All Of Us With Wings

All Of Us With Wings is an atmospheric novel for fans of Francesca Lia Block. It is magical realism at its best. Xochi is 17 years old and a governess of a child of rock stars. She lives in a sprawling home in San Francisco with Pallas, her parents and their band mates. Pallas’s parents Io and Leviticus are not “together” and the house mates are free to love each other. Xochi and Leviticus have an instant attraction to each other which makes things complicated for Xochi. Her background with her flighty mother and her long string of past men made for a less than idea childhood for her. There is something in her past that is traumatic although we won’t know what it is until the end. One night Pallas and Xochi play by creating a witchy brew in Pallas’s giant bathtub. They end up summoning ancient creatures who want to punish those who have hurt Xochi in the past. This story unfolds in a dreamy, eccentric manner. I loved the feel and style of the story and its beautiful characters. From the huge mansion to the streets of San Francisco, the setting is also a big part of the story. A cat which becomes a central storyteller weaves his way through the characters, tying them together and is able to see the ancient creatures for what they are and what they want. If you are a fan of magical realism, this book is a great read for you. It is one of my favorites of 2019.

Some ideas for discussing with teens:

What were your first impressions of Pallas?

What did you think of the moment where Pallas saw her mother through the hidden passageway?

Discuss how Xochi came to be Pallas’s governess.

Discuss the relationship with Xochi and Leviticus and the other members of the “family” that live in the house.

How would you have handled the relationship with Leviticus if you were Xochi?

Discuss the concept of magical realism. Discuss the creatures that Xochi and Pallas summoned.

Discuss what happened with the creatures and Evan and Xochi’s mother.

Discuss the cat, Peasblossom. How did he help move the story forward?

What do you think will happen next with Xochi?