Ask the Passengers

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King is a great young adult novel focusing on the ideas of not fitting in, bullying, small-town life, and figuring out who you are.  I grew up in a small town and could easily relate to the main character, Astrid Jones.  Small town life can be difficult for teens because everybody know everybody else’s business.  Astrid doesn’t feel she needs her love at home or school, so she sends her love to the passengers of passing airplanes and the story takes an interesting bent with how Astrid’s thoughts and love affect the passengers on the airplanes.  The author also shares the thoughts of the townspeople as Astrid tries to navigate growing up in a small town.

Astrid’s family left New York City for small town life and when Astrid fall in love with “someone she’s not supposed to,” she hides these facts for as long as she can, but as life goes on her secrets are unveiled and she must learn how to be strong in the face of adversity.  This is a realistic coming of age story for teens who are looking for a place to belong.

Title: Ask the Passengers
Author: A.S. King
Publisher: Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2012
Page Number: 304 pgs.