At the sentence that kicks off The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings (Lakewood), readers might think they know precisely where this novel is going: "On the day we all agreed that--yes, sure, okay, it's time--my mother was dead, I went to the storage unit where my dad kept all her stuff. I told myself if I wanted, I could burn it.... Kerosene, matches, patience, ash." A young woman's mother has been gone for years. She is presumed dead, but her daughter is having a hard time believing it. But when readers move past the opening, they will see the predictable narrative start to wobble. In this alt-future society, missing women (and their daughters) could always be witches--and more than just their stuff might burn.
Though The Women Could Fly pushes into unexpected territory, there are many elements that will feel uncomfortably familiar: protests against the continued infringement of the rights of women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community; the rise of a vocal conservative minority; and, of course, widespread condemnation of witchcraft. But it also champions the power of community, inviting readers to view this society through a lens of hope rather than despair. As Jo follows the instructions laid out in her mother's will, readers will be spellbound, willing to overlook the spots where the world-building is uneven. The Women Could Fly, full of imaginative turns, is a timely look at gender roles and societal expectations. --Sara Beth West, freelance reviewer and librarian