A Fistful of Sky

A Fistful of Sky (2002) Nina Kiriki Hoffman

The first time I read A Fistful of Sky, I was at loose ends and thought I’d just flip through a couple pages and see if that was what I wanted to read.

I ended up reading the entire book in a single sitting.

When I picked up the book to read it a second time, I knew I liked it, and I again devoured the entire book in a couple hours.

Gypsum comes from a family with special powers. But even within her unique family, she is a bit of an outcast–never feeling quite good enough, and never quite sure she’s accepted by either her family or by outsiders. A Fistful of Sky is far more than a book about her discovering herself, it’s also about family and love and self-acceptance.

But not in any of those mushy ways you’re thinking about.

Instead, Gypsum is a woman who sees “Ultimate Fashion Sense” as a horrible curse. How could I not love that in a main character?

The other thing I like about A Fistful of Sky is that Gypsum is a character you’re likely to meet on the street, rather than a woman you know doesn’t exist in reality. She’s plus sized, and enjoys being so. She likes to eat and is unapologetic about it. And she loves to bake–something I of course appreciate.

But mostly it’s Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s writing that I love so much. She builds character that are real, and stories that suck me in.

Although A Fistful of Sky seems like a girly book, it isn’t. It’s just a book whose main character happens to be female. It took me awhile, but I convinced Michael to read it several years ago, and he admitted that he enjoyed it. So that’s at least one male that has read and enjoyed it.

If you’ve never read Nina Kiriki Hoffman before, this is an excellent place to start. In fact, it’s where I started reading her.
Rating: 8/10

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