Book Review – Beyond The High Blue Air

Lu Spinney’s athletic, fun-loving son, Miles is injured in a snowboarding accident at age 29. The injuries lead to brain damage, and the book follows Lu’s painful journey from when Miles is brought back to a hospital in Innsbruck to start his recovery. What unfolds is the story of gradual acceptance that things will never be the same again.

Lu takes us on an intimate journey of what is feels like to lose an aspect of someone you know and love. While Miles is physically fine, his severe brain injury means that he can never return to the life he once had, never be the outgoing adventure seeker he had once been. For his family this is a time of huge adjustment, sorrow and reflection on the son and brother they knew can never return to them.

Beyond the High Blue Air delves into the depth of parental love with honesty. The fact that this is a non-fiction story makes it even more compelling and heart breaking.

Merissa Himraj
3/5