Michael Ferrari

The year is 1941. Bird McGill wants to fly an F-40 fighter more than anything. She memorizes the pilot's manual and makes friends with a young lieutenant in order for him to take her flying. But when Kenji, a Japanese-American boy, comes to town with his uncle, Bird may have to use her detective skills, as well as her flying and airplane knowledge, to untangle the accusations of murder and arson that are placed on Kenji's uncle.

This book had a good plot and was a fast and easy read. I liked show more Bird's voice - she's very candid and honest, but there was a little too much about her older sister in the book that could have been done away with. I really loved the friendship between Kenji and Bird - it seemed very believable and drew me into the story. The few plot twists at the end were very good and overall, this book was interesting. show less

Bird Mcgill loves to fly. She is only eleven years old. Her father repairs airplanes. On her birthday her father lets her try to land the plane. She almost does it. Dad has to step in and help out. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bird's father finds himself drafted. To make matters worse for Bird a new boy has joined her class. His name is Kenji. The two of them become friends and have joined forces to find a spy. The book was full of historical information. Most of the students I teach show more don't know how we treated Japanese Americans during this war. I am hoping that it may bring some understanding of past prejudices. This was an awesome book show less

Set in small town USA at the start of our involvement in WWII, the town is saved by two unlikely heros: Bird McGill a tomboy who wants nothing more than to fly planes like her father, and Kenji a Japanese-American boy the town despises and distrusts because of his ethnic background. When Bird's father is called to fight in the war, she begins to see the world in a different way. Teamed up with Kenji on a school project, the two find evidence that there is something very unpatriotic happening show more in their town. To save Kenji's uncle from being framed for murder and to save their town and country from the enemy, Bird and Kenji gather evidence against a prominent town figure.

This book was an emotional story that had me crying for Bird and her family when their father died, rooting for Bird and Kenji as they dared to discover, and sitting on the edge of my seat as they got themselves into a whole mess of trouble for thier digging. Fun and suspenseful, readers will not need to be fans of historical fiction to enjoy this story, though it would go well with a classroom study on racism or WWII. show less

What a great story about family, dreams, World War II and spies on the home front. Bird is a completely believable eleven-year-old. Her passion for flying and love for her father show us who this little girl really is during the outbreak of WWII in the U.S. The story takes place on Long Island where Bird provides the lens through which we are able to experience her P-40 flight pilot aspirations, fears, and powerlessness during the war. Bird shows us how this feels for an eleven year old and show more how resourceful and resilient they can be. Friendship, adventure, and humor; a solid Middle School read. show less