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46th out of 100 books
—
7 voters
Fly Away Home
A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal trying not to be noticed, is given hope when a trapped bird finally finds its freedom.
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
March 22nd 1993
by Sandpiper
(first published 1991)
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Apr 02, 2009
Malbadeen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
students at my school
Shelves:
picture-books
Tomorrow I'm going to do what I rarely do, which is to read a book to students for the sole purpose of teaching a lesson.
I was with a group of students today that spewed stereotypes about homeless people for a good 20 minutes. They naively asked questions and recalled experiences they've had in encountering homeless people without realizing that in our school, meaning their classmates, we currently have somewhere near 30 homeless students in attendance.
On the plus side, Eve Bunting is a great wr...more
I was with a group of students today that spewed stereotypes about homeless people for a good 20 minutes. They naively asked questions and recalled experiences they've had in encountering homeless people without realizing that in our school, meaning their classmates, we currently have somewhere near 30 homeless students in attendance.
On the plus side, Eve Bunting is a great wr...more
This book was one of the saddest books ever! This book is about a son and dad who lived in the airport because the mother died. The father does little work and the son does little things to get money. In the entire book the father and son are trying not to get noticed and kicked out of the airport, because "the airport is better than the streets" , says the father. this story is very heart wrenching because you see the daily struggles the father and son goes through from day to day. The family m...more
Some of the most basic things in our daily life are taken for granted. In Fly Away Home Eve Bunting tells a sad, but hopeful story of a boy, Andrew, and his father who live in an airport. They are without a permanent and stable home. Readers are challenged to gain a new appreciation for the necessities they have in their own lives such as food, money, and shelter. Because this story is told from Andrew’s perspective, young readers can easily put themselves in his situation. At times, Andrew feel...more
Fly Away Home was an awesome read. Eve Bunting does a great job of sharing Andrew and his fathers life living in the air port. They may be less fortunate, but Eve bunting depicted them in a hopeful way.
The book follows literary standards by including characters, plot, and conflicts. The characters, unfortunately, resemble real people. Not everyone may be able to relate to Andrew and his fathers situation, however, it is very realistic. So many people do not have homes for many different reasons....more
The book follows literary standards by including characters, plot, and conflicts. The characters, unfortunately, resemble real people. Not everyone may be able to relate to Andrew and his fathers situation, however, it is very realistic. So many people do not have homes for many different reasons....more
Fly away home is the story of a boy (Andrew)and his father who live in an airport. Even though they are homeless and day-to-day life is difficult, Andrew remains hopeful that someday, things will get better. This book has a very authentic perspective and looks honestly at the idea of homelessness. Even though the ending is optimistic, Andrew admits there are times that he gets angry and wants to yell at the people in the airport who have homes, and there are other times when he thinks he will be...more
Feb 21, 2012
L12_luisespinoza Espinoza
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
realistic-fiction
"My dad and I live in an airport. That's because we don't have a home and the airport is better than the streets." This is how this touching picture book opens up. It effectively presents the difficult subject of homelessness and does a wonderful job of doing it in a way that does not oversimplify the subject or imply hopelessness. The story is about a dad and his preschool-age son (although the book does not provide his age)who live in an airport. The story is told in narrative form from the bo...more
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Fly Away Home is a uplifting but sad story of a little boy and his father who live in an airport. When his mother dies the boy and his father leave their apartment and are trying not to be noticed at the airport. If they are found, they will be put out on the street. The father goes to work and is trying to get them into a more permanent home, but is unable to do so because of his money situation. One day the little boy sees a brown bird caught in the airport who is hurt and cannot find his wa...more
I was so surprised with how this story came out. For a boy and his father to live within a restaurant due to poverty, it was such a touching message. I never realized just how bad some families may have it and an airport would be their only way to live and sleep without being on the streets. I could never imagine living in an airport and going through what the son and dad do all the time. It started to make me wonder if families really do have to resort to living in airports and places like that...more
“Fly Away Home” is a realistic fiction picture book about a homeless boy and his father. The book tells about how they live in an airport, and basically just describes daily life for them: where they sleep and eat, what they wear and how they make money. Although the man has a job, he is clearly still not in a position to buy or rent a home, and the boy discusses his bitterness and sadness over the fact that they have nowhere to live. The story ends on a positive and hopeful note though, as the...more
Eve Bunting has an amazing way of discussing life's many experiences and tragedies in sensitive and "kid-friendly" words. Eve Bunting honestly depicts real-life problems, such as homelessness in "Fly Away Home". I decided to read this book because I am familiar with her book "The Wall" in which she tells about the tragedies of war and the lingering loss that occurs after a war is over. One of the best aspects of this story and "The Wall," is how Bunting narrates the story from the perspective of...more
It's difficult for me to give my reaction to this book, because I find the text and images so incredibly powerful. From the first opening, we get an honest view of a hard-working father and his son, striving to create a better life for themselves. The first statement abruptly introduces the reader to the boy's reality: "My dad and I live in an airport. That's because we don't have a home and the airport is better than the streets." As I read this book, I continued to appreciate Bunting's matter-...more
I read this book for a children's lit class as part of our week of controversial picture books. So far I haven't been able to find a review that explains the controversy, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the fact that Andrew and his father are homeless and that they're exposed to some drunk people during the story. Also, I don't doubt that it's illegal to live in an airport.
On the other hand, what are they expected to do? It sounds like the mother died, and the father had been tryin...more
On the other hand, what are they expected to do? It sounds like the mother died, and the father had been tryin...more
Oct 02, 2010
Leane
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
peace-and-social-justice,
wishlist
Summary: This books deals with the issue of homelessness. It is told through the eyes of a young boy named Andrew. Andrew is being raised by his father and they live together in an airport. Trying to remain unnoticed, Andrew tells the reader about his daily life and how it is both similar and different than that of a child with a home. He leaves us with the hope that someday he, like the trapped bird in the window, can flee his current living situation and return home.
Issues: The main issue of t...more
Issues: The main issue of t...more
This heartbreaking story takes the reader through the lifestyle of a boy and his father living in the airport. One of the most interesting parts of the book is how, no matter what, they go unnoticed and looked out for one another. It makes me wonder how many people in this country have to do these sorts of things in order to survive. By the end of the story, I was teary eyed as I felt sorrow for the young boy, hoping to someday live in an actual home. In the classroom, I could use this book to t...more
A sad story about a homeless man and his son who live in an airport. The narrarator is the little boy. He paints a sad picture of what life is like when you live in an airport. The father helps them to "blend in" so they do not get discovered and thrown out of their home. They bath in the airport bathroom, eat meager meals and the little boy carries luggage to save up money to help his Dad pay for a real home someday. The boy compares himself to a bird that is trapped in the airport rafters. The...more
Reading this story really touched my heart, and made me feel thankful for what I have in my life, and the people that care about me. This story really opened up my eyes to people out there, who don't really have anybody to rely on to help them, and they have to manage many things on their own, and especially if they have other family members as well. I was shocked that this daughter and her dad got around to sleeping in an airport, I would never have thought of that. I could fully understand why...more
I don't really know what to think of this book; living in an airport? This seems so strange but according to Andrew, there are plenty of other people who attempt to live in the airport, they just aren't as careful as Andrew and his father and get caught. They move around the airport everyday to keep from being noticed, sleep sitting upright, sit apart from each other sometimes to keep from being noticed, change their clothes often, and clean themselves up in the bathroom. They don't talk to anyo...more
This is a sad but good of happened story. "My dad and I live in an airport> That's because we don't have a home and the airport is better than the streets. We are careful not to get caught." The first page drew me in to read more. A young boy and his father spend their days living in airport. The boy shares tips on how not to get caught. "Don't get noticed." The sit separately not to get caught. The boy watches a bird that flies into the airport and is trapped inside. He compares his life to...more
Eve Bunting’s book focuses on a father and son and their home…in an airport. Since Andrew’s father does not make a lot of money, they are forced to move from terminal to terminal within the airport. When Andrew’s dad has to go to work, Andrew stays with another family that faces a similar living situation as Andrew, which demonstrates that there are other families that use the airport as a home. The book ends on a promising note as there is expressed hope that Andrew’s family situation will get...more
Fly Away Home is a book that deals with the sensitive issue of homelessness and is told from the point of view of a young boy. Contrary to the negative stereotypes that surround this issue, the book presents it in a way that can help students understand that homeless people are just like everyone else. The young boy and his father live inside of the airport, left homeless after his mother died. While the boy is safe, warm and occassionally entertained in the airport, he longs to have a home of h...more
This is a touching book about a young boy and his father who are homeless and living in an airport. The father has a job as a janitor, but does not make enough money to afford a home. The story tells about living in the airport and what the young boy and his dad do every day. The boy talks about how they hope to find a home that they can afford one day. He is even trying to save up the money for it. I think that this book teaches a great lesson about hardships that people have to overcome. Some...more
Fly Away Home is a touching story of a little boy and his father who live in an airport. There life is very low key making sure they are never seen by airport employees. Everyday he wishes he will soon be able to leave the airport and have a home his his own with his father. All hope does seem lost until one a day bird who has been trapped in the airport escapes. The images through the story are very orginal as they capture the overall scence of a general airport. Although there are several peop...more
This book, written by Eve Bunting, and illustrated by Ronald Himler, tells the story of a little boy and her dad who are homeless, and live at an airport instead of on the streets. The story is narrated by the little boy, and he shares first hand accounts of other people getting caught for living in the airport, or being "noticed", and how him and his dad camouflage themselves by carrying travel bags. However, the touching part of this book is when the little boy sees a bird caught in the airpor...more
This book is the story of a boy and his father who are homeless and are living in an airport. They live a difficult life moving from terminal to terminal each day trying not to be noticed. However even in the midst of all the hardships they are facing Andrew the young boy stays optimistic. It is some what of an emotional story but i think it really does a good job of capturing the life and hardships of homeless people. I think books like these are important to read to children so they understand...more
Fly Away Home by Even Bunting really caught my attention and stuck out to me this week. I enjoyed reading this book and would strongly recommend reading this book aloud to your students. I think the story line is very inspirational and can be really seen in a positive light. When a young boy lives with his father in an aiport terminal, he keeps close tabs on a trapped bird. Once he witnesses the bird setting himself free, he has hope in his own journey and having a better lifestyle for himself a...more
Fly Away Home teaches children about the reality of homelessness and how it affects families. The main character lives in an airport with his father, and discusses the plight of everyday living. Daily tasks such as bathing and eating are a challenge for those who live in the airport as they struggle to survive and blend in with the regular travelers. Children from lower income communities can relate to the child whose father has difficulty finding a job paying a living wage. Latchkey children ca...more
Fly Away Home is recommended for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. This book is about a homeless boy and his father who live at the airport. They move from terminal to terminal, sitting and sleeping in chairs, washing up in the bathroom, and eating in the food court, hoping not to get caught. They are given hope that they will be able to escape the airport to freedom and live in their own home when they see a trapped bird who finally finds its freedom.
This heartwarming and touching...more
This heartwarming and touching...more
Though I found this book to be very sad and melancholy, I think this would be a great book to read to children to discuss privileges and how people come from different backgrounds. This book would have been completely different if it had been read from the point of view of an adult. Seeing it from the boy's view makes it easier for the children to relate to and imagine the hardship for themselves. I think this would be great to humble some of your students and to address some of the hardships pe...more
Fly Away Home was one of the most heart-breaking stories I have ever read. This story is from the point of view of a child who, along with his father, was homeless. They explain how they became homeless after the boy’s mother died, showing that they family was not able to live off on only one income. However, the child stayed positive in hoping one day that he will be able to be free. One day the child sees a bird that accidentally flew into the terminal. In the terminal, the bird's wing became...more
I was so surprised with how this story came out. For a boy and his father to live within a restaurant due to poverty, it was a touching message. I never realized just how bad some families may have it and an airport would be their only way to live and sleep without being on the streets. It started to make me wonder if families really do have to resort to living in airports and places like that and just how apparent poverty is.
An activity that a class could do for this story would be to have them...more
An activity that a class could do for this story would be to have them...more
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Eve Bunting is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to ho...more
More about Eve Bunting...
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to ho...more
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it really comes down to each individual teacher. The good ones are able to sandwich in rich experiences.
Don't assume a private school is automat...more
Apr 10, 2009 10:36am
Oct 24, 2012 12:18pm