Another wonderful realistic middle grade book from Braden. The multiple points of view were wonderful and how it all ties in the end.

I liked the concept and the whole postcard concept as I've worked with a lot of postcards in my career and something so little does so much. But I found myself getting angry during the book at everyone, mostly the adults, but even the characters made me mad. Well not mad, but hopeless. I'm sure that's partially what Braden wanted, but I almost put this down and walked away. It was su h a quick book though so I kept reading and I'm glad I did. This was such a wonderful story and the ending gave me the hope I needed. Perfect for middle grade preteens to read.

This book is incredible. Thanks to the advanced reader copy we were able to preview it and choose it for our all school read!

This novel is very moving. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading, but it gave me a fantastic book to share with my readers when I talk about bullying. It also shows that no matter what someone comes from, they can choose their fate. It's a wonderful book to talk about family issues, social pressure, and bullying.

An excellent book! I enjoyed the various viewpoints and really enjoyed the story. I don't remember much about it since I read it so long ago.

Much like The Benefits of Being an Octopus, Flight of the Puffin tackles tough issues that so many kids face today. I will definitely be adding this book to my classroom library and recommending it to all of my students. It has the opportunity to add much needed empathy and understanding to the lives of my students.

This book is fantastic. It gave me so many feelings. The first character we are introduced to comes from a family of bullies and she seen as a bully in her school even though that is not the identity that she wants. Kids who have been pigeon-holed into being what their older siblings/parents were like in school will really identify. It really highlights how important it is to take each student for themselves not the family they come from. The book is a loose collection of stories that lightly connect (but not neatly) in the journey of a homeless man, bullied student, activist, and a bully who really does not want to be a bully. The bully actually starts writing inspirational messages and leaves them around her town. I do not want to give it away but these message impact all of their lives in unexpected ways. It really is a book that everyone should read.

From the synopsis that really gives good insight into the book: Four kids. Four different lives. And then… one card with a message of hope takes flight and starts a chain reaction, helping each kid summon the thing they need, whether it’s bravery, empathy, or understanding.

A book that grows with every page, just like the characters inside.

Libby doesn't want to be like her dad or her brother. No matter what she does, she's labeled a troublemaker, like them. When she is grounded by her parents, she decides she can change the world, one postcard at a time. Her kindness doesn't only impact her local community, but kids a coast away.

This book is told in multiple viewpoints. Each character struggles with fitting in, in different ways. Through Libby's actions, each comes to a better understanding of themselves and their own place in the world.

A powerful read. Perfect for a One School read. A lot of good discussion will surround this book about bullying and how to stand up for each other. A good addition to library shelves for middle grades.

This was a really interesting book, with interweaving voices brought together in a way that makes the story more fulfilling.

Flight of the Puffin is a strong, gentle book that manages to tackle some tough issues (death of a sibling, grief, homelessness, bullying, gender identity) in an approachable way that makes it the perfect book for middle grade audiences. Told in four voices, we initially first meet Libby (tough exterior that hides a kid who genuinely does want to do better, even if she isn't always given the tools and support to do so) and Jack, who is proud of his tiny school and his rural community yet acutely aware of the pressures it faces when a state regulator comes to visit. Jack is also grieving the loss of his younger brother, Alex, in a freak accident. Over time, we also meet Vincent, who lives across the country in Seattle and is bullied for his unconventional clothing choices, and finally, T, whose sparse story tells of being kicked out of their home because of their gender identity.

Although it takes most of the book for these four stories to intersect and come together, when they do, it's satisfying if a bit improbable how it all happens. The underlying message is one of kindness and being kind to others - perhaps a bit simplistic, but an approachable, understandable message for younger middle grade audiences. Jack's unintentional foray into going viral can provide a good discussion on the importance of thinking through your words and the unintended consequences they can bring, but the actual trans/nonbinary character (T) is given the least attention of any of the characters.

Overall, a good addition to middle grade (4th+) collections with a solid message even if there is room for growth.

I loved this book from the first page to the last. Absolutely stunning story of hope & kindness. Will be recommending it to kids, ages 10+

Libby loves art but her parents think her passion is useless. Jack loves his rural school but the state has threatened to shut it down. Vincent loves puffins and geometry but his classmates ostracize and bully him for his differences. T is nonbinary but their relatives want to "fix" them so they've decided to live on the streets. All four kids are facing serious difficulties. But when Libby decides to illustrate index cards with positive phrases and place them in random places around her town, her impact will be greater than she could ever have imagined.

This book is tender. Ann Braden has a gift for giving readers four different perspectives that all sound like completely different characters. Furthermore, those characters have hopes, dreams, and motivations that feel real and made me care about each child's success. While the book felt a little bit too serendipitous in some spots, its ending was so nice that I couldn't complain. Although not quite as exceptional as Because of Mr. Terupt—another feel-good, contemporary, multiple-perspective novel about middle-graders—Flight of the Puffin was a book I would be happy to recommend to kids looking for an uplifting modern novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Paulsen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This will be the first book I recommend to teachers who are looking for a new read aloud to replace Wonder. A relevant and timely story about kindness.

Libby, Vincent, Jack and T - four seemingly unconnected kids who are about to impact one another's lives in big ways. Told from four different perspectives, this middle grade novel touches on issues of verbal abuse, life in rural America, bullying, grief, and transgender rights. The characters feel authentic, and readers will love going on a journey with them to see how they end up being connected.

I heard so much about this book on Twitter that I was thrilled when I finally got it up to the top of my TBR. I feel like many kids will be able to identify with Jack, Vincent, T, and Libby's situations. I feel like you could make this novel into a great social justice unit study.

"It takes courage to see things in a new way. And it takes even more courage to speak up and help others to see it too."

This inspiring middle grade novel explores themes of bullying and how one act of kindness can change the lives of many others. It follows four kids with very different lives: Libby, a creative soul who is bullied by her parents and brother. Vincent, a kid who doesn't know how to fit in and doesn't think he wants to. Jack, who in his quest to save his small town school might end up becoming a bully himself. And T, a homeless non-binary kid who just wants to be themself.

I wasn't sure what I'd think of this book going in but picked it up because I heard it was a middle grade with non-binary rep and, as a non-binary trans reviewer, I want more middle grades with trans representation. Overall I did enjoy it. Perhaps if I read this when I was a child or teen it would become one of my favourite books.

This book is about the importance of being kind and standing up to bullies. It's also about how you never know what is going on inside of somebody's mind and heart. It is a great book for middle grade readers and can act as an introduction to the idea of transgender and non-binary people for kids.

Content Warnings: transphobia, unintentional misgendering, bullying, emotional abuse, child death, grief

What starts off as a story told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Libby, Jack, Vincent, and T, four seemingly unconnected kids, ends up as so much more. Little does Libby realize that her small act of kindness and support will have a significant impact on each of their lives. As the story unfolds, readers learn more about each of the four complex characters and how they look to find acceptance and their place in the world. This one is great for any reader who needs a reminder about how powerful kindness is.

I loved this story for many reasons, but I also have caveats. I think I wouldn't have minded as a child, but as a grownup some of the storylines in here hurt. Specifically, how a lot of the parents are interacting with their kids. There's a lot of trauma within and I legitimately had nightmares about my parents from it. I had to take a break.
But it's a good story that I really enjoyed. It's just very realistic fiction.

Flight of the Puffin is the second middle grade novel by Ann Braden, and like Braden's debut novel, we again see lessons drawn from the animal world.

The story is told in alternating chapters as we witness four children navigating what it is to be present in the world, to belong, to make an impact. Each feels excluded in some capacity, whether through parents who can't accept them as they are or through peers being unkind when the child doesn't fit in.

While being invisible is an option, it's an empty option. This book resonates with themes of courage and friendship, with how our differences can be empowering, with gained empathy and insight leading to stronger relationships.

The postcards present within these pages, which play a key role in bringing together strangers, were inspired by Braden's work with the Local Love Brigade, a volunteer movement to send encouraging mail to those who end up in the public eye and need a boost. It makes one consider how sending out affirmations into the world and hoping they land well could be a morale booster (and a natural classroom exercise to complement a reading of this book). 

I find myself more impacted by her earlier book, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, but after a slower start, I was curious in how Braden would tie these disparate storylines together, if at all.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

In this book there is Vincent, who is bullied at school; Libby, who faces bullies at home and at school; T and their dog, who are homeless; and Jack, who is struggling to cope with the death of his little brother while stopping the state from closing his one room schoolhouse. When she hears Vincent is being bullied, Libby sends him a homemade postcard. Her small act of kindness sets off a chain of events.

This tender story of kindness, friendship, and acceptance will stick with me for a long time. I’m so happy that this story will soon be out in the world, especially as so much legislation is being introduced around the U.S. that unfairly targets trans youth and would prevent them from being their true selves. I’m confident fans of Benefits of Being an Octopus and Too Bright to See will love this one.