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Blackbird Fly Paperback – March 1, 2016
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Future rock star or friendless misfit? That’s no choice at all. In this acclaimed novel by Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, twelve-year-old Apple grapples with being different; with friends and backstabbers; and with following her dreams.
Publishers Weekly called Blackbird Fly “a true triumph,” and the Los Angeles Times Book Review said, “Apple soars like the eponymous blackbird of her favorite Beatles song.”
Apple has always felt a little different from her classmates. She and her mother moved to Louisiana from the Philippines when she was little, and her mother still cooks Filipino foods and chastises Apple for becoming “too American.” When Apple’s friends turn on her and everything about her life starts to seem weird and embarrassing, Apple turns to music. If she can just save enough to buy a guitar and learn to play, maybe she can change herself. It might be the music that saves her . . . or it might be her two new friends, who show her how special she really is.
Erin Entrada Kelly deftly brings Apple’s conflicted emotions to the page in her debut novel about family, friendship, popularity, and going your own way. “A must-read for those kids cringing at their own identities.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.
- Reading age8 - 12 years
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level3 - 7
- Lexile measure660L
- Dimensions0.9 x 5.1 x 7.5 inches
- PublisherGreenwillow Books
- Publication dateMarch 1, 2016
- ISBN-100062238620
- ISBN-13978-0062238627
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Read all the books from Erin Entrada Kelly! | Future rock star or friendless misfit? That’s no choice at all. | Abandoned by their father and living in impoverished circumstances with their stepmother in Louisiana, two sisters from the Philippines learn the true meaning of family. | When Lalani Sarita’s mother falls ill with an incurable disease, Lalani embarks on a dangerous journey across the sea to find the fabled girl with golden feet, in the hope of safeguarding her own future. | A humorous and poignant page-turner about family, bullying, art, Scrabble, and the challenges of middle school friendships. | Every day in Fawn Creek, Louisiana, is exactly the same—until Orchid Mason arrives. | 2018 Newbery Winner! Told from four intertwining points of view, the novel celebrates being different, bravery, and finding your inner bayani (hero)! |
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2021 Newbery Honor title! Meet the unforgettable Cash, Fitch, and Bird Thomas in this pitch-perfect middle grade novel set in 1986 about family, friendship, tragedy, science, and exploration. | Michael Rosario, a twelve-year-old Filipino boy living with his single mother in an apartment complex in Delaware, meets a mysterious boy from the future in this suspenseful novel. | An illustrated novel about summer, friendship, and overcoming fears, told with warm humor and undeniable appeal. | Everyone loves sports . . . except Marisol! | A dangerous beast is on the loose in Marisol Rainey's neighborhood! At least, Marisol thinks it’s a dangerous beast…or is it just a dog? | In this funny young novel about friendship, family, and animals, Felix is magically transformed from a boy into a dog. Illustrated with black-and-white drawings on almost every page. Perfect for fans of Ivy + Bean, Merci Suárez, and Ramona. |
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Each character in Kelly’s debut novel . . . is portrayed with remarkable authenticity. The awkwardness and intense feelings inherent to middle school are palpable. Children’s literature has been waiting for Apple Yengko―a strong, Asian-American girl whose ethnic identity simultaneously complicates and enriches her life.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Will resonate with any student in middle school who has felt different and ostracized. The author has skillfully captured the various characters that populate Apple’s . . . school.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“[A] delightful debut . . . What sets Kelly’s book apart is the combination of a quirky narrator and details about living in a first-generation Filipino American household. . . . Through her love of music . . . Apple starts to soar like the eponymous blackbird of her favorite Beatles song.” — Los Angeles Times Book Review
“A smart, sensitive, and resilient heroine who is authentic and relatable in her strengths and imperfections. This poignant novel would make for a particularly fine readaloud; expect visceral reactions . . . This is a must-read for those kids cringing at their own identities.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Writing with acute sensitivity and sometimes painful realism, debut novelist Kelly skillfully captures the betrayals, tentative first crushes, and fluctuating emotions of middle school ... a true triumph.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Kelly skillfully weaves together the story of misfit Apple, her love of music, and a budding romance with a new boy at school, while never losing focus on the central issue of what it is like to be the ‘other.’” — Booklist
About the Author
Erin Entrada Kelly was awarded the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space. She grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. She is a professor of children’s literature in the graduate fiction and publishing programs at Rosemont College, where she earned her MFA, and is on the faculty at Hamline University. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. Before becoming a children’s author, Erin worked as a journalist and magazine editor and received numerous awards for community service journalism, feature writing, and editing from the Louisiana Press Association and the Associated Press.
Erin Entrada Kelly’s debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, an ALSC Notable Book, and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book. She is also the author of The Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature; You Go First, an Indie Next Pick; Lalani of the Distant Sea, an Indie Next Pick; Those Kids from Fawn Creek, named to numerous best-of-the-year lists; the acclaimed The First State of Being; and five popular novels for younger readers, Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, Surely Surely Marisol Rainey, Only Only Marisol Rainey, Your Turn Marisol Rainey, and Felix Powell, Boy Dog, which she also illustrated.
Product details
- Publisher : Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (March 1, 2016)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062238620
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062238627
- Reading age : 8 - 12 years
- Lexile measure : 660L
- Grade level : 3 - 7
- Item Weight : 7.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 0.9 x 5.1 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #494,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,030 in Children's Fiction on Social Situations
- #2,756 in Children's Self-Esteem Books
- #7,666 in Children's Friendship Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Erin Entrada Kelly was raised in Lake Charles, La., but now lives in suburban Philadelphia. Her mother was the first in her family to emigrate from the Philippines. Erin's books have won several awards, including the APALA Award for Children's Literature, the Golden Kite Honor Award, and the Gold Award for Fiction from the Parents Choice Foundation.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book appealing to kids and adults. They find the characters believable and relatable. The writing quality is described as well-written and the author is appreciated. Readers appreciate the Beatles music references and their love for music.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging for kids and adults. They say it's a positive read for middle school students, especially those who love reading. The book helps kids explore bullying and finding their true selves. Readers praise the author's ability to capture the cruelty young people inflict on each other.
"...Overall the was just a great book. I would recommend this book for children and adults." Read more
"...Erin Entrada Kelly did an amazing job capturing the cruelty youngsters inflict on each other, and showing the vulnerability of those who are &#..." Read more
"...I enjoyed the book and recommend it to young adult readers." Read more
"It's easy to say that this book will appeal to kids who feel ostracized or outside the norm, but in reality this book will appeal to most kids,..." Read more
Customers find the characters believable and authentic. They also appreciate the main character's interest in music.
"...Her struggle to fit in is so easy to relate to and each character is well-drawn, reminding me of many kids I went to school with...." Read more
"...I wasn't ready to let go of these wonderful characters--especially Apple and Evan. Long live the Apples and Evans of this world!..." Read more
"...I also liked the main character's interest in music. It felt pretty authentic...." Read more
"...'s funny, sweet, well-written, and most important of all, filled with realistic characters just like those you could find in most any middle school..." Read more
Customers find the book relatable for middle school students. They say it delivers a message they need to hear in a voice they will listen to. The songs sound good to them.
"...I loved that people in middle school can really relate. I am in fourth grade and I know what she is going through with friends turning into bullies...." Read more
"...Beatles I mean I've only listen to one of their songs but they sounded really good so another thing that I liked was like Apple told it in a great..." Read more
"...Her struggle to fit in is so easy to relate to and each character is well-drawn, reminding me of many kids I went to school with...." Read more
"This one made me cry because it was all so relatable!..." Read more
Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and engaging. Readers praise the author as an excellent writer and say they love her writing style.
"...It's funny, sweet, well-written, and most important of all, filled with realistic characters just like those you could find in most any middle..." Read more
"...Love this author!" Read more
"Erin Entrada Kelly writes with heart and soul...with a vulnerability that is unmatchable." Read more
"Excellent writer." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's music references. They appreciate the Beatles allusions and how they reminisce about their musical childhood.
"...Plus The Beatles music was an added bonus. Overall the was just a great book. I would recommend this book for children and adults." Read more
"...Super special & made me reminisce about my musical childhood & my love for music & how music impacts me daily and creates JOY!!! Love this author!" Read more
"Loved the Beatles music allusions! Character development is so true for this age." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 20165 Platypires for Blackbird Fly
I first heard about Blackbird Fly from the We Need Diverse Books blog and then my book club picked it to read. Oh how much I freaking loved this book. As a child of an immigrant I was able to relate to Apple in so many way. I just felt a deep connection and I believe others would feel the same way.
Erin Entrada Kelly truly captured what its liked to be in middle school and trying to navigate the social structures within it. Oh the flashbacks. I felt I knew each character in the book in real life and could match them up with someone I once knew. Plus The Beatles music was an added bonus.
Overall the was just a great book. I would recommend this book for children and adults.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019This book was so amazing, I couldn't put it down! I loved that people in middle school can really relate. I am in fourth grade and I know what she is going through with friends turning into bullies. I have read Hello Universe and The land of the forgotten girls too. But neither one of them
stood out to me like this one did!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2020Blackbird Fly is an amazing book I have a history with it though. The first time I read this book was in third grade. I didn't understand that while at first because I was super young and it didn't really interest me, but read that again in fourth grade and I started to understand it. So now but I was a little older and I understand the problems of Apple it made more sense. so I'm going to tell you what I liked and disliked about this book if you want to read it. So what did I like about this book well firstly I loved that Apple loved the Beatlesbecause I like the Beatles I mean I've only listen to one of their songs but they sounded really good so another thing that I liked was like Apple told it in a great perspective. another thing was I felt really really like I was in the book and actually at one part,spoiler alert, but I during part whenever Alyssa had found Apple in mr.z swing choir auditions room when Mr.Z and the rest of the swing choir walked in and Alyssa accused Apple of stealing again I actually thought I was asking for a second if we awkward it was super weird but I was Apple and it was weird. So basically I think I was in the room with the listener cuz I was reading it when I'm reading I get really into my book and I'm just like wow I can't believe I'm in the book. And when she said Kelpto and Thief I got mad and it was an amazing experience. So overall I loved it.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2015The middle school years are brutal, and this book perfectly captures the social angst experienced by most tweens. In this case, the normal anxiety about fitting in are made even worse by Apple's ethnic background. Her struggle to fit in is so easy to relate to and each character is well-drawn, reminding me of many kids I went to school with. It's easy to forget how mean kids can be to each other - heartbreaking, really. You feel Apple's pain and cheer her on as she learns some life truths and begins to follow her own path. I enjoyed this book so much as an adult (even though I prefer to forget my awkward middle school years), and I know young readers will love it even more. It delivers a message they need to hear, in a voice they will listen to.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2015Blackbird Fly is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Erin Entrada Kelly did an amazing job capturing the cruelty youngsters inflict on each other, and showing the vulnerability of those who are "different." I highly recommend this book for your young readers--especially those who are struggling with self-esteem issues, are victims of cruel pranks, or just need encouragement. I wasn't ready to let go of these wonderful characters--especially Apple and Evan. Long live the Apples and Evans of this world! Lots of life lessons here. Fantastic positive read for youth and adults.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2020I loved that the protagonist, Apple Yenko is Filipino and at the same time so very American. She doesn't know it and feels different from her classmates in Lousiana. She is in fact, ashamed of her mother and the food she cooks. She finds her salvation in her music. Along her musical journey, she meets some really cool friends who appreciate herself. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to young adult readers.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017There were parts of Blackbird Fly that stood out and other that felt a bit leaden. I loved the uncompromising and frequently unintentionally cruel mother. Some loving mothers are like this--unaware of how cruel their words can be. I could envision this in an immigrant mother who wants what is best for her child, but might not understand the social dynamics of a new culture. I thought that was really well done. And I loved reading about Philippine food. I also liked the main character's interest in music. It felt pretty authentic. I liked elements of the girl who had previously been a friend--girl friendships at that age shift so much that this read as authentic.
What I didn't like were the supporting characters who, like Apple (the main character), are bullied at school. Or I liked them individually, but didn't buy into their grouping. Apple teams up with an unconventional boy and an obese girl--both of whom are targets for the bullies. Together they create their own little circle. It read like a cynical marketing grab aimed at Generation Z school diversity programs. I wish it didn't, but that was my take. It was too easy to group them together and none of them have anything quirks that make the friendships difficult. I also had a hard time believing that Apple would be called the various racist phrases given the current anti-bullying culture at school. It's certainly possible and I'm sure some readers can vouch for that, but kids who do this are usually ostracized pretty quickly, at least in my neck of the woods.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2015It's easy to say that this book will appeal to kids who feel ostracized or outside the norm, but in reality this book will appeal to most kids, period. It's funny, sweet, well-written, and most important of all, filled with realistic characters just like those you could find in most any middle school in America.
Top reviews from other countries
- CalebReviewed in Canada on July 9, 2018
2.0 out of 5 stars Not Really That Great
I was hoping to like this novel because of the blurb and the reviews. But I was sorely disappointed. I thought the idea was great to have a non-Caucasian protagonist for a change. We need to see a lot more diversity in middle grade and young adult literature and I was hoping this book would be a good addition. However, the writing style is boring. There's too much on-the-nose writing and distracting stage direction that takes readers away from the story. Plot development is poor. There's much more fluff than meat. If we take out some unnecessary descriptions that don't really add to the story, the book will probably be half its current thickness. It was difficult to turn pages because there's not much tension to keep you reading. Also, considering this is for a middle grade audience, I didn't like that the author was talking about making out/ kissing and that she used the word "stupid" one too many times. Yes, she may be projecting realism, but as a teacher, I wouldn't use this as recommended reading for young kids. It may not be the kind of book that some parents will approve of. The book had some setups that could have been explored further but fell flat. There wasn't much digging into the main character's Filipino culture besides the brief mention of pancit, kumusta ka, and atchara (an appetizer made of pickled papaya) which the author mistakenly referred to as a Filipino curse word. She could have added a bit more backstory to Apple Yengko that could have made her a unique protagonist readers can sympathize with. The novel just didn't shine for me, which is so sad as I really wanted to like this book. For those of you who are interested in middle grade books that explore themes of diversity, you're better off with Thanhha Lai's "Inside Out and Back Again" or Reyna Grande's "The Distance Between Us."