“I'm a time traveler, and I've come back to save the world.”
— Zits's initial realization and declaration of his mission.
Archivist's Choice
Flight
Sherman Alexie (2007)
Genre
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
240 min
Key Themes
See below
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A troubled, orphaned Indian teenager, on the brink of violence, is hurled through time to inhabit different bodies throughout American history, ultimately seeking to understand the roots of human hatred and transform his own identity.
Synopsis
Zits, a fifteen-year-old orphaned Native American foster child, is about to commit a violent act during a bank hostage crisis when he is shot. Instead of dying, he is sent on a series of involuntary time travels, inhabiting different bodies across moments in American history. He first finds himself as an FBI agent during the civil rights era, seeing racial tensions in the 1970s. Next, he experiences the Battle of Little Bighorn as a young Indian boy and then rides with an Indian tracker in the 19th century, observing conflicts between Native Americans and the U.S. Cavalry. His journey continues into modern times as he inhabits an airline pilot and later an alcoholic father, gaining fragmented insights into his own past and the perspectives of others, including his mother.
Throughout these transformations, Zits grapples with questions of identity, violence, and humanity, repeatedly asking, "Who's to judge?" and expressing confusion about human behavior. His experiences, including an encounter with Officer Dave, gradually lead him to a transformation. He returns to his own time and body, no longer driven by anger and a desire for violence, but with a new understanding and a path towards a more peaceful future, seeking to break the cycle of hate he has witnessed and embodied.
Reading time
240 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Reflective, Tragic, Hopeful, Historical
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy thought-provoking young adult fiction that explores themes of identity, race, and history through a unique time-travel narrative.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer straightforward, linear narratives without magical realism or frequent shifts in perspective and time.
Plot Summary
The Bank Hostage Crisis
Zits, a fifteen-year-old Spokane Indian orphan, is at a bank, manipulated by his friend, Justice, into a planned act of violence. Armed with a pistol and a rifle, Zits enters the bank to take hostages and cause chaos. His life has been a series of abusive foster homes, and he feels a deep sense of displacement and anger. As he confronts the bank customers and employees, a security guard responds, and Zits is shot in the head, believing his life is ending. Instead of dying, he experiences a strange sensation, a feeling of 'flight' or transportation, setting the stage for his journey.
In the Body of an FBI Agent
Zits awakens to find himself in the body of a white man named Ted, an FBI agent in 1975 Red River, Idaho. He is disoriented and confused by his new identity and surroundings. Ted is part of a large law enforcement group surrounding a building occupied by Native American activists. Zits, as Ted, is ordered to shoot into the building, a command he resists due to his own background. He sees the brutal violence and racial tension of the era, feeling an internal conflict as he grapples with the actions of this body and the historical context of the conflict between the government and Indigenous people. This experience makes him confront the complexities of justice and prejudice from a new perspective.
A Young Indian at Little Bighorn
Zits's consciousness shifts again, and he finds himself in the body of an unnamed young Indian boy on the battlefield of Little Bighorn in 1876. He is a participant in the famous battle against General Custer's forces, experiencing the adrenaline, fear, and violence of the conflict. He sees the deaths of both Native American warriors and U.S. soldiers, understanding the battle not as a historical event but as a visceral, life-or-death struggle for survival and land. This incarnation exposes him to the bravery and desperation of his ancestors, and the tragic consequences of colonial expansion, deepening his understanding of his own heritage and the historical trauma endured by Indigenous peoples.
The Indian Tracker and the Cavalry
Zits next inhabits the body of an Indian tracker named Gus, who works for the U.S. Cavalry in the late 19th century. Gus is tasked with tracking other Native Americans, a role that forces Zits to confront the complex and often tragic choices made by Indigenous people during a time of immense pressure and conflict. He experiences the harsh realities of survival, loyalty, and betrayal, seeing the destruction of Native American ways of life. This incarnation highlights the internal divisions and difficult compromises made by individuals caught between two warring cultures, further complicating Zits's understanding of identity and historical responsibility.
A Pilot in Modern Times
Zits's journey continues, and he finds himself in the body of a modern-day airline pilot, soaring above the clouds. This experience offers a stark contrast to his previous incarnations, providing a sense of distance and detachment from the earthly conflicts he has witnessed. From the cockpit, he observes the world below, a collection of cities and landscapes, and reflects on the vastness of human existence and the seeming insignificance of individual struggles from such a height. This perspective allows him to process the violence and prejudice he has encountered, offering a moment of quiet contemplation before his next transformation.
The Alcoholic Father
In a personal and painful shift, Zits inhabits the body of his own father, an alcoholic and abusive man, during a moment in his parents' relationship. He experiences firsthand his father's struggles with addiction and the destructive choices that led to his own abandonment. He sees his father's verbal abuse towards his mother and the despair that fills their lives. This experience is particularly harrowing, as it forces Zits to confront the source of much of his own pain and anger, offering a glimpse into the complexities and justifications behind his father's actions, even as he recoils from them.
His Mother's Perspective
Briefly, Zits experiences a moment through the eyes of his mother, seeing her love for him and her deep despair over his father's alcoholism and their difficult life. This perspective is fleeting but impactful, offering him a glimpse into her emotional world and the sacrifices she made. It allows him to understand the depth of her suffering and the love she held for him, providing a piece of the puzzle of his own identity and past. This experience is a turning point in his emotional journey, creating empathy and a deeper connection to his family history.
The Bank and the Aftermath
Zits returns to his own body, back in the bank, moments after he was shot. The world is a blur of pain and confusion. He sees the chaos he caused, the fear in people's eyes, and the armed police surrounding him. He also sees Justice, his supposed friend, abandoning him and running away, revealing Justice's cowardice and manipulative nature. This return is jarring, as Zits is now burdened with the memories and insights gained from his time travels. He is no longer the same angry, unthinking boy, but a person grappling with the weight of history, identity, and the consequences of violence.
Hospital and Reflection
Zits is taken to the hospital, where he recovers from his gunshot wound. During his recovery, he has time to reflect on his journey. The memories of each life he inhabited are vivid and real, shaping his understanding of history, identity, and the interconnectedness of human experience. He grapples with the complexities of good and evil, prejudice and empathy, and the cyclical nature of violence. His internal monologue shows a shift in perspective, moving from anger to a more nuanced understanding of the human condition and his own place within it.
Meeting Officer Dave
While in the hospital and later in juvenile detention, Zits meets Officer Dave, the Native American police officer who responded to the bank incident. Officer Dave becomes a mentor figure, showing Zits compassion and understanding rather than judgment. He listens to Zits's story, even the parts about time travel, and offers guidance. This relationship is crucial for Zits, as it provides him with a positive adult role model and a sense of belonging he has never experienced. Officer Dave helps Zits navigate the legal system and encourages him to find a constructive path forward, emphasizing making amends and seeking a better future.
A New Beginning
After his release from juvenile detention, Zits is placed in a new, stable foster home with a kind couple. He continues to correspond with Officer Dave, who remains a supportive figure. Zits begins to process his past traumas and the lessons learned from his time travels. He starts to embrace his Spokane heritage, finding a sense of pride and belonging. The novel concludes with Zits looking towards the future with a new sense of hope and purpose. He is no longer the angry, lost boy, but a young man changed by his experiences, ready to forge his own identity and connect with the world in a more meaningful way.
Principal Figures
Zits (Michael)
The Protagonist
Zits transforms from an angry, lost, and violent youth into a more empathetic, understanding, and self-aware individual who begins to embrace his identity and seek positive connections.
Officer Dave
The Supporting
Officer Dave remains a consistent source of support and wisdom, guiding Zits towards a better future.
Justice
The Antagonist
Justice remains unchanged, serving as a foil to Zits's transformation.
Zits's Father
The Supporting/Mentioned
His character is explored through Zits's time travel, providing context for Zits's own struggles without undergoing a personal arc within the narrative.
Zits's Mother
The Supporting/Mentioned
Her character is explored through Zits's brief experience in her body, revealing the depth of her love and despair.
Ted (FBI Agent)
The Supporting/Vessel
Ted serves as a temporary vessel for Zits's journey, offering a specific historical and cultural perspective.
Gus (Indian Tracker)
The Supporting/Vessel
Gus serves as a temporary vessel for Zits's journey, illustrating the difficult choices faced by Indigenous people in the past.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Belonging
Zits's central struggle is his search for identity and a sense of belonging. As an orphaned 'not legal' Indian, he feels adrift. His time travels force him to inhabit various identities, a white FBI agent, an Indian warrior, a tracker, his own father. Each experience challenges his preconceived notions of self and his place in the world. By seeing the lives of his ancestors and even his parents, he begins to understand the complex nature of his heritage and the historical context of his own pain, ultimately leading him to embrace his Spokane identity and find a sense of belonging not tied to a single place or person, but to a deeper understanding of himself.
“I was a Spokane Indian, but I was not a legal Indian. My father was not on the tribal rolls. So I was nobody. I was an orphan. I was a foster kid. I was a criminal. I was a monster.”
The Cycle of Violence and Trauma
The novel explores the pervasive and cyclical nature of violence and trauma, particularly within Native American history. Zits's own violent outburst at the bank is a direct result of the abuse and neglect he's experienced. His journey takes him through historical acts of violence: the Wounded Knee-like standoff, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the systemic oppression faced by Indigenous peoples. He also experiences the personal trauma of his father's alcoholism and abuse. By seeing these events from multiple perspectives, Zits begins to understand how trauma is passed down through generations and how violence begets violence, leading him to question its effectiveness and seek alternative paths.
“I don't understand humans. They are so full of hate and anger. They want to hurt each other so badly. They want to kill each other.”
Empathy and Understanding
A core theme is the development of empathy through radical perspective-taking. Zits is literally forced to 'walk in another's shoes,' inhabiting the bodies of individuals from different races, genders, and historical periods. This immersive experience allows him to understand the motivations, fears, and struggles of people he would otherwise demonize or dismiss, from the white FBI agent to his own abusive father. This journey shatters his narrow worldview, replacing anger with a nuanced understanding of human complexity and the shared humanity that underlies conflict. His ability to empathize is the catalyst for his personal transformation.
“Who's to judge?”
History and Memory
The novel uses Zits's time travel to explore American history, particularly the often-overlooked or misrepresented history of Native Americans. Zits directly experiences moments like the Battle of Little Bighorn and the civil rights era, gaining a visceral understanding of the past that academic learning could not provide. This theme emphasizes that history is not just a collection of facts but a living, breathing narrative that shapes present identities and conflicts. By reliving these historical events, Zits confronts the collective memory and trauma of his people, learning how the past informs his present and future.
“History is a story, but it's also a weapon.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Time Travel/Body Swapping
Zits's consciousness inhabits different bodies across various historical periods.
This is the primary fantastical element of the novel. Zits is shot during a bank robbery and instead of dying, his consciousness is transported into the bodies of various individuals from different historical eras and backgrounds. This device allows the author to explore themes of identity, empathy, and history from multiple perspectives. It's not a magical journey with clear rules, but rather a disorienting, often painful, process that forces Zits to confront the complexities of human experience and the cyclical nature of violence and prejudice. It serves as a transformative 'vision quest' for the protagonist.
First-Person Narrative
The story is told entirely from Zits's perspective, even when he's inhabiting other bodies.
The entire novel is narrated through Zits's internal monologue, providing direct access to his thoughts, feelings, and confusion. Even when he's in another body, the reader still hears Zits's voice, highlighting the disorienting nature of his experiences and emphasizing his struggle to reconcile his own identity with the identities he temporarily assumes. This narrative choice intensifies the reader's empathy for Zits and underscores his journey of self-discovery, allowing for a deeply personal exploration of complex historical and emotional themes.
The Vision Quest
Zits's time travel serves as a modern, involuntary version of a traditional Native American spiritual journey.
While not explicitly called a vision quest within the narrative, Zits's journey through time and different bodies functions as a contemporary, albeit involuntary and violent, interpretation of this traditional Native American spiritual practice. He is forced to confront his inner demons, gain wisdom from the past, and ultimately find his true self and purpose. The disorienting and often painful nature of his 'visions' or experiences are central to his transformation, leading him to a deeper understanding of himself, his heritage, and the world around him, much like a traditional vision quest would.
Symbolism of Flight
The title and recurring imagery of 'flight' represent escape, transcendence, and a search for freedom.
The title 'Flight' carries multiple symbolic meanings. Initially, it represents Zits's desire to escape his painful reality and the violence he perpetrates. Literally, his consciousness 'flies' through time and space. As he inhabits the body of an airline pilot, flight takes on a more literal meaning of soaring above. Ultimately, 'flight' symbolizes Zits's journey towards transcendence – escaping his past anger, finding freedom from the cycle of violence, and achieving a higher understanding of himself and humanity. It represents both physical and spiritual liberation.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“I was an Indian boy, orphaned, abused, and ignored, and I was going to be a hero.”
— Zits reflecting on his past and his new purpose.
“Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw a stranger, but this time, the stranger was me.”
— Zits experiencing a body swap and trying to reconcile with his new appearance.
“Sometimes you have to go back to the beginning to understand the end.”
— A guiding principle Zits learns about his journey through time.
“Violence is a circle, and it keeps going around and around unless someone stops it.”
— Zits realizing the cyclical nature of violence in the lives he inhabits.
“I wanted to be loved. I wanted to be safe. I wanted to be real.”
— Zits expressing his fundamental human desires after a particularly difficult experience.
“Maybe the past isn't something you escape from, but something you learn from.”
— Zits contemplating the lessons learned from his repeated trips into the past.
“It’s hard to save the world when you can’t even save yourself.”
— Zits's internal struggle with his own pain while trying to help others.
“A bullet doesn’t care if you’re good or bad. It just cares about where it’s going.”
— Zits observing the indiscriminate nature of violence and its consequences.
“The past is alive. It lives in us.”
— Zits understanding how historical trauma and personal history continue to impact the present.
“I was a ghost, a spirit, a memory, and I was going to change everything.”
— Zits embracing his role as a transient observer and agent of change.
“Love is a dangerous thing, but it’s the only thing that makes us human.”
— Zits's reflection on the power and vulnerability of love.
“Sometimes you have to break things to fix them.”
— Zits realizing that his interventions, though sometimes messy, are necessary for change.
“I didn’t want to be a hero anymore. I just wanted to be a boy.”
— Zits's longing for a normal life after the weight of his time-traveling mission.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Flight' centers on Zits, a troubled, orphaned Spokane Indian teenager in foster care, who is about to commit a school shooting. At the moment of his intended violence, he is shot and begins a series of involuntary time travels, inhabiting different bodies throughout American history.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
