Born to Fly
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
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 that he's a spy, or at the very least, that he and his uncle want the Japanese to win. Bird is wary of Kenji, not just because he's Japanese, but because he steals her flight-related topic for a school report and leaves her to write about the deadly boring local marsh weed. But on Bird's first trip to the marsh, she and Kenji accidentally discover real spy activity in the area. Bird realizes that Kenji is actually a stand-up guy-and she and Kenji begin an adventure that will shake the town and may even change the future of the United States. Winner of the Dell Yearling Contest
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0385737157
ISBN13:9780385737159
Release Date:July 2009
Publisher:Delacorte Press
Length:212 Pages
Weight:0.75 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.6" x 8.1"
Age Range:8 to 12 years
Grade Range:Grades 3 to 7
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Great For All Ages
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Born to Fly is a great book for everyone. It's well written, story moves quickly, and characters are well developed. I gave copies to my family and they keep raving about it (my father-in-law hopes they'll make a movie out of this book). It's well done -- get a copy and enjoy!
Wonderful Action/Good Plot Twists
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I run a book club for 10-13 year old girls. This book was very well received and led to a lot of excellent conversation and opinions. I think children and adults would like this book especially since those Countrymen and women who fought in WWII are passing on and our stories become more faded over time. This speaks of history, friendship, sacrifice and many other valuable messages.
A little bit of everything for everyone...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
This was a fantastic read - I sat down to read a few chapters and couldn't put the book until I was finished. All the characters in the book have depth and I felt just totally immersed in Bird's adventure. The story provided real suspense but also hope and understanding and true integrity. Although it starts about a girl proving she's not be a 'sissy', it was a really poignant and touching coming of age story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Born to Fly is great!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
Michael Ferrari's first book, Born to Fly, is wonderful. Bird, her family, and friends are well defined. The book contains elements of racism, sexism, and espionage - all written for middle grade youth. Set in 1941 the author manages to give the reader the flavor of the era as well as the personality elements that are ageless. I believe Michael is destined to be a highly successful writer. Good job, Michael
Recomended for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. (SPOILER IN REVIEW)
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
As a librarian, I catalog a lot of childrens and young adult books. I try to read the ones that catch my eye. "Born to fly" is definitely one for parents and teachers to suggest to their kids. This is one of a small group of books that gives the reader some historical content (it's set in 1941, WWII) without bogging down the action and losing the main point of the story which is that, "girls can be action heroes just as well as boys." From this point of view, the story should speak to any generation of children. It may also be a good read for children who have lost parents to the war, helping them to carry on. The book also introduces the reader to the problems that happen when predjudice runs above reason (the problems that Japanese Americans encountered during WWII). The adventurous pace and humor move the story along fast enough that even difficult readers should be enticed.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
