Almost Flying
Jake Maia Arlow
About this book
In this Stonewall Honor book, a week-long amusement park road trip becomes a true roller coaster of emotion when Dalia realizes she has more-than-friend feelings for her new bestie. A Stonewall Honor Book Cover may vary. "Dalia’s journey to self-discovery is refreshingly honest, and this entire cast of characters will steal your heart.” – Maulik Pancholy, actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author of The Best At It Would-be amusement park aficionado Dalia only has two items on her summer bucket list: (1) finally ride a roller coaster and (2) figure out how to make a new best friend. But when her dad suddenly announces that he's engaged, Dalia's schemes come to a screeching halt. With Dalia's future stepsister Alexa heading back to college soon, the grown-ups want the girls to spend the last weeks of summer bonding--meaning Alexa has to cancel the amusement park road trip she's been planning for months. Luckily Dalia comes up with a new plan: If she joins Alexa on her trip and brings Rani, the new girl from her swim team, along maybe she can have the perfect summer after all. But what starts out as a week of funnel cakes and Lazy River rides goes off the rails when Dalia discovers that Alexa's girlfriend is joining the trip. And keeping Alexa's secret makes Dalia realize one of her own: She might have more-than-friend feelings for Rani.
Censorship history
In 2024, "Almost Flying" by Jake Maia Arlow was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States due to its LGBTQ+ content. This ban reflects a broader trend of challenges against books featuring LGBTQ+ themes, often initiated by local parent-teacher associations and school boards responding to formal complaints. Specific instances include votes in various school districts where the book was deemed inappropriate for students, leading to its removal from library shelves and curricula. The ongoing debates surrounding such bans continue to spark discussions about censorship and representation in literature.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | LGBTQ+ |