We Own the Sky by Rodman Philbrick – Book Review

Title: We Own the Sky Author: Rodman Philbrick Publisher: Scholastic Press Release Date: September 6, 2022

It is 1924 and Davy and Jo Michaud have just become orphans after the death of their mother. Unsure of what to do or where to go, a distant relative, famous aviator and flying acrobat Ruthie, takes them in. What follows for Davy and Jo is a summer of travel, flying tricks, and showmanship. Yet, on their heels is the infamous Ku Klux Klan (KKK), determined to drive Ruthie, Davy, Jo, and their show out of Maine, at best, and put their lives in peril, at worse. As Davy and Jo find their place in the aviation show, they also find themselves entangled in a sinister plot that uses them as collateral against Ruthie and her employees. Hatred towards immigrants and Catholics, which make up many workers in Ruthie’s show, draw the ire and vitriol of the Klan. Soon, Davy and Jo will need to stage their biggest stunt yet to escape with their lives.

We Own the Sky by Rodman Philbrick is a thrilling mix of 1920’s conflict, suspense, and aviation adventures. Told from the perspective of young Davy, his narration recounts the vicious horrors the Ku Klux Klan is willing to inflict and portrays the insidious nature of their platform to rid Maine – and the country – of immigrants, Catholics, and other groups deemed inferior. The novel brings attention to an often-overlooked area of American history. Pairing We Own the Sky with a novel set the same time period but focusing on the South would provide students with a comprehensive examination of the KKK’s influence, hatred, and violence. Such a study would be rich in history and rich in discussion opportunities. However, young people also may struggle to keep the larger historical context center as they follow the plot’s many twists. In the end, the novel is an excellent narrative to have available in the classroom for students interested in its themes and content. Comprehensive efforts to teach it as a novel study may be harder though due to the ambitious scope of its content.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Scholastic Press, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of early 20^th century American history, immigration, and racism.
• Book Pairing – Read at the same time as Stella by Starlight for a more comprehensive study of the time period.
• Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading historical fiction.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Flying Acrobats
• Immigration & the Ku Klux Klan

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with We Own the Sky. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)

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