Book Review: Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari

Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 2009
ISBN: 9780385737159
Source: Library

Bird McGill is pretty sure she was born to fly.  Her father used to take her up in his airplane, and even let her man the controls, until their world changes when the Japanese unexpectedly bomb Pearl Harbor.  Now her father is gone to fight in the war and Bird is left with no one who understands her desire to fly.  But, she soon finds herself caught up in a conspiracy right at home and a new kid who just might be as different as she is.  

Things I Liked:
This was an exciting book that gives us a glimpse of the prejudices that Japanese Americans faced during World War II.  I loved Bird and her view of the world.  She isn't perfect and I think that is why I like her so much.  She has prejudices towards Kenji when she first meets him, but learns to like and trust him anyway.  The action was fast-paced (when it picked up) and the ending was fairly surprising.  A fun book that will introduce kids to some of the less well-known things that happened in the US during WWII.  For laughs:

"Just cause I was a girl in 1941, don't think I was some sissy.  Shoot, I saw stuff that would've made that bully Farley Peck pee right through his pants." p 1

"Hey, Farley.  Look what the dog dragged in."
"It's cat," I said.  "Look what the cat dragged in."  I should have kept my mouth shut but I couldn't help correcting such dim-witted tormentors.  Even bullies should have standards.  p 27

Things I Didn't Like:
The plot quickly became very far-fetched.  I could believe and follow it to a certain point, but then it was just too much for an eleven-year-old girl.  I stopped believing in it at one point and then it lost its reality for me.  Also, the red herring he pulled out near the end wasn't resolved to my satisfaction.  I don't want to give away any of the plot, but I had a hard time when the person we thought it was turned out not to be it.  Despite these things, I still enjoyed it a lot.  

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
The adventures felt a bit like A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some mild violence and scary stuff

Overall rating: ****

Why is it something so far-fetched can still be so enjoyable?
 Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

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