The Closest Thing to Flying

I like that even if there is no time travel, they still connect with each other

I loved this book! It was about 2 girls 100 years apart. Its so good i cant ting of anything else to say.

I loved it !!! It is probably because I love history as well! My favourite character was Kitty, even though she died!

Good book for mystery loving readers

My favourite character is Semira because she tried new things with the inspiration of Henrietta and Kathrine (Kitty). I have one thought why did Semira and her mum had to go to another country. Yes I would recommend this book because it shows two stories and their similarities.

A lovely book, alternating perspectives between a refugee child in the present day and a young girl in the Victorian era, both contending with prejudice and inequality in society. It's a quicker and lighter read than this might sound. I would recommend this to any children who care deeply about justice or are animal lovers - or both.

I love the way it flips from the modern day to the suffragette.

I think this is a great book. I liked Aunt Katharine the best because she was really brave.Yes, I would recommend it to someone else because it would make someone who is not happy or is having a hard time with something this book will make them brave.

I thought this book was really really really really really really really really good! I loved it! I liked Henrietta the most because she was going through quite a hard time when her aunty died when she was on the ship with her husband.
It interested me because Robel kept abusing Mumma and you didn't know what would happen next, if they were going to break free .
I would recommend this to someone else, especially if they like intriguing stories.

Gill Lewis never disappoints! I love reading anything she writes. I think that my favourite character might be Patrick, the bird watcher. I must find out more about the RSPB - I had no idea that it was started by a group of revolutionary Victorian women. I liked the collision of two eras and the beautiful cover illustrates this very well.

One of the best books I have ever read. I think this is a very inspirational book to fight for your freedom.

Very gripping story!!!

My favourite part of this book was when Semira found a friend at school because for so long she didn't have one and when she found one it really made the book liven up a lot.

My favourite character is Kitty because she went against the law to do what is right for women.

It was good because it had a great plot, linking the two different stories from different times. My favourite character was Patrick's dad who was repairing bikes. Yes I would thoroughly recommend it to someone else.

I really enjoyed this book and I think it would have encouraged many women to be brave and to take steps to let women have a vote. I think many girls would enjoy reading this book.

This is an awesome book. I couldn’t put it down

The book started with Semira finding a diary called the feather diaries, written by Henrietta who lived over a hundred years ago.
Henrietta's aunt, Katherine, was put in prison, and then ended up in the madhouse, where she died alone. When Semira read this, she found out how to be brave. Her real dad disappeared when Semira was five.
The book dosent talk about Semira finding her real dad (she lives with her Mama and a man called Robel) but I Think in the end she will find him because she finds her courage.
I only gave it a 3 because there were some sad bits and Hen had to write her last diary entry all of a sudden.

Wow what a book!!! Read it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. So great for the younger reader (10+) as it covers a number of topics; refugees, feminism, domestic violence etc in an understandable way. Semira truly believes that her and her mother’s life is following that of the girl in the diary, Hen and her Aunt Kitty. Beautifully written with lovely vocabulary. The only reason I gave it a rating of 4 was because I felt it threw a few things in I thought it didn’t need, like her father who was in prison and escaped, Robel - where was he making the mother work?

When Semira finds a ruined hat with a beautiful green bird on top at the local market, she knows she has to have it. Facing Robel's rage, she buys it, and soon finds a secret, long hidden inside. A diary. Written by a girl her age a hundred years ago. Together, they find freedom...

This was a heart-warming story about to girls living at different times, but yet their lives are very similar. Semira is an immigrant from Eritrea. She lives with her mum, who can speak no English, and a horrible man named Robel. They are constantly on the move, trying to find a new place to live. Semira is always moving schools and never making proper friends.
One day, she finds a diary written by a 12 year old girl, called Hen, who lived over one hundred years ago. Semira finds the friend she has been desperately seeking. As she reads the diary, she realises how similar her and Hen's life can be.
Semira befriends a bullied, kind boy called Patrick. Him and his family do all they can to help Semira and her mother.
As Semira finds courage and inspiration through Hen's diary, she may even be able to uncover secrets of her own past....

This book is for all ages. It is about finding courage and inspiration, even in the hard times. I highly recommend it. My favourite character was Patrick, because even though his life hadn't been easy, he was a kind, loyal and intelligent friend.

Lovely story which cleverly charts the lives of two girls a hundred years apart. The plot covers some challenging issues such as racism, feminism and domestic violence but in an age appropriate and accessible way. Would recommend to children in Y5 and Y6.

I have not yet read a book by Gil Lewis that I have not thoroughly enjoyed.

Telling the story of two girls, 100 years apart but sharing so much. Modern day Samira finds the diary of Hen. They share a livenof cycling and many home difficulties.

I really liked the form, a mix of times lip, diary and contemporary issues.

Samara is a fiesta girl who learns ro nstand up for herself, as does Hen

Fabulous and a very different choice if you are looking to tie in issues around refugees and asylum seekerx

I thought it was inspirational, fictional yet factual I loved it!
I didn't like a particular person I liked the relationship that had sprung up between Henrietta and Semira.
It interested because of the facts about the RSPB.
I'd recommend it to my friend Niamh for her love of reading, thirst for knowledge and the fact that she would like to know more about the Suffragettes.

it's about womans indapenance the are 2 people the past and the present . I advice it for people being bullied or anything like being bullied and stand up for your friends or family or even the weird kid at school. I hope kitty,hen & patrick will incoridge you to stand up for your self & others.

This amazing book is about a lonely girl finding a Victorian girl’s diary.

I thought that it was a very good book. The thing I liked about it was that there was a link between two girls a century apart.I liked the main character,Semira, who was a brave person in the story.I would definitely recommend this book to other people.

This book is really good and I would recommend it to any one who loves books about following your dreams even when there is a huge obstacle in the way

This book was amazing. I made mummy read it too. I liked it because Semira learned to stand up for herself and her mum because of Henrietta's Diary. It was like they were the same person living at different times. It made me think how lucky I am to be able to wear trousers and ride my bike!

I thought it was a book that is ment to teach people a lesson and the strength to be brave and stick up for your self it is sad and happy.