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19th out of 22 books
—
45 voters
Born to Fly
Born to Fly tells the story of eleven-year-old tomboy Bird McGill. Ever since she can remember, Bird has loved flying in small propeller airplanes with her mechanic dad. When the local airstrip is turned into a military flight school, Bird is in heaven. But when a young Japanese American student named Kenji Fujita joins Bird’s class, the entire school seems to be convinced...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
July 14th 2009
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
(first published July 1st 2009)
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Amazing book! Set in the 1940s, Bird McGill's lifelong dream is to become a pilot. Only, there's one problem... she's a 10-year-old girl. But that's the least of her problems when her world is turned upside-down by four things.
1. Her dad, the only person who ever believed in her dream, has gone off to fight in the war. (When will he come back? Will he?)
2. There is a new kid in class named Kenji, and he's Japanese. (Being the 40's, during WWII, nobody trusts him.)
3. A man in black is threatening...more
1. Her dad, the only person who ever believed in her dream, has gone off to fight in the war. (When will he come back? Will he?)
2. There is a new kid in class named Kenji, and he's Japanese. (Being the 40's, during WWII, nobody trusts him.)
3. A man in black is threatening...more
Uneven at times, with some unneeded pathos and way too many bra references to be elem friendly, a good plot hides behind an at times bloated story... 3.6 stars to be more precise... 4 stars for the second half as long as you suspend disbelief at times.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2013 Rebecca Caudill nominee. 4th grade and up, mostly girls, larger print. Historical fiction, set during World War II in Rhode Island.
11-year old Bird is the middle child in her family and her goal in life is to become a fighter pilot. She can fly a plane, sort of, since her dad has been teaching her, and she absorbs the technical details of planes as fast as she can read them. And this makes her very odd in her small town where gender stereotypes are only too plainly accepted--in that world,...more
11-year old Bird is the middle child in her family and her goal in life is to become a fighter pilot. She can fly a plane, sort of, since her dad has been teaching her, and she absorbs the technical details of planes as fast as she can read them. And this makes her very odd in her small town where gender stereotypes are only too plainly accepted--in that world,...more
To read an interview with author Michael Ferrari, or to read other interviews with writers and literary agents, log onto my blog at www.middlegradeninja.blogspot.com.
Born to Fly is a an extemely enjoyable adventure novel that stars a girl, but which will be loved by both boys and girls. Ferrari’s writing is wonderful throughout and I have a number of great excerpts to share with you. To start with, here is the novel's first sentence:
Just because I was a girl in 1941, don’t think I was some sissy...more
Born to Fly is a an extemely enjoyable adventure novel that stars a girl, but which will be loved by both boys and girls. Ferrari’s writing is wonderful throughout and I have a number of great excerpts to share with you. To start with, here is the novel's first sentence:
Just because I was a girl in 1941, don’t think I was some sissy...more
Bird McCall is an eleven-year-old girl in the 1940s who has dreams of one day flying an airplane. Her father supports her dream but others in town feel believe Bird just has a really vivid imagination. After all, she is the same person who swears she flew up onto a roof and talks about the monster named Genny who she claims lives in the water and eats fisherm
Later, a young Japanese-American boy named Kenji arrives in town to live with his uncle while his parents are "away." Some believe he is a...more
Later, a young Japanese-American boy named Kenji arrives in town to live with his uncle while his parents are "away." Some believe he is a...more
Gr 4-7-Bird McGill regards her dad as her best friend. He takes her up in the planes he repairs and lets her take the controls, and he encourages her dream of becoming a pilot. But a special bulletin disrupts her 11th-birthday afternoon: Japan has attacked the military base in Pearl Harbor, and Bird's world is turned upside down. During the next few months, the local airstrip is turned into a military flight school, and her dad is shipped overseas. When a Japanese-American boy joins Bird's class...more
Oct 03, 2012
Olivia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
every one who likes history and adventure
Recommended to Olivia by:
My librarian
Name: Olivia Schuringa Due Date: Friday, October 12th Period: _
Book Report #1
Book Title: Born to fly # of pages: 224
Author: Michael Ferrari Genre: Any fiction of your choice! See below.
(Circle one: realistic, historical, fantasy, mystery, sci fi, suspense, horror, )
Part A: Write a 1 page summary of the book you read. It must include the most important events/details only. Use correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization!
Eleven year old Bird McGill isn’t like any other girl, she doesn’t l...more
Book Report #1
Book Title: Born to fly # of pages: 224
Author: Michael Ferrari Genre: Any fiction of your choice! See below.
(Circle one: realistic, historical, fantasy, mystery, sci fi, suspense, horror, )
Part A: Write a 1 page summary of the book you read. It must include the most important events/details only. Use correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization!
Eleven year old Bird McGill isn’t like any other girl, she doesn’t l...more
Jun 22, 2012
Sabrina
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
black-eyed-susan-2012-nominees
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I'd really like to give this book 3.5 stars, but I couldn't quite justify giving it 4.
Bird is a 10 year old girl who loves flying. Her dad has been teaching her how, though she isn't very good at it yet. Her best friend has just moved out of town, she doesn't get along very well with her mom, but she is very close with her dad. Unfortunately, World War II is upon them, and Bird's dad is sent off to fight in the war.
One day at school, a new boy shows up: a Japanese boy named Kenji. He is an ins...more
Bird is a 10 year old girl who loves flying. Her dad has been teaching her how, though she isn't very good at it yet. Her best friend has just moved out of town, she doesn't get along very well with her mom, but she is very close with her dad. Unfortunately, World War II is upon them, and Bird's dad is sent off to fight in the war.
One day at school, a new boy shows up: a Japanese boy named Kenji. He is an ins...more
Set in Rhode Island during the early years of World War II, Born to fly tells the story of Bird (Belinda), an eleven-year-old girl who dreams of one day becoming a fighter pilot. Bird gets flying lessons from her dad before he enlists and joins the Air Corps, but before he leaves, he gives her a copy of a P-40 Warhawk flying manual. She studies this book relentlessly before the town's new deputy confiscates it before it falls into enemy hands. Bird's love of aircraft sparks her friendship (in a...more
Bird McGill is a feisty girl growing up in Rhode Island. Bird loves flying and planes, absorbing everything she can about flying and maintenance. On her 11th birthday, Pearl Harbor is attacked and from there, her life changes rapidly. Her father is drafted to serve in the Army and Kenji, a young Japanese boy, becomes her only friend. Bird and Kenji accidentally discover that a monster in the bay is really a foreign submarine. Then Bird finds the draft dodger father of a bully classmate dead. She...more
This book was aight.
I totally missed this when I was adding the 2013 Caudills to my to-read list, and if I hadn't read it, I would not care, haha. This book was about a girl during WWII who wants to be a fighter pilot. It is also about Japanese internment camps. It is also about German spies. It is also about draft dodgers. It is also about xenophobia. Any of these topics would have been sufficient on their own. It was just too much, I think.
I read another review who said there were way too many...more
I totally missed this when I was adding the 2013 Caudills to my to-read list, and if I hadn't read it, I would not care, haha. This book was about a girl during WWII who wants to be a fighter pilot. It is also about Japanese internment camps. It is also about German spies. It is also about draft dodgers. It is also about xenophobia. Any of these topics would have been sufficient on their own. It was just too much, I think.
I read another review who said there were way too many...more
Jul 15, 2012
Cinnamon
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
1940s,
adventure,
bullying,
children-s,
coming-of-age,
consequences,
courtroom-drama,
family-situations,
fathers,
friendship,
girl-self-perception,
guy-lit,
hi-lo,
historical-fiction,
japanese-american,
mothers,
mystery,
small-towns,
wwii,
iowa-childrens-choice,
airplanes,
spies,
rhode-island
Bird McGill loves flying. Her father has always encouraged her to follow her dreams even if they aren't what other little girls enjoy. But when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Bird's father must join the fighting. Bird must endure the school bullies on her own, until the day that a new boy moves in. This boy is Japanese-American and quickly becomes the scapegoat for the bullies. When he saves Bird from drowning, the two become friends. They begin to investigate a mysterious appearance in the bay...more
Jul 30, 2012
Tamara the Librarian
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
nutmeg-2013-4th-6th,
social-studies-connection
Historical fiction- USA during WWII right around when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.
Chapter 1 was so boring to me and hard to follow with all the airplane terminology I put the book down and didn't pick it up for a few months. Since it is a Nutmeg selection I had to read it so I grudgingly brought it on a trip. Bird is a total tomboy, and it took me a while to appreciate her way of seeing the world. And it turns out she has a pretty good sense of humor. Things start to get a lot more interesti...more
Chapter 1 was so boring to me and hard to follow with all the airplane terminology I put the book down and didn't pick it up for a few months. Since it is a Nutmeg selection I had to read it so I grudgingly brought it on a trip. Bird is a total tomboy, and it took me a while to appreciate her way of seeing the world. And it turns out she has a pretty good sense of humor. Things start to get a lot more interesti...more
gr 4-7 212 pgs
1942 Geneseo, Rhode Island. 11 year old Bird is a tomboy who loves airplanes and longs to be a pilot when she grows up. Her dad is the only one who understands her and believes in her dream to be a pilot. Her dad shares her love for airplanes and soon joins the war effort as a pilot. Bird feels abandoned, but remembers her dad's advice that there is someone out there waiting to be her friend and that if she "just be herself" that friend will find her. When she meets new kid Kenji,...more
1942 Geneseo, Rhode Island. 11 year old Bird is a tomboy who loves airplanes and longs to be a pilot when she grows up. Her dad is the only one who understands her and believes in her dream to be a pilot. Her dad shares her love for airplanes and soon joins the war effort as a pilot. Bird feels abandoned, but remembers her dad's advice that there is someone out there waiting to be her friend and that if she "just be herself" that friend will find her. When she meets new kid Kenji,...more
This is my Condense Review:
I enjoyed seeing that a girl wanted to fly a plane. That her dad was teaching her. Her dad let her have her chance of landing a plane on her birthday. This book does have some action and Adventure. Those their a mystery unfolds once her father was drafted to sent off to fight in the war.
There information about WWII in this book and about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It does give some information on our history. It goes into issues about bullying, prejudiced, Learning to...more
I enjoyed seeing that a girl wanted to fly a plane. That her dad was teaching her. Her dad let her have her chance of landing a plane on her birthday. This book does have some action and Adventure. Those their a mystery unfolds once her father was drafted to sent off to fight in the war.
There information about WWII in this book and about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It does give some information on our history. It goes into issues about bullying, prejudiced, Learning to...more
Absolutely AMAZING! I can't even describe how much I enjoyed this book. It caught my attention from the very beginning and throughout the book I was laughing, crying, and screaming in frustration (from the character's actions and feelings). I was not once confused except for when I read the pages so quick, I had no idea what just happened. I fell in love with Bird, her father, and so many other characters as well as hatred for several as well. The characters in the book really grow on you as you...more
I simply love historical fiction - and this one even more because it comes with a strong and courageous female protagonist. Who wouldn't want to read about an eleven-year old girl who loves nothing more than flying, who makes some unbelieveably scary and worrying discoveries and who eventually has to risk her life to save not only a friend but an important public figure (won't spoil this by telling you who...)? This is a book filled with action and adventure while providing interesting backgroun...more
Over the top excitement as Bird must fly a plane to save her best friend (Japanese) and the President during WWII. People think she exaggerates with her stories so no one believes her when it counts. She knows Kenji's uncle didn't sabotage the plane factory or kill Farley's dad but she isn't completely sure who did. The killer warns her to keep quiet or her family will die. She calls on the memory of her father for advice then steals a plane to do what's right. What kid doesn't dream of being a...more
My new favorite "girl power" book for the 8-11 ages. Non-stop action!
This is a 2013 Caudill Nominee.
It is a historical fiction book set in WWII.
Birdie's father is away at war, and on the homefront the Japanese Americans are being sent to internment camps.
Birdie becaomes friends with Kenji, a Japanese American in Rhode Island.
They become friends, but a huge stumbling block comes across their path.
Kenji's gradfather is accused of destroying an American War station.
If true Kenji & grandfather will go into the internment camps.
Birdie is just hoping her Dad will c...more
It is a historical fiction book set in WWII.
Birdie's father is away at war, and on the homefront the Japanese Americans are being sent to internment camps.
Birdie becaomes friends with Kenji, a Japanese American in Rhode Island.
They become friends, but a huge stumbling block comes across their path.
Kenji's gradfather is accused of destroying an American War station.
If true Kenji & grandfather will go into the internment camps.
Birdie is just hoping her Dad will c...more
Great read. An especially fine YA novel.
Born to Fly
By Michael Ferrari
Genre: Historical Fiction
Staff Pick
Bird McGill Loves to fly. From an early age, her father taught her to fly and encouraged her. Bird would sit on top of the garage roof and wstch planes go by and identify them with her father. Her favorite: the P-40 Warhawk. Boy, would she love to fly a plane like that one day!
In 1941, a girl wanting to fly was a bit of a strange thing. At least, that's what the people in her small town thought. She was the girl with the imagination...more
By Michael Ferrari
Genre: Historical Fiction
Staff Pick
Bird McGill Loves to fly. From an early age, her father taught her to fly and encouraged her. Bird would sit on top of the garage roof and wstch planes go by and identify them with her father. Her favorite: the P-40 Warhawk. Boy, would she love to fly a plane like that one day!
In 1941, a girl wanting to fly was a bit of a strange thing. At least, that's what the people in her small town thought. She was the girl with the imagination...more
Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary:
Eleven old Bird McGill loves to fly. Ever since she can remember she has been flying with her Dad. He even taught her to fly at a very young age. Suddenly, the life she had always known is changed forever. Her Dad is called to war. Her life is miserable until Kenji, a Japanese boy, comes to her school. After several misunderstandings, they become best friends.
One day after an encounter with and enemy from their school, Kenji and Bird...more
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary:
Eleven old Bird McGill loves to fly. Ever since she can remember she has been flying with her Dad. He even taught her to fly at a very young age. Suddenly, the life she had always known is changed forever. Her Dad is called to war. Her life is miserable until Kenji, a Japanese boy, comes to her school. After several misunderstandings, they become best friends.
One day after an encounter with and enemy from their school, Kenji and Bird...more
Birdie McGill turned 11 years old the same day the Japenses bombed Pearl Harbor. All this tomboy had ever wanted to do was fly. Birdie flew all of the time with her best friend, her Dad. Birdie's Dad left to fight in the war. A new boy arriveved at her school. Kenji was Japanese and everyone believed he was a spy. Birdie was upset with Kenji when he got to write about aviation for their school report and she got stuck writing about a local marsh. When Birdie and Kenji visted the local marsh they...more
Eleven-year-old Bird McGill has only wanted to do one thing in her short life...fly a plane. Her dad, an expert mechanic and aviator, believed in her and took her up as often as he could...teaching her, guiding her. But, when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor during WWII, Bird's dad is called into action and her flying lessons are over for a while.
Bird, a tomboy, has an active and thick imagination, and the townspeople don't always believe her. Her best friend, Kenji, is a Japanese American whos...more
Bird, a tomboy, has an active and thick imagination, and the townspeople don't always believe her. Her best friend, Kenji, is a Japanese American whos...more
Bird Mcgill loves to fly. She is only eleven years old. Her father repairs airplanes. On her birthday her father lets her try to land the plane. She almost does it. Dad has to step in and help out. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bird's father finds himself drafted. To make matters worse for Bird a new boy has joined her class. His name is Kenji. The two of them become friends and have joined forces to find a spy. The book was full of historical information. Most of the students I teach don't...more
I really enjoyed this book because it has a lot of adventure and it did not get boring. It is about a girl named bird, who is a tomboy and loves to fly planes. She thinks a boy named Kenji is a spy but it turns out she actually does find spy activity when doing a paper for her school. There is an explosion of a plane, and many exciting things that happen that make this book interesting! I think kids would really enjoy this book.
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Loved this book! I think girls and boys alike will enjoy this story of an 11-year-old girl named Bird in the early 1940s. Bird's father teaches her to fly a small plane before he goes to war. While he's gone a mystery ensues in the town but Bird is the only one who realizes that something not quite right is going on. No one believes her because of her vivid imagination. Ken-ji, an American boy with Japanese parents, moves to town to live with his uncle. The anti-Japanese sentiment during this ti...more
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