By Abigail Renaud ’28
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 20 March 2026
If These Wings Could Flyis Kyrie McCauley’s debut novel and the winner of the 2021 William C. Morris award, which is a prestigious award given to an author who has an outstanding first published work. It is a gripping, magical realism, young adult novel that focuses on 17-year-old Leighton Barnes, an aspiring journalist with an unstable home life. McCauley tactfully addresses domestic violence and the pervasive fear associated with it, alongside Leighton’s conflicting desires: leave home for college or stay to protect her younger sisters from their father’s destructive anger. Her struggles left me with poignant heartache. However, the novel leaves room for hope despite the melancholic theme.
The story is set in Auburn, Pennsylvania, a small town being flooded with an increasing number of crows. The crows symbolize the looming danger Leighton faces at home. Conversely, the crows also represent protection, change, and new beginnings. Despite being generally considered a nuisance by the town, the Barnes sisters view the crows as guardians or protectors. Juniper, Leighton’s youngest sister, even leaves messages for one distinctly colored bird, affectionately named Joe, which perches outside of Leighton’s window, asking for his help.
The crows’ presence is a catalyst for the town, which has thus far turned a blind eye to the domestic abuse that is right under its nose. For example, when the Barnes family shows their need for help, their elderly neighbor ignores calls for help, insisting that what is happening is none of her business.
Another important form of symbolism that appears is the self-repairing house. It is meant to represent the erasure of trauma, in that any physical evidence of damage vanishes, leaving only memories. It allows the family, particularly Leighton’s mother, and outside observers to ignore the severity of the situation. While the damage is repaired, the root cause is not. Temporary periods of peace are often followed by violent episodes, but the house will repair itself again, keeping Leighton and her family in a cycle of hope and despair.
If These Wings Could Fly was beautifully written, a perfect mix of compassion and complexity. I found myself rooting for Leighton to find her footing in a messy situation, and to find her journalistic voice to speak up about the systemic issues she observes in the town around her. Though a star rating does not do the book justice, I rate If These Wings Could Flyfive out of five stars. ★
