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A review by mldavisreads
Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly
emotional
reflective
4.0
Middle grade realistic fiction. Apple moved from The Philippines to Louisiana with her mother after her father's death. She is used to being different from her classmates and tries to compartmentalize her life-- at home with her mother's Filipino traditions and at school where she tries to be just another American student. But then Apple goes from borderline popular to social outcast instantly as word gets out that she's on the "dog log," a list of the ugliest girls in the school. Suddenly her friends don't want to be seen with her, some boys make barking noises at her in the hallway, and she has no one to eat lunch with. Luckily, Evan, the new kid is not interested in the social order and becomes a good friend and a voice of reason for Apple.
This book was very hard to read. The mean girls were beyond catty, there were racially-based insults, and at times Apple resented her mother for being too different. There were false accusations as well. But the friendship with Evan and later one other person were such bright spots. The three of them had their own interests and encouraged each other to truly be themselves, the "cool kids" be darned.
This book was very hard to read. The mean girls were beyond catty, there were racially-based insults, and at times Apple resented her mother for being too different. There were false accusations as well. But the friendship with Evan and later one other person were such bright spots. The three of them had their own interests and encouraged each other to truly be themselves, the "cool kids" be darned.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racial slurs