up inside. His progress in school suffers. He confides in Mr. Dermott about Flight, but not about his absent mother. The teacher advises Declan to stop being passive and to take action for himself. Declan writes apology letters to Cam and Vicky. Meanwhile, Declan visits Barry to find his mother and get money to turn the power and electricity back on. Barry refuses to let Declan inside, punching him and shoving him down the concrete stairs. Declan is seriously hurt.

Rory gets back together with Vicky. The two are on their way to the school formal dance when Vicky gets a call from Declan and realizes he is in trouble. She and Rory take Declan to the hospital. Upset about missing the dance and still jealous of Declan, Vicky finally realizes how lucky she is. She also understands how hurtful she has been, knowing that she deliberately tried to ruin Declan’s future. Vicky and Declan apologize.

Declan stays with Colette while he recovers. Theresa visits and swears she will go back into treatment. Declan, Vicky, and Rory visit Flight, who is recovering well. Declan apologizes to Cam and asks to come back to work. Cam is hurt that Declan violated her trust but agrees to give him another chance. She welcomes him back to the horse yard.



Taking Flight is followed by a sequel, Grounded (2012).