Taking Off

Alana is twelve and she's slowly losing her sight. Her father, a talented music producer, is already blind, and she's due to take another eye test in Wellington.

She already knows what the verdict will be, and she's not coping with the idea of living without sight, and the way her life will change.

But when two new children move into her neighbourhood, she's forced into making some changes anyway and gradually becomes less rigid in her thinking. tommy is obsessed with his absent father, and the idea of flying - but he's really struggling to cope with a dysfunctional mother and toying with the idea of suicide.

After he causes an accident that almost kills her father's seeing eye dog, Alana is furious with him. then there's another newcomer - Amira, a political refugee struggling to learn English, and Alana has to learn patience and understanding as she takes Amira under her wing. Because Alana also wants to fly - and with her eyes that's an impossible dream. then there's Uncle Brad, who owns a small commercial airline and offers to fly Alana and her father south for the dreaded appointment with the specialist - and Alana's life begins to change, like it or not.