From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

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What Members Thought

Dolores
Sep 24, 2012 rated it really liked it
Adventure, mystery, humor and historical fiction all rolled into one fast-moving story. Bird is a memorable and likable character that kids will find themselves relating to. This is a book with appeal to both boys and girls--especially the reluctant readers.
Kim
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
Holly
My new favorite "girl power" book for the 8-11 ages. Non-stop action! ...more
Jen
Jul 18, 2012 rated it liked it
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 come
...more
Beth Given
This action-adventure book lagged a little in the beginning but had me turning pages at the end. The plot sure seemed far-fetched at times, and downright heavy in places, too; the book tackles racial prejudices, blackmail, homicide, sabotage, and more. And there sure was a lot of references to the big sister's bra (especially considering that my little third grader will be reading this book!). But once I let myself fall into the plot a bit, I found myself rather enjoying the book. Good girl-powe ...more
MaryLibrarianOH
Oct 01, 2009 rated it really liked it
The author is from Avon Lake Ohio.
Christina
Eleven year-old Bird McGill dreams about being a woman fighter pilot and overcomes prejudice against Japanese-Americans when she befriends Kenji, a new boy at school, in this middle-grades novel set during World War II. Although I enjoyed Bird's wise-cracking, irreverent voice for much of the book, at times, it was a bit grating. Best for kids in grades 4-6 who like historical fiction. ...more
Jessica
Jan 30, 2012 rated it it was ok
Shelves: historical, 3-4, 4-5
A bit far fetched for my taste.
Rachel
Apr 02, 2009 marked it as to-read
Kathy
Jul 19, 2009 rated it really liked it
Kris Springer
Aug 30, 2009 rated it liked it
Holly
Oct 10, 2009 marked it as to-read
Shelves: mocknewbury2010
Emily
Jan 30, 2012 rated it it was ok
Shelves: kid-lit
Brandi
Feb 13, 2012 rated it liked it
Lisa Nagel
May 20, 2012 rated it really liked it
Carol Coutts
May 26, 2012 marked it as to-read
Buettner
Jul 01, 2012 rated it liked it
Leslie
Sep 09, 2012 marked it as to-read
Shelves: middlegrade
Teresa Garrett
Jun 23, 2013 marked it as to-read
Amy
Apr 25, 2015 marked it as to-read
Christi
May 13, 2020 marked it as to-read
Shelves: wwii-ya