If These Wings Could Fly

The crows have overrun Auburn, Pennsylvania. For senior high school student Leighton Barnes and her two younger sisters, the crows offer solace, especially a gray crow they have nicknamed Joe. When the girls' father yells, throws objects, brandishes his gun, and threatens them and their mother, Joe always seems to be outside and he begins leaving gifts such as marbles and other small objects. Leighton, who dreams of attending NYU and majoring in journalism feels guilty about leaving her sisters and mother

behind in the house, a house that somehow manages to mend itself whenever their father inflicts damage to it. With time running out, and with encouragement from both her boyfriend and journalism teacher, Leighton is faced with a difficult decision that could help her get accepted to NYU and earn a scholarship but could also place her sisters and mother in further jeopardy. If These Wings Could Fly is an eloquently-written novel of abuse, love, and courage with elements of magical realism that result in a heart-stopping climax.