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Flying the Dragon
American-born Skye knows very little of her Japanese heritage. Her father taught her to speak the language, but when their estranged Japanese family, including Skye's grandfather, suddenly move to the United States, Skye must be prepared to give up her All-Star soccer dreams to take Japanese lessons and to help her cousin, Hiroshi adapt to a new school. Hiroshi, likewise, must give up his home and his hopes of winning the rokkaku kite-fighting championship with Grandfather. Faced with language barriers, culture clashes and cousin rivalry, Skye and Hiroshi have a rocky start. But a greater shared loss brings them together. They learn to communicate, not only through language, but through a common heritage and sense of family honor. At the rokkaku contest at the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival, Hiroshi and Skye must work as a team in order to compete with the best.
233 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
March 18, 2017
The story definitely reads, to me, like an earnestly educational debut. So much is missing, especially, as Jane from Children's Books say, plausible character development. Too much character behavior is forced for the sake of plot. But at the same time the book did manage to charm me; I especially enjoyed learning about little details of Japanese culture, the ESL experience, etc. I read it in one night and I thank you for encouraging me to pick it up.
I do advise everyone to find a video of rokkaku fighting, or at least an image of the kite style used. It's not at all what I understood from the descriptions.
I do advise everyone to find a video of rokkaku fighting, or at least an image of the kite style used. It's not at all what I understood from the descriptions.
July 26, 2012
I finished this book reading through tears, completely blown-away by the sweet, sweet, bittersweet ending. Gloriously, beautifully written, with vibrant, human characters. Real characters, kids you'd want to know. Just wonderful.
There's a moment in the book where my heart just ached for Hiroshi and Skye and their triumph in the face of adversity is a wonder to be a part of.
All that and action-packed kite fighting scenes!
Simply glorious.
There's a moment in the book where my heart just ached for Hiroshi and Skye and their triumph in the face of adversity is a wonder to be a part of.
All that and action-packed kite fighting scenes!
Simply glorious.
June 12, 2012
Every time the characters in this book had a meal, I got hungry for Japanese food--to the point where I actually ran down to the Asian grocery store for ingredients and made myself some yakisoba. =)
More seriously, this was a lovely, sweet read about the challenges of trying to live between two cultures. The two main characters, Japanese Hiroshi and his American cousin Skye, were so easy to connect to; you could really feel their frustration as they tried to learn each others' languages and as Hiroshi struggled to adapt to life in America. The author did a terrific job of making the most mundane American actions--like eating spaghetti with a fork, or calling a teacher by her last name--feel foreign to Hiroshi. And when Hiroshi shows up at school wearing a face mask because he has a cold, Skye's mortification for her cousin is almost palpable.
Clearly, I loved many little moments in this book and look forward to its release so that others can enjoy it, too!
More seriously, this was a lovely, sweet read about the challenges of trying to live between two cultures. The two main characters, Japanese Hiroshi and his American cousin Skye, were so easy to connect to; you could really feel their frustration as they tried to learn each others' languages and as Hiroshi struggled to adapt to life in America. The author did a terrific job of making the most mundane American actions--like eating spaghetti with a fork, or calling a teacher by her last name--feel foreign to Hiroshi. And when Hiroshi shows up at school wearing a face mask because he has a cold, Skye's mortification for her cousin is almost palpable.
Clearly, I loved many little moments in this book and look forward to its release so that others can enjoy it, too!
February 8, 2023
Fifth-grader Skye is an ordinary American girl. She's just made the All-Star soccer team after a stellar season. She can't wait to get out and play. Then her dad suddenly starts speaking Japanese- in public. How embarrassing! Skye is confused as to why her dad is suddenly speaking his native language. She never thought much about him being Japanese before. Why is he so interested in his heritage all of a sudden? Skye's parents then drop a bombshell on her. Her family from Japan is coming to stay! A grandfather she's never met is ill and needs treatment and coming with Skye's uncle, aunt and worse- a cousin she's expected to befriend and help out. Hiroshi loves making and flying traditional bamboo and washi kites with his beloved grandfather. It's their special thing and gives Hiroshi a connection to his grandfather. They are preparing their dragon kite for the upcoming rokkaku kite battle and Hiroshi knows they have a good shot at winning. With Grandfather by his side flying the kite, all will be well. Grandfather thinks Hiroshi is ready to fly the kite on his own but Hiroshi isn't so sure. There's plenty of time for that. Except, there isn't. His parents promptly inform him they're moving to the United States. Immediately. Hirsohi is worried about his grandfather, sure but all will be well soon. Why do they ALL have to go to America? In America everything is different. His cousin, Sorano, is an impulsive girl who intrudes on his special time with Grandfather. In school he's placed in an ESL class for babies and teased. Skye is teased too and she hates it. She hates that her parents are forcing her to attend Japanese school to become proficient in the language. She hates that this extra school will make her miss All-Star soccer- UNLESS she can pass the exams with very high marks in order to take afternoon advanced Japanese classes. Skye is determined to make that team! Then she gets to know Grandfather, kind and patient, and learn about kites. The more she gets to know Grandfather, the harder she wants to work. She feels conflicted and confused about her identity now. Is she American or Japanese or both?
This book is a little dated. It's not Own Voices and written before the We Need Diverse Books movement started. It's dated because there's no mention of the internet/YouTube or anything modern tweens might actually know and be into. Modern tweens love J-Pop, anime and manga. They can learn new languages on their phones or have Siri/Google translate. I would have expected at least one of Skye and Hiroshi's classmates to be like "OMG! You're from Japan! Do you go to Nintendo World every day? Does your dad work for Nintendo?" Likewise, Japanese kids watch American TV and follow American celebrities on social media and eat western food. Many Japanese people sleep on beds and live in high rise apartments just like American kids.
Modern day tweens don't have grandparents who lived through WWII and that part of the novel might be confusing for kids reading it today. MY generation's grandparents lived through WWII and were affected by it. There was apparently a lot of anti-Japanese sentiment even in the 1990s. By the late 2000s, I saw far more Asians and adoption of Asian pop culture around with college students and now every kid holds up two fingers for pictures instead of saying "cheese!" I'm sure modern kids like Skye and Hiroshi can relate to the story but for others, they may not understand some of the finer details or the history of Japanese and American relations.
Sign of the times: The book also shows its age (2012) when Hiroshi gets a cold and wears a mask to school. The kids are confused and make fun of him. If only they knew! Of course this story takes place in Virginia so mask bullying would probably take place even 10 years later and there would might be more racial bullying. I'd like to think that living outside of Washington, DC these kids would be more used to foreigners but I guess not.
I understand the point the author was trying to make about identity but it felt too forced, like what my grandmother calls "A Sunday School lesson".
Skye is not a very likable character at first. She's selfish and whiny. She is totally uninterested in her dad's heritage and the whole family she's never met. There was some estrangement there and she doesn't know what it is or care. Skye is embarrassed and unhappy by her dad's sudden switch to embracing his culture. Other kids make fun of her so her feelings are understandable and relatable. Then she meets Hiroshi and she is even more embarrassed by the bullying. A kid named Kevin keeps insisting Hiroshi is Skye's Chinese boyfriend. Um ok.... She struggles to fit in in Japanese school because most of the kids are immigrants who came within the last few years. They're also younger and work harder. Who knew the Japanese language had different ways of counting different things? I certainly didn't and my family has many Japanese friends, my dad and brother took Japanese lessons and I had Japanese roommates in college! I knew how to count to five and apparently you can count money like that but not small animals, and you can't count rabbits and birds like small animals either! No wonder Skye is struggling!
Grandfather, who should properly be called Ojīsan, is wise, kind and patient. He's a kind man with a soft heart who loved his wife so much, he sided with her at risk of alienating his oldest son, Skye's dad. (Issei = first son? It usually means first generation to immigrate to America so maybe that's why they call Skye's dad Issei?) He held on to a grudge for far too long and it was almost too late to make amends. He sees his grandchildren as a way of uniting the two branches of the family and carrying on his legacy, without ever explicitly stating it. He teaches Hiroshi so Hiroshi can teach Sorano and learn about her family and their culture. He helps Skye learn to fly kites to create memories and to help her understand where she comes from and connect to her past. He's very sweet. He's also very stubborn and determined to live life on his own terms. I like him a lot.
I do not like Hiroshi. He's also selfish and unfriendly. He hates everything about America and resents Skye intruding on his time with his grandfather. More understandable is his loathing of the baby books he's forced to read in ESL. He's in 5th grade and can read English quite well. Yet, I think the teacher is thinking, like Skye, he needs to become more proficient in the grammar first before he can move on to bigger books. Being a boy, he's not enthusiastic about hanging out with a girl cousin either. Everything is different and he doesn't try to adjust. All he wants to do is make and fly kites with Grandfather - alone.
I loved the kite parts of the story. That was fascinating. I went to college and lived in Washington, DC. I remember seeing the kites on the National Mall by the Washington Monument. I did not know there was a Japanese kite battle. The cherry blossom festival was always too early in the year when it was raining and cold. And/or I had to study or work. I never got to go but I did see the trees up close and people DO sit under them. They prefer the sun though.
TL;DR
A predictable heartwarming story about identity and families with some Japanese lessons and cool kites.
Challenged in Duval County Florida Public Schools
This book is a little dated. It's not Own Voices and written before the We Need Diverse Books movement started. It's dated because there's no mention of the internet/YouTube or anything modern tweens might actually know and be into. Modern tweens love J-Pop, anime and manga. They can learn new languages on their phones or have Siri/Google translate. I would have expected at least one of Skye and Hiroshi's classmates to be like "OMG! You're from Japan! Do you go to Nintendo World every day? Does your dad work for Nintendo?" Likewise, Japanese kids watch American TV and follow American celebrities on social media and eat western food. Many Japanese people sleep on beds and live in high rise apartments just like American kids.
Modern day tweens don't have grandparents who lived through WWII and that part of the novel might be confusing for kids reading it today. MY generation's grandparents lived through WWII and were affected by it. There was apparently a lot of anti-Japanese sentiment even in the 1990s. By the late 2000s, I saw far more Asians and adoption of Asian pop culture around with college students and now every kid holds up two fingers for pictures instead of saying "cheese!" I'm sure modern kids like Skye and Hiroshi can relate to the story but for others, they may not understand some of the finer details or the history of Japanese and American relations.
Sign of the times: The book also shows its age (2012) when Hiroshi gets a cold and wears a mask to school. The kids are confused and make fun of him. If only they knew! Of course this story takes place in Virginia so mask bullying would probably take place even 10 years later and there would might be more racial bullying. I'd like to think that living outside of Washington, DC these kids would be more used to foreigners but I guess not.
I understand the point the author was trying to make about identity but it felt too forced, like what my grandmother calls "A Sunday School lesson".
Skye is not a very likable character at first. She's selfish and whiny. She is totally uninterested in her dad's heritage and the whole family she's never met. There was some estrangement there and she doesn't know what it is or care. Skye is embarrassed and unhappy by her dad's sudden switch to embracing his culture. Other kids make fun of her so her feelings are understandable and relatable. Then she meets Hiroshi and she is even more embarrassed by the bullying. A kid named Kevin keeps insisting Hiroshi is Skye's Chinese boyfriend. Um ok.... She struggles to fit in in Japanese school because most of the kids are immigrants who came within the last few years. They're also younger and work harder. Who knew the Japanese language had different ways of counting different things? I certainly didn't and my family has many Japanese friends, my dad and brother took Japanese lessons and I had Japanese roommates in college! I knew how to count to five and apparently you can count money like that but not small animals, and you can't count rabbits and birds like small animals either! No wonder Skye is struggling!
Grandfather, who should properly be called Ojīsan, is wise, kind and patient. He's a kind man with a soft heart who loved his wife so much, he sided with her at risk of alienating his oldest son, Skye's dad. (Issei = first son? It usually means first generation to immigrate to America so maybe that's why they call Skye's dad Issei?) He held on to a grudge for far too long and it was almost too late to make amends. He sees his grandchildren as a way of uniting the two branches of the family and carrying on his legacy, without ever explicitly stating it. He teaches Hiroshi so Hiroshi can teach Sorano and learn about her family and their culture. He helps Skye learn to fly kites to create memories and to help her understand where she comes from and connect to her past. He's very sweet. He's also very stubborn and determined to live life on his own terms. I like him a lot.
I do not like Hiroshi. He's also selfish and unfriendly. He hates everything about America and resents Skye intruding on his time with his grandfather. More understandable is his loathing of the baby books he's forced to read in ESL. He's in 5th grade and can read English quite well. Yet, I think the teacher is thinking, like Skye, he needs to become more proficient in the grammar first before he can move on to bigger books. Being a boy, he's not enthusiastic about hanging out with a girl cousin either. Everything is different and he doesn't try to adjust. All he wants to do is make and fly kites with Grandfather - alone.
I loved the kite parts of the story. That was fascinating. I went to college and lived in Washington, DC. I remember seeing the kites on the National Mall by the Washington Monument. I did not know there was a Japanese kite battle. The cherry blossom festival was always too early in the year when it was raining and cold. And/or I had to study or work. I never got to go but I did see the trees up close and people DO sit under them. They prefer the sun though.
TL;DR
A predictable heartwarming story about identity and families with some Japanese lessons and cool kites.
Challenged in Duval County Florida Public Schools
July 3, 2012
Skye and Hiroshi Tsuki are cousins but they've never meet. Skye lives in the United States with her parents and loves to play soccer. Hiroshi lives in Japan with his parents and grandfather, and loves flying kites. After Skye's father married,he moved to the States, and has never been back to Japan. Skye is finally going to meet her grandfather because he's moving to Virginia to for medical treatment. Hiroshi and his parents are moving as well.
The chapters alternate between the two cousins. The author does an excellent job, transitioning from Skye to Hiroshi. The two have very distinct voices and concerns. Skye has been selected for the soccer all star team for the first time, though there's a conflict with the Japanese lessons and she might not be able to play. Hiroshi is having a difficult time adjusting to the move and learning English. One thing the two have in common is their grandfather. Hirsohi has always been very close to his grandfather. Skye feels an instant bond with his grandfather and wants to get to know him better.
Some of best scenes center around kite flying/ kite fighting, both of which run through Tsuki's blood, including Skye's even though she never touched a kite until she meets her cousin and grandfather. Many of the readers who pick up this book will be unfamiliar Kokkaku, or Japanese fighting kites and explanations could've easy bogged down the storyline. However the author gives the reader, clear, fun and visually appealing basic understanding of Kokkaku. Flying the Dragon is a very fitting title for this great debut.
The chapters alternate between the two cousins. The author does an excellent job, transitioning from Skye to Hiroshi. The two have very distinct voices and concerns. Skye has been selected for the soccer all star team for the first time, though there's a conflict with the Japanese lessons and she might not be able to play. Hiroshi is having a difficult time adjusting to the move and learning English. One thing the two have in common is their grandfather. Hirsohi has always been very close to his grandfather. Skye feels an instant bond with his grandfather and wants to get to know him better.
Some of best scenes center around kite flying/ kite fighting, both of which run through Tsuki's blood, including Skye's even though she never touched a kite until she meets her cousin and grandfather. Many of the readers who pick up this book will be unfamiliar Kokkaku, or Japanese fighting kites and explanations could've easy bogged down the storyline. However the author gives the reader, clear, fun and visually appealing basic understanding of Kokkaku. Flying the Dragon is a very fitting title for this great debut.
June 5, 2012
This story is chock-full of endearing characters. It's a funny and moving portrayal of what happens when one family, of two cultures, comes together. My heart went out to Hiroshi, who deals with feelings of alienation and confusion when his family moves from Japan to the American suburbs in the middle of the school year. His relationship with his American cousin, Skye, rings true with misunderstandings and rivalry. Told from both Skye's and Hiroshi's points of view, I cheered on both kids as they made their way toward dealing with a difficult situation. Truly a delightful read.
And if any reader, adult or child, comes away from this book without a strong desire to give kite-battles a try, I'd be surprised.
And if any reader, adult or child, comes away from this book without a strong desire to give kite-battles a try, I'd be surprised.
July 19, 2016
One Sentence Review: Though the cover does it no favors, Lorenzi has penned a smart, tight little novel about pride, prejudice, false expectations, and learning to accept differences, all with apparent effortless ease.
December 13, 2019
Super amazing book! I love the way it shows both points of perspective, switching each chapter. Definitely one of my favorites!
June 25, 2012
THREE WORDS: Moving, Smart, Thought-Provoking
MY REVIEW: Natalie Dias Lorenzi’s Flying the Dragon was such an unexpected treat. This middle grade novel captivated me from beginning to end and touched me deeply.
Different worlds collide when two cousins from different countries learn to work together and just maybe learn from one another. American born and raised Skye knows very little of her Japanese heritage and Japanese born and raised Hiroshi knows very little about American culture. But when Hiroshi, his parents and grandfather move to the US, both Skye and Hiroshi experience culture shock. Skye is forced to go to Japanese lessons and may miss out on playing on the coveted All-Star soccer team, while Hiroshi must miss his long awaited chance to compete in the rokkaka kite fighting contest. But when tragedy strikes and the two kids have a chance to compete in a rokkaka event in Washington the two must band together.
Lorenzi’s contemporary MG read is a wonderfully written exploration of family, love, tradition and growing up. Full of insightful life lessons, lovely characters and profound moments, this book easily held my attention and left me thoughtful.
This is a quick, yet very engaging read. Lorenzi has created a layered and smart story. The author has clearly spent a great deal of time researching the Japanese culture and language and this shines through throughout the book. I didn’t just enjoy reading about Skye and Hiroshi, I also greatly enjoyed reading about the Japanese culture. Younger readers will definitely learn a great deal (and not even realize it!) and hopefully walk away with a fascination for new cultures.
The experiences of both Skye and Hiroshi have been crafted with great care and their stories have been brought to life so beautifully through Lorenzi’s words. From the language barriers to extreme cultural clashes and sometimes hurtful cousin rivalry, there’s a very honest and realistic quality to their relationship. Lorenzi does a great job of exploring Hiroshi’s difficult and overwhelming experience of being plopped into a whole new cultural environment, while Skye’s own confusing journey toward discovering how to be both American, soccer playing Skye and proud Japanese Sorano is very thought-provoking and relatable.
Lorenzi also does a superb job of laying out very vivid settings. Some of my favorite scenes are the kite flying scenes in the park and the exciting rokkaka competition. And speaking of the rokkaka contest, I didn’t even know this was a real thing, but now I have such a desire to build and fly my own kite!
Both Skye and Hiroshi are likable and relatable young characters. Despite their differences, these cousins both have such witty, determined and compassionate personalities. I really loved getting to know them as individuals and as a team. I greatly enjoyed watching their friendship grow and watching them overcome so many obstacles. They’re both such inspiring characters!
Because this is a contemporary, the story can move a little slow and lacks any big thrills, but I think older MG readers will easily fall into Skye and Hiroshi’s story and quickly become attached to these two characters (like I did!).
FINAL THOUGHTS: Smartly and thoughtfully written, Flying the Dragon is a wonderful read that will inspire and captivate readers! This is would make an awesome read aloud book for parents and children to share.
MY REVIEW: Natalie Dias Lorenzi’s Flying the Dragon was such an unexpected treat. This middle grade novel captivated me from beginning to end and touched me deeply.
Different worlds collide when two cousins from different countries learn to work together and just maybe learn from one another. American born and raised Skye knows very little of her Japanese heritage and Japanese born and raised Hiroshi knows very little about American culture. But when Hiroshi, his parents and grandfather move to the US, both Skye and Hiroshi experience culture shock. Skye is forced to go to Japanese lessons and may miss out on playing on the coveted All-Star soccer team, while Hiroshi must miss his long awaited chance to compete in the rokkaka kite fighting contest. But when tragedy strikes and the two kids have a chance to compete in a rokkaka event in Washington the two must band together.
Lorenzi’s contemporary MG read is a wonderfully written exploration of family, love, tradition and growing up. Full of insightful life lessons, lovely characters and profound moments, this book easily held my attention and left me thoughtful.
This is a quick, yet very engaging read. Lorenzi has created a layered and smart story. The author has clearly spent a great deal of time researching the Japanese culture and language and this shines through throughout the book. I didn’t just enjoy reading about Skye and Hiroshi, I also greatly enjoyed reading about the Japanese culture. Younger readers will definitely learn a great deal (and not even realize it!) and hopefully walk away with a fascination for new cultures.
The experiences of both Skye and Hiroshi have been crafted with great care and their stories have been brought to life so beautifully through Lorenzi’s words. From the language barriers to extreme cultural clashes and sometimes hurtful cousin rivalry, there’s a very honest and realistic quality to their relationship. Lorenzi does a great job of exploring Hiroshi’s difficult and overwhelming experience of being plopped into a whole new cultural environment, while Skye’s own confusing journey toward discovering how to be both American, soccer playing Skye and proud Japanese Sorano is very thought-provoking and relatable.
Lorenzi also does a superb job of laying out very vivid settings. Some of my favorite scenes are the kite flying scenes in the park and the exciting rokkaka competition. And speaking of the rokkaka contest, I didn’t even know this was a real thing, but now I have such a desire to build and fly my own kite!
Both Skye and Hiroshi are likable and relatable young characters. Despite their differences, these cousins both have such witty, determined and compassionate personalities. I really loved getting to know them as individuals and as a team. I greatly enjoyed watching their friendship grow and watching them overcome so many obstacles. They’re both such inspiring characters!
Because this is a contemporary, the story can move a little slow and lacks any big thrills, but I think older MG readers will easily fall into Skye and Hiroshi’s story and quickly become attached to these two characters (like I did!).
FINAL THOUGHTS: Smartly and thoughtfully written, Flying the Dragon is a wonderful read that will inspire and captivate readers! This is would make an awesome read aloud book for parents and children to share.
July 10, 2012
Skye has never met her grandfather. She's never met her aunt, uncle, and cousin Hiroshi either. But when her grandfather gets sick, all four of her relatives move to Skye's town from Japan for Grandfather's course of treatment. While Hiroshi and his family don't live with Skye, he still intrudes into her life far more than she would like. She's forced to be his translator in school, which causes some of the other kids to make fun of her; her father is suddenly embracing his Japanese heritage, throwing out foreign phrases in front of her friends and cooking new foods; Hiroshi is hogging the attention of her Grandfather, who she is finally getting a relationship with for the first time; and, worst of all, she is now required to pass an intensive Japanese test if she wants to be able to play on the all-star soccer team. Hiroshi, on the other hand, has to deal with fitting into both a new school and a new country, figuring out the nuances and slang of the English language, and coming to terms with the fact that his beloved grandfather--and best friend--is gravely ill. His grandfather, the man who taught him everything he knows about rokkaku, Japanese kite flying/fighting, the hobby that Skye seems to be trying to horn in on, just as Hiroshi is trying to prepare for the rokkaku battle at the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival.
Flying the Dragon was a lovely middle grade novel that tackles cross-cultural conflict between family members who gradually also become friends. The novel alternates chapters between Skye's and Hiroshi's perspectives, and each character is developed enough that the duel narratives each have their own unique voice. Usually when I read a novel with multiple perspectives, I immediately gravitate towards one narrative, breezing through the other sections until I return to my 'favorite.' Not so with Flying the Dragon, as Hiroshi and Skye's struggles were both compelling, their personalities both entrancing. In different ways, the two both feel caught between cultures: Skye not sure whether she should accept her Japanese side (years ago she rejected her given name, Sorano), and Hiroshi not sure whether he can ever feel comfortable in America, where people don't eat rice for breakfast, teachers are called by their last name, and people don't sleep in mats on the bedroom floor.
It was definitely refreshing to read a book that concentrated on the family bond, rather than on the friend bond. While the worlds of most middle grade students do revolve around their friends, and much of middle grade literature reflects this, the family relationship is just as important to many kids. The back story of Skye's father's break with his family was touched upon but not stressed, a fact which I liked, as it did not take the focus away from the children's struggles. And the bond between Hiroshi and his Grandfather was absolutely wonderful to behold. I really enjoyed this sweet, heartwarming read.
Flying the Dragon was a lovely middle grade novel that tackles cross-cultural conflict between family members who gradually also become friends. The novel alternates chapters between Skye's and Hiroshi's perspectives, and each character is developed enough that the duel narratives each have their own unique voice. Usually when I read a novel with multiple perspectives, I immediately gravitate towards one narrative, breezing through the other sections until I return to my 'favorite.' Not so with Flying the Dragon, as Hiroshi and Skye's struggles were both compelling, their personalities both entrancing. In different ways, the two both feel caught between cultures: Skye not sure whether she should accept her Japanese side (years ago she rejected her given name, Sorano), and Hiroshi not sure whether he can ever feel comfortable in America, where people don't eat rice for breakfast, teachers are called by their last name, and people don't sleep in mats on the bedroom floor.
It was definitely refreshing to read a book that concentrated on the family bond, rather than on the friend bond. While the worlds of most middle grade students do revolve around their friends, and much of middle grade literature reflects this, the family relationship is just as important to many kids. The back story of Skye's father's break with his family was touched upon but not stressed, a fact which I liked, as it did not take the focus away from the children's struggles. And the bond between Hiroshi and his Grandfather was absolutely wonderful to behold. I really enjoyed this sweet, heartwarming read.
June 18, 2018
This book is mostly about two cousins getting along with each other and learning their no found languages. Skye and Hiroshi are cousins but they have never seen each other until Hiroshi's grandfather became diagnosed with cancer and had to move to America. Unfortunately Hiroshi will miss his kite battle which he practiced a lot with his grandfather. So now Hiroshi with his parents and grandfather will move to America. Skye later finds this out and doesn't become to happy since she misses her big soccer game having to take a Japanese language class. Later Hiroshi also has to learn English, get along with everyone else in school and finally has to share his kite with Skye. Soon both Hiroshi and Skye don't like each other at all, but they both teach English and Japanese to each other. While this was going on grandfather's cancer has begun to spread and now there is no cure for him. He shortly passes away leaving all of the family members upset.
I enjoyed this book to a good extent but there are a few flaws that I don't agree with or just don't like in general. The first is that, this book has too much drama and arguing. Chapter 5-9 in general mostly target the cousins arguing about why they dislike each other and ignore the story a bit. That can easily make readers feel bored after a certain period of time. Another thing that I dislike is that they take racism in a great extent. On chapter 9 paragraph 1 the kids describe racist acts toward Hiroshi. Even though this is a book and this can't be a big deal to anyone else, readers can take this offensive.
Even though this book has some downsides, it also has some amazing elements in it. When the grandpa passed away it didn't just make the characters in the story emotional but it had an impact on the readers since we get to see all the events that took place with the character and when a character that's built like that is gone it can be upsetting. I think this is great because not that many books can have an affect like that to the readers. Another good thing about the book that I enjoyed is how the character development is made. If we can compare the characters from the beginning to the end you can see a huge difference. This was made in particular with Skye, for example at the start Skye disliked mostly everything that had to do with her family and then she slowly understood the history and the past and started to be respectful to her family tradition and to Hiroshi.
In the end I enjoyed the book. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys drama and the realistic fiction genre.
I enjoyed this book to a good extent but there are a few flaws that I don't agree with or just don't like in general. The first is that, this book has too much drama and arguing. Chapter 5-9 in general mostly target the cousins arguing about why they dislike each other and ignore the story a bit. That can easily make readers feel bored after a certain period of time. Another thing that I dislike is that they take racism in a great extent. On chapter 9 paragraph 1 the kids describe racist acts toward Hiroshi. Even though this is a book and this can't be a big deal to anyone else, readers can take this offensive.
Even though this book has some downsides, it also has some amazing elements in it. When the grandpa passed away it didn't just make the characters in the story emotional but it had an impact on the readers since we get to see all the events that took place with the character and when a character that's built like that is gone it can be upsetting. I think this is great because not that many books can have an affect like that to the readers. Another good thing about the book that I enjoyed is how the character development is made. If we can compare the characters from the beginning to the end you can see a huge difference. This was made in particular with Skye, for example at the start Skye disliked mostly everything that had to do with her family and then she slowly understood the history and the past and started to be respectful to her family tradition and to Hiroshi.
In the end I enjoyed the book. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys drama and the realistic fiction genre.
August 29, 2012
Fifth grader cousins Skye (born Sorano) and Hiroshi Tsuki have never met until now since Skye lives with her Japanese father and American mother in Virginia, and Hiroshi lives with his family in Japan. When Hiroshi's familiy moves to the United States so his grandfather can undergo treatment for cancer, the youngsters have nothing in common except a love for the elderly man who is a skilled artist and kite builder. But even that love causes problems since Hiroshi resents sharing his grandfather with Skye. Skye is resentful at being forced to attend school on Saturday in order to speak and write Japanese so that she can communicate better with her relatives, and Hiroshi is completely at sea in his classroom where his classmates make fun of his language and some of his actions. Although Skye resents being asked to translate for her cousin, she also tries to provide English tips about slang so that he can fit in more easily. The author does a wonderful job of describing the resentment and insecurities that fill both Skye and Hiroshi. The fact that both of them are somewhat lost when it comes to learning a new language provides interesting parallels for their experiences. I felt as though I were sitting in the same classroom with the two because of the vivid descriptions. When Skye reflects on how she chose to change her name, I thought about how unnecessarily cruel children--and adults--can be about the things they don't know or understand. While I liked all of these elements, I was particularly touched by the passages in which Grandfather tried to bring the two youngsters together by having them share their interests in the beautiful dragon kite they were flying. His approach to life--and death--are surely admirable, reminding his grandson that hearts matter more than objects. While I don't necessarily buy Skye's quick acquisition of her father's native tongue once she is motivated, I did love the fact that she embraces parts of her culture wholeheartedly. The changes in both Skye and Hiroshi are believable, reminding me that anyone can change for the better. This is an impressive authorial debut.
June 18, 2018
Flying the dragon was written by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
The book was written in two different perspectives, Skye, a girl who lives in Virginia who loves soccer and Hiroshi who lives in Japan who loves flying kites.
This book describes how Hiroshi moves to America because his grandpa is sick and requires treatment only available in America. Due to Hiroshi moving to America, Skye, his cousin, doesn't get to play on the all-star soccer team because she has to take Japanese classes. Unless she passes the test and moves on to advanced classes, she will not get to play on the all-star team. However, Hiroshi is also missing out on something since he's moving to America. He has to miss out on the Rokkaku Battle.
The author talks about family relationships and hardships throughout the story. Hiroshi wants to keep grandpa to himself but Skye also wants to spend time with her grandpa too. After a while Hiroshi finds out from his teacher that there is a kite festival in Washington D.C. where it features a Rokkaku Battle. He immediately runs home to tell grandfather, but Hiroshi's dad has a serious talk about grandpa with Hiroshi. His father tells him “we met with his doctors today.” Hiroshi mouth went dry. Father ran through his hair. ‘They’re not going to continue with the treatment, Hiroshi.’ “ Hiroshi was shocked at what he heard. He went upstairs to see grandpa and told him about the kite festival. Grandpa made Hiroshi promise to him “Promise me you’ll enter, even if I’m not by your side”
Later on Skye was at the hospital with Hiroshi looking at grandpa on the bed. Grandpa told Hiroshi to tell Skye about the kite festival, and had Skye promise that she will go in place of him(grandpa).
At the Kite festival, Skye and Hiroshi ultimately won. but it was not easy as the duo encountered many obstacles including people cheating.
Unfortunately Hiroshi's grandfather was prophetic as he passed away and did not see his grandchildren win the kite festival. .
All in all it was a great book. I would highly recommend this story to anyone that enjoys reading about complex family relationships.
The book was written in two different perspectives, Skye, a girl who lives in Virginia who loves soccer and Hiroshi who lives in Japan who loves flying kites.
This book describes how Hiroshi moves to America because his grandpa is sick and requires treatment only available in America. Due to Hiroshi moving to America, Skye, his cousin, doesn't get to play on the all-star soccer team because she has to take Japanese classes. Unless she passes the test and moves on to advanced classes, she will not get to play on the all-star team. However, Hiroshi is also missing out on something since he's moving to America. He has to miss out on the Rokkaku Battle.
The author talks about family relationships and hardships throughout the story. Hiroshi wants to keep grandpa to himself but Skye also wants to spend time with her grandpa too. After a while Hiroshi finds out from his teacher that there is a kite festival in Washington D.C. where it features a Rokkaku Battle. He immediately runs home to tell grandfather, but Hiroshi's dad has a serious talk about grandpa with Hiroshi. His father tells him “we met with his doctors today.” Hiroshi mouth went dry. Father ran through his hair. ‘They’re not going to continue with the treatment, Hiroshi.’ “ Hiroshi was shocked at what he heard. He went upstairs to see grandpa and told him about the kite festival. Grandpa made Hiroshi promise to him “Promise me you’ll enter, even if I’m not by your side”
Later on Skye was at the hospital with Hiroshi looking at grandpa on the bed. Grandpa told Hiroshi to tell Skye about the kite festival, and had Skye promise that she will go in place of him(grandpa).
At the Kite festival, Skye and Hiroshi ultimately won. but it was not easy as the duo encountered many obstacles including people cheating.
Unfortunately Hiroshi's grandfather was prophetic as he passed away and did not see his grandchildren win the kite festival. .
All in all it was a great book. I would highly recommend this story to anyone that enjoys reading about complex family relationships.
November 19, 2018
Book level: 4.1
Lexile: 610
Fountas and Pinnell: U
Book summary: A Japanese girl who lived most of her life in the U.S. (Skye) learns that her cousin Hiroshi and his family are moving to Virginia from Japan. Their cultural differences make for a rocky start to their relationship, can flying a dragon kite bring them together?
Genre: Multicultural. This book accurately portrays customs of the Japanese culture and the sorts of cultural conflicts that might happen between someone raised in the American culture and someone who is raised in a traditional Japanese culture.
Mentor writing trait:
Voice - each chapter of this book is told from either Skye's perspective or Hiroshi's perspective and along the same timeline so you are literally seeing both sides of this story. This is a unique but very effective way to tell this story (in two narratives of the same events). Below is an example of the two different perspectives on one event (Hiroshi and his family moving to the US)
Skye's reaction: "All these years knowing nothing about her Japanese relatives, and now they were coming here. Here?"
Hiroshi's reaction: "How can we move to America? Everything is here."
Classroom integration/mini-lesson/Content connections:
This book could be used as a mentor text for voice and using two voices in a text. Students can explore different perspectives in Flying the Dragon by writing poems, narratives, or comics for two voices that compare and contrast the experiences or points of view of any two characters in the book, event the dragon kite.
I found the follow lesson idea and really liked it. To help students to connect more with characters in this book, have a teacher or parent who speaks a language other than English, invite him or her to the classroom to teach a 5-10 minute lesson that includes asking students questions or encouraging participation—no English allowed! Have students reflect afterwards on how they felt during the lesson. Did they enjoy any aspects of the lesson? Which part was the most stressful for them? How does this activity help foster empathy for Hiroshi, Skye, and other new language learners?
Lexile: 610
Fountas and Pinnell: U
Book summary: A Japanese girl who lived most of her life in the U.S. (Skye) learns that her cousin Hiroshi and his family are moving to Virginia from Japan. Their cultural differences make for a rocky start to their relationship, can flying a dragon kite bring them together?
Genre: Multicultural. This book accurately portrays customs of the Japanese culture and the sorts of cultural conflicts that might happen between someone raised in the American culture and someone who is raised in a traditional Japanese culture.
Mentor writing trait:
Voice - each chapter of this book is told from either Skye's perspective or Hiroshi's perspective and along the same timeline so you are literally seeing both sides of this story. This is a unique but very effective way to tell this story (in two narratives of the same events). Below is an example of the two different perspectives on one event (Hiroshi and his family moving to the US)
Skye's reaction: "All these years knowing nothing about her Japanese relatives, and now they were coming here. Here?"
Hiroshi's reaction: "How can we move to America? Everything is here."
Classroom integration/mini-lesson/Content connections:
This book could be used as a mentor text for voice and using two voices in a text. Students can explore different perspectives in Flying the Dragon by writing poems, narratives, or comics for two voices that compare and contrast the experiences or points of view of any two characters in the book, event the dragon kite.
I found the follow lesson idea and really liked it. To help students to connect more with characters in this book, have a teacher or parent who speaks a language other than English, invite him or her to the classroom to teach a 5-10 minute lesson that includes asking students questions or encouraging participation—no English allowed! Have students reflect afterwards on how they felt during the lesson. Did they enjoy any aspects of the lesson? Which part was the most stressful for them? How does this activity help foster empathy for Hiroshi, Skye, and other new language learners?
June 17, 2018
This book is about how family tradition can come together without not knowing each other or not even seeing each other. Flying the dragon talk about how the family tradition of Hiroshi and Skye overcame the conflict that Hiroshi’s family and Skye’s family had. Hiroshi and Skye are cousins that have never met, but then Hiroshi has to come to America because there grandfather is very sick and need a better treatment.
Thee is a part of the book which says, “ Just thinking of that sickening crunch of bamboo under her feet made her want to turn around and go home. But there was only one way she could get more tie with grandfather…” Skye by accident broke Hiroshi’s kite and didn’t know what to do because Hiroshi was a stranger to her. But she didn’t care about anything but her family. Then again the whole book isn’t happiness and smiles.
There was one part were Hiroshi wants to help his sick grandfather but since he’s a child, his family thinks he’s weak.
“ No, Hiroshi- its too heavy. Grandfather could fall. Let me ask the men who delivered the bed they must be inside.” All he wanted to do was help his family member but he’s a kid he’s weak according to his father.
I liked the book very much because it teaches the reader about how family can come together and it was a very easy book to read. I would recommend this book because it was very well written and it was easy to read. 8 year old’s and older can read this book. Overall Hiroshi and his family have to leave japan to america because they got a job offer and also the grandfather’s treatment. So there was a kite battle that Hiroshi had been training for, for years but because he had to go to America he couldn’t go to the battle. But then Hiroshi teaches Skye how to fly kites, and the there was a kite battle in America tha Hiroshi and Skye won because they promised Grandfather that they would battle. They promised grandfather that because Grandfather was one of the many kite fighter winners, so when he died they promised that they would win.
Thee is a part of the book which says, “ Just thinking of that sickening crunch of bamboo under her feet made her want to turn around and go home. But there was only one way she could get more tie with grandfather…” Skye by accident broke Hiroshi’s kite and didn’t know what to do because Hiroshi was a stranger to her. But she didn’t care about anything but her family. Then again the whole book isn’t happiness and smiles.
There was one part were Hiroshi wants to help his sick grandfather but since he’s a child, his family thinks he’s weak.
“ No, Hiroshi- its too heavy. Grandfather could fall. Let me ask the men who delivered the bed they must be inside.” All he wanted to do was help his family member but he’s a kid he’s weak according to his father.
I liked the book very much because it teaches the reader about how family can come together and it was a very easy book to read. I would recommend this book because it was very well written and it was easy to read. 8 year old’s and older can read this book. Overall Hiroshi and his family have to leave japan to america because they got a job offer and also the grandfather’s treatment. So there was a kite battle that Hiroshi had been training for, for years but because he had to go to America he couldn’t go to the battle. But then Hiroshi teaches Skye how to fly kites, and the there was a kite battle in America tha Hiroshi and Skye won because they promised Grandfather that they would battle. They promised grandfather that because Grandfather was one of the many kite fighter winners, so when he died they promised that they would win.
July 27, 2012
Skye’s dream is to make it onto the advanced soccer team for summer near her home in the Washington, D.C. area. Hiroshi wants nothing more than to enter his first kite-flying competition in his small town in Japan. Neither will get what’s expected when Hiroshi’s family moves to the U.S. for his grandfather to get a special treatment for cancer. He’s never met his cousin Skye, as her father had a falling out with his family before she was born.
Skye has never thought much about her Japanese heritage. She only thinks of herself as American, and as her dad didn’t force her to learn much Japanese, she can’t even speak well with her foreign relatives. While Skye and Hiroshi are too polite to let on that they don’t like each other, there are conflicts right away. Skye doesn’t want to babysit Hiroshi at school, and he wants to make other friends too. Hiroshi has a close bond with their grandfather, and now that their time together may be limited, he doesn’t want to share that time with Skye.
Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi is a story about family, identity, and learning to focus on what’s important. As Skye gets to know her relatives from Japan, she finds herself leaving behind some of the things she thought were most important to her in the past. And Hiroshi, who is adapting to life in a new country as well as a sick relative, has to learn how to share the things and the people he loves so he can be happy in his new home.
The tale goes back and forth from Skye’s perspective to Hiroshi’s, and Lorenzi does an excellent job of making each character come alive. Flying the Dragon is a great book to read in mother-daughter book clubs where the girls are aged 9 to 12. Issues to discuss include cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan, family conflict, ethnic identify, grief and more. I highly recommend it.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review.
Skye has never thought much about her Japanese heritage. She only thinks of herself as American, and as her dad didn’t force her to learn much Japanese, she can’t even speak well with her foreign relatives. While Skye and Hiroshi are too polite to let on that they don’t like each other, there are conflicts right away. Skye doesn’t want to babysit Hiroshi at school, and he wants to make other friends too. Hiroshi has a close bond with their grandfather, and now that their time together may be limited, he doesn’t want to share that time with Skye.
Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi is a story about family, identity, and learning to focus on what’s important. As Skye gets to know her relatives from Japan, she finds herself leaving behind some of the things she thought were most important to her in the past. And Hiroshi, who is adapting to life in a new country as well as a sick relative, has to learn how to share the things and the people he loves so he can be happy in his new home.
The tale goes back and forth from Skye’s perspective to Hiroshi’s, and Lorenzi does an excellent job of making each character come alive. Flying the Dragon is a great book to read in mother-daughter book clubs where the girls are aged 9 to 12. Issues to discuss include cultural differences between the U.S. and Japan, family conflict, ethnic identify, grief and more. I highly recommend it.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review.
June 19, 2012
I loved, loved, loved this book. It was heartwarming and left me feeling good all day. It's a story about a girl named Skye whose life is turned upside down when she finds out that her Japanese cousin and his family are moving near them. Her parents force her to take a Japanese language class, potentially interrupting her chance to be on the All-Star soccer team. She struggles with her cousin, Hiroshi, over many things, especially over who gets to spend time with grandfather, who Skye has just met for the first time in her life. The backdrop of the story involves kites and a famous competition coming up in a few weeks at the Cherry Blossom Festival....that's all I will say about the plot!
The way the author orchestrates the characters, going from one perspective to the other, really allows the reader to feel like they have the inside track of the storyline. We understand every character and can see what causes any difficulties that Skye and Hiroshi face in their relationship. While they are truly respectful kids, the author allows us into each one's thoughts and feelings, which is one of my favorite ways to tell a story. It's easy to see how misunderstandings happen between these two children. The character of grandfather makes me yearn to have a grandfather just like him. And the way that Natalie Lorenzi captures the Japanese culture and the love of kite making and flying and the poignancy of loss is just beautiful. I highly recommend this book, especially for parents to read aloud to middle-schoolers who still enjoy "bedtime stories." I plan to read this my daughter as soon as it becomes available and my book gets here. There are many themes that will be interesting to discuss with her.
The way the author orchestrates the characters, going from one perspective to the other, really allows the reader to feel like they have the inside track of the storyline. We understand every character and can see what causes any difficulties that Skye and Hiroshi face in their relationship. While they are truly respectful kids, the author allows us into each one's thoughts and feelings, which is one of my favorite ways to tell a story. It's easy to see how misunderstandings happen between these two children. The character of grandfather makes me yearn to have a grandfather just like him. And the way that Natalie Lorenzi captures the Japanese culture and the love of kite making and flying and the poignancy of loss is just beautiful. I highly recommend this book, especially for parents to read aloud to middle-schoolers who still enjoy "bedtime stories." I plan to read this my daughter as soon as it becomes available and my book gets here. There are many themes that will be interesting to discuss with her.
September 9, 2018
The relationship one has with his/her grandparents is special. "Flying the Dragon" does a wonderful job making you feel the love Hiroshi has for his grandfather and vice versa.
Personally, I was close with my grandfather from the Philippines and could instantly connect with the bond Hiroshi has with his grandfather. My Lolo (Tagalog for grandfather) passed away about 6 months ago so I knew I would be emotionally invested in this book right from the beginning.
I also enjoyed seeing the relationship of Hiroshi and Sorano grow. I can empathize with Sorano's desire to feel more "Japanese" as I have the exact same feeling with my Filipino family. I also wish I could speak my grandfather's language.
I connect to this book and I believe other readers will too.
I really want to read more from this amazing author.
Personally, I was close with my grandfather from the Philippines and could instantly connect with the bond Hiroshi has with his grandfather. My Lolo (Tagalog for grandfather) passed away about 6 months ago so I knew I would be emotionally invested in this book right from the beginning.
I also enjoyed seeing the relationship of Hiroshi and Sorano grow. I can empathize with Sorano's desire to feel more "Japanese" as I have the exact same feeling with my Filipino family. I also wish I could speak my grandfather's language.
I connect to this book and I believe other readers will too.
I really want to read more from this amazing author.
July 18, 2012
I will be blogging a review for this, so I'll link back here once I've done that.
But for now...
If you've ever felt like a fish out of water; if you've ever moved somewhere and didn't know anyone or couldn't speak the language; if you've ever wanted something and couldn't have it; if you've ever lost someone you loved; and more importantly, if you know a child who is feeling any of these things, this is the book you must read right now.
Middle grade fiction is the hardest to get right, but author Lorenzi has a magic touch. Teachers and librarians, this would be an excellent read-aloud to encourage empathy and understanding of what it means to be different.
Love. This. Book.
http://mfantaliswrites.wordpress.com/...
But for now...
If you've ever felt like a fish out of water; if you've ever moved somewhere and didn't know anyone or couldn't speak the language; if you've ever wanted something and couldn't have it; if you've ever lost someone you loved; and more importantly, if you know a child who is feeling any of these things, this is the book you must read right now.
Middle grade fiction is the hardest to get right, but author Lorenzi has a magic touch. Teachers and librarians, this would be an excellent read-aloud to encourage empathy and understanding of what it means to be different.
Love. This. Book.
http://mfantaliswrites.wordpress.com/...
August 11, 2012
This is one of the best first novels I've every read.
Here are some notes I'll use for my blog review:
--chapters alternate between Hiroshi, who is new to the US, and his Japanese-American cousin Sarano/Skye
--the story pivots around Hiroshi and Skye's grandfather, and around kites and rokkaku kite-fighting competitions
--author is an ELL teacher in DC and thus gets that part of the story so. very. right.
--both Hiroshi and Skye are struggling to learn language -- English for Hiroshi and Japanese for Skye
--Hiroshi and Skye both change and grow in believable ways
--3 hankies needed for the ending
Summer #bookaday #50 -- I'm SO glad that #50 was 5 star-worthy!! ...and that I made it to 50, with a couple weeks (and one more professional book) to go!!
Here are some notes I'll use for my blog review:
--chapters alternate between Hiroshi, who is new to the US, and his Japanese-American cousin Sarano/Skye
--the story pivots around Hiroshi and Skye's grandfather, and around kites and rokkaku kite-fighting competitions
--author is an ELL teacher in DC and thus gets that part of the story so. very. right.
--both Hiroshi and Skye are struggling to learn language -- English for Hiroshi and Japanese for Skye
--Hiroshi and Skye both change and grow in believable ways
--3 hankies needed for the ending
Summer #bookaday #50 -- I'm SO glad that #50 was 5 star-worthy!! ...and that I made it to 50, with a couple weeks (and one more professional book) to go!!
February 7, 2017
Really between three and four stars. This is the kind of book I thought was pleasant enough while I was reading it, but it was only after I finished and was reflecting on it that some of its stronger qualities came through, so in that sense it's a bit of a creeper. Two cousins meet for the first time -- a Japanese boy moves to the United States when his grandmother needs medical treatment, and they reunite with their Japanese-American family. The broad-strokes contrast is between the cousin from Japan who feels too Japanese to ever feel comfortable in the U.S., and the Japanese-American girl who feels the tension between her two cultures for the first time. They each have a unique relationship with the grandfather.
June 6, 2016
Eleven-year-old Skye has a Japanese father and an American mother and she loves soccer. When her uncle's family comes from Japan because her grandfather is sick, she needs to go to Japanese classes and help her cousin Hiroshi learn English. Hiroshi wants to go back to Japan and not share his grandfather with his cousin. Alternating between Skye and Hiroshi's points of view, this story is quiet and does a good job illustrating how hard it is to adjust to new surroundings and learn a new language and culture.
March 15, 2017
This Texas Bluebonnet nominee will appeal to girls with its strong female character trying to please her family and make her soccer goals come true. Boys will be intrigued by the sport of kite-flying and will cheer for Hiroshi as he seeks to find a way to adjust to America and still honor his Japanese heritage. Author Natalie Lorenzi tells this story from the perspectives of both characters which gives the reader greater insight into both. Loved it and know that my students will, too! Recommended for grades 4-7.
July 23, 2014
Natalie Dias Lorenzi made a good book that had a lot of laughs and a "keep-you-on-your-toes" action. I enjoyed this book and (heh heh) learned some Japanese words.
Skye is Japanese, but she doesn't see herself as that. Until her Japanese relatives that she's never met come to america because Grandfather is sick with cancer. Her cousin Hiroshi is a Grandfather and kite hoarder. but will the cousins be able to pull themselves together when tragity strikes and the kite battle begins?
Skye is Japanese, but she doesn't see herself as that. Until her Japanese relatives that she's never met come to america because Grandfather is sick with cancer. Her cousin Hiroshi is a Grandfather and kite hoarder. but will the cousins be able to pull themselves together when tragity strikes and the kite battle begins?
August 18, 2016
Cousins Hiroshimi who is from Japan and recently moved to the United States and Skye (Sorano) who has an Americnan mother and lives in the United States bond through the kite flying and their dying grandpa.
This would be a good class read-aloud, especially for those wanting to expose their students to other cultures and expand their worldviews. Reading about those who are different from ourselves creates empathy.
This would be a good class read-aloud, especially for those wanting to expose their students to other cultures and expand their worldviews. Reading about those who are different from ourselves creates empathy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2016
My favorite Maud Hart Lovelace book for this year. Loved the cultural piece of this book and learning more about Japanese customs and language. This book held many true emotions...cousins didn't always get along and grandpa had cancer. This book didn't shy away from those subjects but treated them with compassion. Would recommend this book to any child in the 3rd to 5th grade range.
If you like this book, also try The Kite Fighters by Linda sue Park. Very similar story but set in Korea.
If you like this book, also try The Kite Fighters by Linda sue Park. Very similar story but set in Korea.
March 13, 2013
spring break bookaday #6. 2013-14 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee. Was leaning towards 3 stars for this one, but somewhere in the last third of the book, a tear or two leaked out my eye. Story about culture clash/shock, loss, and redemption. Loved Hiroshi's comment: homophones, homonyms and homographs - who really knows what these are!
September 8, 2017
Really liked this one! I love books about immigrants from Asia, especially Japan, as the whole culture fascinates me. This book had an interesting twist, showing the similarities and differences of two cousins who are brought together after living across the world from each other for their whole lives.
August 28, 2017
This is a neat novel about two relatives, one American, the other Japanese, competing for their grandfathers relationship and yet building a relationship with each other at the same time. Touching story.
October 24, 2012
Pretty predictable. The Japanese cultural stuff is interesting, but that's about it.
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