Did you ever wish you could fly? What if the cost of having wings was becoming invisible to everyone else – permanently? That’s the conundrum the loblolly boy finds himself in. He has escaped his lonely, melancholy existence at an orphanage by soaring away on beautiful green wings; but he soon discovers that he is even lonelier than before because nobody except old Captain Bass can see or hear him. Or can they?

Follow Michael on his funny, dangerous, surprising, and sometimes sad journey as he learns what it is he’s really looking for and how he can find it.

Fans of Lois Lowry’s fantasy (The Giver, Gossamer) and the unfortunate lives of the Baudelaire orphans (A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket) are likely to enjoy this book. ( )

I loved the message of this book; enjoy the life that you have because the grass may be no greener on the other side!

Red lives in an orphanage that he calls 'The Great House', which is completely surrounded by a thick brick wall. He wishes more than anything to have a new life and be free. In the garden one day he discovers the mysterious loblolly boy, who promises to teach Red to fly. The loblolly boy has green, feathery wings, and can go anywhere he wants.

Red meets the boy at night in the garden. The loblolly boy whisltes for the guard dogs which forces Red into an 'exchange' with him - which means Red has switched places with him whether he likes it or not. Red is now 'free' and the loblolly boy 'real.' Red loves his freedom, until he discovers the price he has paid for it. ( )

Enjoyable. Liked the development of the Loblolly Boy's character, as he discovers that often the grass isn't greener over the fence, and that while being invisible is fun for a while, we humans really do need to be able to interact with others, and be noticed. ( )

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

Michael lives a miserable existence in the strict orphanage he calls home, until the day he meets the loblolly boy.

At first amused by the boy's insistence that he can fly, Michael is awed when he sees the boy's wings, and agrees to learn to fly, too. When, by magic, he and the loblolly boy switch places, he's only too happy to flee the orphanage and thrill in the freedom of flight.

But Michael soon discovers there are plenty of disadvantages to life as a loblolly boy. He can't feel cold or warmth, he can't eat, and only a few people can see and hear him, so for the most part he's completely alone.

With the help of an old sailer and his mysterious telescope, Michael finds a family with twin girls he feels a strange connection to. As he gets to know them, he starts to see there may be a way to fix everything, as long as he can stay out of the maniacal Collector's grasp in time to do it.

THE BOY WHO COULD FLY is a magical adventure. Readers will sympathize with Michael's plight both as a regular human and as a loblolly boy, and follow him eagerly through the twists and turns of his journey. Though mostly light with moments of humor, the book also manages to consider what it means to be human, and what is worth sacrificing to hold onto ones humanity, which will leave readers thinking after they've turned the last page. ( )

Michael (commonly known as 'Red') is miserable in the children's home where he lives so, when he is changed into a loblolly boy and can fly, he revels in the freedom. However he soon discovers the disadvantages and wants to exchange bodies with someone else. This is where things start to get interesting . . .
Recommended for ages 9 and up. ( )