Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a book by
Richard Bach is about a seagull named Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who has a passion for flying, which is very unlike the typical seagull in the flock. Everyone tells him that he should act like the rest of the flock, but he can't seem to fit in with the other seagulls so he goes back to his regular habits - flying. One day, he goes too far - he was flying in the dark. The following night, after successfully achieving two hundred fourteen miles per hour that day, he was called to the Center for Shame and cast out by the flock, therefore becoming an Outcast. Lonely and driven out by his fellow seagulls, he went beyond Far Cliffs and greatly learned more about flying; from streamlined high-speed dives to riding the high winds far towards inland. One evening, as he was flying, two gulls appeared at his wings and escorted him to heaven. There, he was welcomed by a flock that thought just like him: loved flying, and was able to spend time practicing his flight everyday hour after hour. One day in heaven, his mentor, Sullivan, compliments how quickly Jonathan learned about flight in comparison to the other gulls that came to heaven. Jonathan also gains wisdom from the elder gull, Chiang, in addition to his flight practice. Then, Chiang vanished, telling Jonathan to keep working on his flying, his passion. Shortly after his disappearance, Jonathan decided to come back to Earth. He arrives to see a young seagull, Fletcher Lynd Seagull - just cast ou t- and offers him his wisdom of flight. As Fletcher learns to fly, more young gulls cast out for their belief of flight join with Fletcher to learn how to fly from Jonathan. One day Jonathan, to the gulls' surprise, announced that it was time to return to the flock. What will happen next?
In my opinion, I really liked this book a lot. This heartwarming book openly tells us to follow our passions in life whether other people like it or not. It helped me realize that I should follow what I want to do instead of living up to my peers' expectations, like Jonathan did. Following your passions would surely make an easier future for you.
-Reviewed by Kiersten, grade 9.
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