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A review by jenlabrador
Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly
5.0
This book touched on everything: bullying, fitting in, friendship, redemption, mothers, immigrants, self loathing, cultural shame, racism, grief--oh, so much and so well done!!
Kelly does this so accurately that it was actually painful for me to read because it was so much like my own growing up. Her story is so similar to what nonwhite kids go through when they are surrounded by only white people, particularly the shame of who they culturally are and the confusion over who they want to be. Kelly also really nailed the Filipino mom and home, haha!
I like how Kelly refrains from using the typical bullying cliches but instead explores everyone's desire to not necessarily fit in but to not be ALONE.
I'd recommend this book to 7th grade and above. Even though it is geared to middle schoolers, the emotional weight of her themes delivered with her subtle yet profound storytelling would also appeal to high schoolers as well.
Kelly does this so accurately that it was actually painful for me to read because it was so much like my own growing up. Her story is so similar to what nonwhite kids go through when they are surrounded by only white people, particularly the shame of who they culturally are and the confusion over who they want to be. Kelly also really nailed the Filipino mom and home, haha!
I like how Kelly refrains from using the typical bullying cliches but instead explores everyone's desire to not necessarily fit in but to not be ALONE.
I'd recommend this book to 7th grade and above. Even though it is geared to middle schoolers, the emotional weight of her themes delivered with her subtle yet profound storytelling would also appeal to high schoolers as well.