Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
Dellarobia is walking through the far part of her husband’s family’s property when she sees that the trees are on fire (she forgot her glasses at home). When she finds out that her father-in-law is planning on selling the far part of his property to loggers she convinces her husband and in-laws to walk the area first to make sure they know what they are selling; she has a feeling something amazing is up there. She is right. Butterflies. Millions of them covering the trees and turning them bright orange. It seems that the monarch butterflies which normally migrate to Mexico have decided to winter in Appalachia. Is it a miracle? Or a sign of a world in trouble?
I really like Dellarobia. She is such a smart lady who is simply ignorant of the ways of science. She doesn’t know about the current theories of global warming nor scientific method. Her high school science teacher was also the gym teacher and he often had them play sports during science period. This is a great look at small town life in Appalachia and how many people in these poor rural communities live and why many of the people living there can never seem to better their lives or get out. You’ll find yourselves rooting for Dellrobia and for the butterflies that have taken a drastically wrong turn this winter.
