In this verse novel, Felix's quest to save a perceived damsel in distress has dangerous but enlightening results.Felix Landon Yarrow, whose initials resulted in the unfortunate nickname Fly, feels a deep connection to Don Quixote and fancies himself a knight in his own way, complete with steed (he uses a wheelchair due to "profound" cerebral palsy), sidekick (Levi, his aide), damsel in need of rescue (Daria, his crush), and villain (school bully–turned–drug dealer Carter). Often treated as though he's not there or is incapable of understanding, Felix intends to use his powers of invisibility to prove his bravery when Carter begins to show interest in Daria. Bitingly sarcastic and darkly witty Felix is a deeply realized character from the beginning. Other characters are rounded out as Felix comes to understand them more deeply. Lyrical free verse lends itself well to the story, deftly conveying both action and Felix's emotions and the space he perceives himself as occupying. Characters are mature and independent, and themes of being misunderstood, underestimated, and trapped by others' preconceptions will resonate with many readers. Most characters, including Felix, are cued White; Daria is brown-skinned.Sharp-edged verse and strong narrative construction frame a teen's realizations about the world. (Fiction. 11-16)

Free verse poems voiced by a wheelchair-using 14-year-old with cerebral palsy form a unique, Cervantes-tinged novel from Hughes (Hit the Ground Running). Felix Landon Yarrow—F.L.Y., or Fly—carries his late father’s well-worn copy of Don Quixote at all times as “physical proof/ to ignorant people/ that there’s a/ mind/ in this/ body of mine.” Often disregarded by his peers, Felix nevertheless suggests that “invisibility/ is my superpower” as he observes his crush, Daria, and watches out when popular Carter, whom Felix considers dangerous, also takes an interest in her. After Carter initiates a criminal money-making enterprise at school, Felix channels his hero Quixote, beginning a ploy to protect Daria and bring Carter to justice. Hughes’s complex characterization of Felix—private, well-intentioned, frustrated with others’ low expectations for him—eloquently rings through each observational stanza, especially through his evolving relationship with his “extra, extra” extroverted school aide Levi. The poems, most a page or two in length, stagger words for emphasis and emotional impact, resulting in a seamless and immersive narrative about one teen’s “quest/ for a noble life.” Felix, Carter, and Levi cue as white; Daria is brown-skinned. Ages 10–14. Agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. (Oct.)