Flight serves as a symbol of freedom. Thomas takes inspiration from Virginia Hamilton’s “The People Could Fly,” a retelling of an African American folktale in which a group of enslaved people “flew off like birds to freedom” using an ancient spell (47). One of the characters in this folktale, a woman named Sarah, is Nic’s ancestor and one of Uhuru’s founders. Thomas’s use of folklore and the relationship between the protagonist and Sarah contribute to The Importance of Heritage and Cultural Identity. Further underlining this importance, the spell from the folktale saves Nic’s life during the climax when Ty knocks her off of her dragon: “I’m flying. I’m freaking flying! And it feels…amazing doesn’t describe it. It’s breathtaking. It’s happiness. It’s freedom. Warmth ripples through my body, from my toes to my fingertips. I suddenly feel as if I’m power itself” (320). Flight helps Nic share in her ancestors’ freedom and reminds her that she has the power to liberate herself.

Thomas also uses the symbol of flight to depict the liberty enjoyed by Uhuru’s citizens. The people who live in the city are free to realize their remarkable potential, and they’re also free from the racism that plagues the Unremarkable world.