Ask the Passengers

King, A.S. (2012). Ask the passengers. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

“EVERY AIRPLANE, I send love to it. Because if I give it all away, then no one can control it.” Astrid Jones feels confined in her small town of Unity Valley with their small town views. Originating from New York, she resents her family’s attempt at conforming to the narrowed thinking of the community surrounding them. As a philosophical thinker, high school senior Astrid feels the stress of trying to fit in everyone else’s “ideal box” of how she is expected to live her life. For two years she has covered for her best friends Kristina and Justin. They are gay, but to everyone else in town they are a couple. Astrid has fallen in love with Dee Roberts, but she is unsure if this makes her fit in the stereotypical “gay box”. She would rather challenge societies norms and prejudices than blindly follow them. Astrid gives all her love to passengers in passing planes, because she would rather give it all away than be hurt and discarded by friends and family for being who she truly is. Even though telling the truth brought negativity and heartache; Astrid learns that the truth really does set you free. Ask the Passengers is a poignant story that captures the raw emotions felt when someone feels as if they are misunderstood and unsupported. Astrid’s story and philosophical way of processing her difficulties would be beneficial for any teenager feeling as if they do not fit in society’s “box”, and is recommended for grade level 10 and up.