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If I Could Fly
Fifteen-year-old Doris is used to taking care of herself. Her musician parents have always spent more time singing in nightclubs than watching after her. But when her ailing mother goes home to Puerto Rico to get well and pursue a singing career there, and her father finds a new girlfriend, Doris is more alone than she’s ever been. Disconnected from her family and her best friends, who are intertwined in terrifying relationships with a violent classmate, Doris finds refuge in taking care of homing pigeons on her apartment building’s roof. As Doris tries to make sense of it all, she learns that, just like the pigeons, she might have to fly far distances before she finds out where she belongs.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2011
About the author
Judith Ortiz Cofer
46 books115 followersJudith Ortiz Cofer (born in 1952) is a Puerto Rican author. Her work spans a range of literary genres including poetry, short stories, autobiography, essays, and young-adult fiction.
Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.
Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.
In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.
(from Wikipedia)
Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.
Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.
In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 22, 2019
Even though this wasn't a favorite read of mine it might be for others. If you're looking for a book about a 15yo girl trying to discover who she wants to be with parents that aren't always there for x and y reasons, then go for it.
This is as best as I can describe my feelings for this book:
There was too much internal monologue more of a tell than show scenario. I would skim read sections and it didn't feel like I missed out on anything enthralling.
Writing style is not my favorite and the story has yet to be gripping. There were brief moments that were moving between them, but nothing that stood out.
I can tell that the author is including family drama but it felt forced rather than natural within the story.
I'm still trying to envision how the pigeon inclusion in the segments were pertinent. Like I get the whole flying thing is metaphorical but it could have been done better.
Moments that have real life situations that can be heart breaking were glossed over and not given the importance they deserved. Especially when it was so close to Doris.
Plus I get that her father is trying to run a business and live his life; but he can't forget that he has a daughter and his responsibility to her.
There was a long overdue heart-to-heart between father and daughter, so was really content when it actually happened.
Okay so this is me nitpicking because I understand why it was done, but the constant translation hindered my enjoyment if it.
Um, Doris finally goes to Puerto Rico to visit her sick mother and, um, what was the purpose of the trip? Just to see her mother isn't in the best shape of her life?
I understand forgiveness and seeing the better side of people but Yolanda does NOT deserve their friendship, period, what she tried to do was alarming and disturbing.
Doris mentions that she has changed that her surroundings haven't but she has and honestly it's hard to tell if she really has.
Overall I didn't DNF the book because I wnated to see how it was going to wrap up but honestly it was a waiste of time.
This is as best as I can describe my feelings for this book:
There was too much internal monologue more of a tell than show scenario. I would skim read sections and it didn't feel like I missed out on anything enthralling.
Writing style is not my favorite and the story has yet to be gripping. There were brief moments that were moving between them, but nothing that stood out.
I can tell that the author is including family drama but it felt forced rather than natural within the story.
I'm still trying to envision how the pigeon inclusion in the segments were pertinent. Like I get the whole flying thing is metaphorical but it could have been done better.
Moments that have real life situations that can be heart breaking were glossed over and not given the importance they deserved. Especially when it was so close to Doris.
Plus I get that her father is trying to run a business and live his life; but he can't forget that he has a daughter and his responsibility to her.
There was a long overdue heart-to-heart between father and daughter, so was really content when it actually happened.
Okay so this is me nitpicking because I understand why it was done, but the constant translation hindered my enjoyment if it.
Um, Doris finally goes to Puerto Rico to visit her sick mother and, um, what was the purpose of the trip? Just to see her mother isn't in the best shape of her life?
I understand forgiveness and seeing the better side of people but Yolanda does NOT deserve their friendship, period, what she tried to do was alarming and disturbing.
Doris mentions that she has changed that her surroundings haven't but she has and honestly it's hard to tell if she really has.
Overall I didn't DNF the book because I wnated to see how it was going to wrap up but honestly it was a waiste of time.
Read
March 16, 2017The book "If I Could Fly" by Judith Ortiz Cortez is about a 15 year old girl with parents that are singers. She doesn't really get attention at all and her mom wants her to be just like her and resemble them as the perfect family. Her das doesn't pay much attention to her at all either and together as a family they don't jive. As soon as the young girl goes away with her friends she truly finds out what a happy life is like.
I didn't really like this book because I just don't think it was my style. I mean it had so many twists and turns but I just don't think it's my type of book. I didn't like it because the plot wasn't the best thing in my mind.
I would recommend this book to people that love to hear people's problems and also people that love to find solutions to life problems. I feel like they would really be able to engage in what she should do next and see if they are right or not.
I didn't really like this book because I just don't think it was my style. I mean it had so many twists and turns but I just don't think it's my type of book. I didn't like it because the plot wasn't the best thing in my mind.
I would recommend this book to people that love to hear people's problems and also people that love to find solutions to life problems. I feel like they would really be able to engage in what she should do next and see if they are right or not.
January 26, 2023
wasn’t that bad but i read for school and i don’t like birds
September 27, 2016
If I could fly is about a 15 year-old girl, named Doris who goes through stressful family and friend issues. Doris was a normal Mexican girl with parents who loved to sing. They would perform at night clubs every night, leaving a babysitter, named Dona Iris to act as the parent. Doris learned to grow up independently. Her stressful life began at her quienciniera, when her mothers heart started hurting a lot. Her mother decided that she needed a professional doctor, so she moved to an island to get the care she needed and to pursue her dream of becoming a famous singer. Her mother found a boyfriend/agent named Geraldo, on the island. Doris's dad found a girlfriend named Margarita. Doris hated both Margarita and Geraldo. Trouble really started to pick up when Doris's best friends, Arturo and Yolanda, got into a fight with bad-boy, Kenny. Kenny brutally beat up Arturo and Yolanda shot him because of it. The police let Yolanda go and she didn't have to go to juvenile court. While Doris felt so alone now that her mother was far away, Dona Iris's pigeons gave her company and she loved taking care of them. Doris finally got the chance to go visit her mother, only to discover that she was more sick then ever and would need a heart transplant. Doris's mother had a successful transplant and Doris was able to return to her normal life with her family and friends!
I think that the powerful theme of this book was to never lose hope. I think it is this because, even when Doris was having a hard time juggling school, family, and friends, she remembered not to loose hope and she got through it. She found hope in the weirdest ways, by taking care of Dona Iris's pigeons. If I could fly was a very good book and it sent a great message. This book was very inspiring to me, and I have learned to never give up or loose hope.
I think that the powerful theme of this book was to never lose hope. I think it is this because, even when Doris was having a hard time juggling school, family, and friends, she remembered not to loose hope and she got through it. She found hope in the weirdest ways, by taking care of Dona Iris's pigeons. If I could fly was a very good book and it sent a great message. This book was very inspiring to me, and I have learned to never give up or loose hope.
November 16, 2015
The book If I Could Fly be Judith Ortiz Cofer was an okay book. I could never really get into it. It took me a really long time to get into it and I never really got it. It was a confusing book because many parts of it were in Spanish and the others were in English.
The book was all about a girl named Doris and her mom and dad are both singers and they feel like they have different paths and move away from each other. When Doris figures out that her mom moved away from the barrio she stopped going to school and stayed at home. One day her world came crashing and one of her friends got mugged and another figured out that she was pregnant. She gets to go on a special trip later, but where to and why? Read the book to find out.
I recommend this book to 12-14 year old girls that have an expansive vocabulary. This book is sort of hard to read and understand.
The book was all about a girl named Doris and her mom and dad are both singers and they feel like they have different paths and move away from each other. When Doris figures out that her mom moved away from the barrio she stopped going to school and stayed at home. One day her world came crashing and one of her friends got mugged and another figured out that she was pregnant. She gets to go on a special trip later, but where to and why? Read the book to find out.
I recommend this book to 12-14 year old girls that have an expansive vocabulary. This book is sort of hard to read and understand.
December 7, 2014
I am a fan of Judith Cofer. After reading Call me Maria, I had to read something else by her. I enjoyed this one, too. There were some similar themes--teenage girl dealing with her parents' divorce, torn between Puerto Rico and New York. The characters are memorable and well-drawn. I especially liked the older characters in this novel, the Abuela and her older friend, Dona Iris. I had some favorite quotes:
p. 85 "Anger is heavier than joy or grief."
p.35 "You cannot bring the dead back home with promises or prayers. You can only keep them with you be remembering them at their best."
p.183 "You have to find your gift and accept it."
p. 85 "Anger is heavier than joy or grief."
p.35 "You cannot bring the dead back home with promises or prayers. You can only keep them with you be remembering them at their best."
p.183 "You have to find your gift and accept it."
July 24, 2011
I loved "An Island Like You," so it was a pleasure to link up with some of those young people again. This book focuses on Doris, now fifteen, who is coping with a changing family situation. Her mother has left suddenly to go back to Puerto Rico, claiming health problems and a desire to pursue her singing career there. Yoli is pregnant, and Arturo is plagued by bullies. Doris comes through with a stronger sense of who she is and what she can do. I want to read more about her friends, especially Arturo! Another book, please, Ms. Cofer.
May 4, 2012
This touching realistic-fiction novel showcases diverse family relations and what it means to grow up with parents that are often unavailable. If you enjoy coming of age stories wrought with obstacles to overcome and emotional development, then this book will be a real treat for you.
Available from OCLS in print.
Imagine That! (Teen Summer Reading Program 2012) recommended book
Available from OCLS in print.
Imagine That! (Teen Summer Reading Program 2012) recommended book
November 28, 2011
Doris is the 15 year old daughter of two salsa musicians. When her mother decides to return to Puerto Rico in order to pursue her musical career, Doris is left with dad and his new girlfriend. For solace, Doris turns to her friends Arturo and Yolanda, but they have issues of their own, so Doris is left with the pigeons on the roof of her apartment building that an elderly neighbor cares for. Doris watches the birds and wishes that she could be more like them.
February 8, 2012
Doris’ parents are unlike anyone else’s in her barrio. They are salseros, as her father manages two bands, and her mother is a singer in one of them. Every night they have a gig, and Doris is left on her own. She feels neglected and lonely, spending her time taking care of pigeons on her roof. While caring for them and watching them fly, she imagines what it would be like to fly away from her life and begin a new one.
Read more at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/
Read more at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/
January 12, 2012
If I Could Fly, have you ever been away from your mom for two months? Doris' mom was a salsa dancer for her dads band. Doris went to live with her mom after her mom fainted on stage and said she had a bad heart. My favorite part is when Doris goes to stay with her mother while she is sick. If you like family drama, you will love this book.
January 22, 2012
Wanted to like it more than I did. The middle part of the book is even four star stuff, but overall I just wanted to get through it. Sort of slow. Moody more than plotty. The excerpts on pigeon care rubbed me wrong, otherwise the bird motif was well done.
November 29, 2012
Doris,a fifteen-year-old,is living with her dad. Her mom has heart problems and has went to live with Doris' grandmother without leaving a notice. Doris is so worried. Should she live with her father and life or her mom?
June 29, 2011
I had high hopes for this novel. The plot seemed interesting and I like diverse characters; it wasn’t horrible, just not really the book for me.
July 24, 2011
Really well-written. I liked all of the poetry it included and Puerto Rican culture too. I wasn't always a huge fan of the character though. She kind of got on my nerves occasionally.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2011
A wonderful coming of age story.
January 19, 2013
From a great author not all books are equally good.
February 10, 2014
The book was good and it was also interesting .
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews