It is never really clear [in Let Me Fall Before I Fly] whether the boy's imaginary world should be considered fantasy or hallucination, but as a fantasy, the story is unsatisfactory because of the presence of the psychiatrist and the child's death wish. The author contrasts the boy's generosity and selflessness while hallucinating with his selfish, belligerent, and dishonest behavior needed to accommodate reality, leaving the reader to wonder if the author is suggesting that a world of irrationality is preferable to the real one. The format suggests a child's book, but the confusing and quasi-surrealistic style renders it an unlikely choice for that audience. (p. 338)