Feathered

by Deborah Kerbel

"When I was three years old, Mom plucked a curly white feather out of my neck. If I get scared or the loneliness comes over me, I run my fingertip over the tiny scar and dream about the day the rest of my feathers will grow in. That's the day I'll fly away from here."

For eleven-year-old Finch, there couldn't be a better time to fly away from her life. Her dad died last year and her mom hasn't been the same since, her best friend dropped her, and her brother's awful classmate is too mean for words. But when a girl named Pinky moves in next door, a girl from India who also doesn't seem to fit in, Finch feels a flicker of hope that her life might just be turning around. And when something terrible happens and it seems Finch may be the only one who can help her new friend, she comes to understand that flying is not the answer -- sometimes right where you are is the best place to be.

Author Deborah Kerbel has created a central character readers will connect with immediately in this captivating middle-grade novel. With a keen understanding of the particular difficulties facing girls as they enter adolescence, this powerfully written book is about learning to believe in yourself, finding the courage to do what you think is right and recognizing the difference you can make in the lives of others. It is both a compelling page-turner and an excellent reference for classroom discussions on loss, bullying, racism, learning difficulties and mental health.

Genres: Middle Grade, Grief, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Family, Death

144 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Deborah Kerbel was born in London, England, but grew up in Toronto, Canada.
A finalist for the 2012 Governor General's Literary Award, the 2010 Canadian Library Association YA Book of the Year Award, 2019 Blue Spruce Award Honour Book, and winner of the 2020 IODE Jean Throop Book Award, Deborah is the author of ten books for young readers of all ages.
Currently, Deborah lives and writes in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, two book loving teens, and a schnoodle named Fred.
Visit her at www.deborahkerbel.ca

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Daddy said once calling me Finch had nothing to do with flying. He said he named me Finch after a character in a famous book. I don't remember which book or which character he was talking about and it's too late to ask now. I guess it doesn't matter, because Mom took me aside afterward and told me that story's not true. "

"If I had feathers I'd fly away - - fly until my arms give out. . . or until there's no sky left."

A beautiful and moving story about friendship, grief, and growing up.
Finch was a wonderful character... her and her family felt so alive to me in these pages.

My heart broke for them so many times in the beginning. One part between Finch and her mom especially had me tearing up.

While I understood why Harrison was friends with Matt, that kid was a little snot *glares* I remember a few kids like him from when I was in school.

Pinky was adorable :)

Would highly recommend, a short read but well worth it :) (that sounded better in my head haha)

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, which is good, because the beginning upset me, but it was necessary to show the change and growth of the main and secondary characters. However, if it was much longer, the part that upset me would have been too long and I don't know if I would have been able to finish the book. Which would have been a shame, as the end really tied everything together.

The book takes place in 1980, but other than the name of some of the candy in the store and the mom wearing blue eyeshadow and a pantsuit, nothing really put the reader in the time of 1980 and the place of Canada. (At least I THINK it takes place in Canada. I wasn't too clear on that.) Also, the three months of mortgage payment was WAAAAY less than it would have been now, but I don't think the reader this was intended for, a middle reader, would have caught that.

The author's afterward explained why the time period was important, but if there wasn't a point to the book taking place then, it could have just as easily been set in the modern day.

The MC was a bit of a scared push over and the mother was NOT being a good mother in my opinion. I get it, her husband died, she's totally adrift and scared and depressed, but pull it together for your kids for crying out loud! I guess it happens in real life, but I SERIOUSLY hate seeing parents being shown as idiots or incapable of being an adult and the kid having to be the parent.

I also hate seeing female characters act weak and scared and acting like a victim and not standing up for themselves. But that part was necessary for the rest of the book and it was mercifully short, so it was tolerable.

I loved the dream sequence at the end of the book. It was really beautiful and poignant. It fit the story and the character perfectly.

I think that this book is a good way to introduce middle readers to the main topic of the book, which the author goes into in the afterward. If I say what the topic is, that will spoil a plot line in the story for you, so I won't. I will say it is an important topic that I don't hear much about, so I would hazard to say this is an important book in that respect.

All in all, I would say it is a good, quick read with an important lesson. For middle readers on up.

3 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finch is an eleven year old girl whose father died of cancer during last year. Her mom is struggling with depression and she feels like she has lost both her parents. Her brother, Harrison, has a very nasty friend who does some things to Finch which could be considered criminal. The person Finch considered her best friend has dumped her for someone more popular and she finds out that she has the same teacher she had the previous year and treated her very badly. She has trouble in school, especially in writing and is very frustrated. She has a dream that someday, she will grow feathers and be able to fly based upon a story about a feather that had grown out of her neck when she was younger. Whenever she is stressed, she rubs the scar from the feather that was plucked from her. As she tries to deal with all these issues, a new family moves next door with two girls and Finch tries to befriend the older one, Pinky. The family is from Punjab and the father is fearful of the girls going to public school or becoming friends with anyone. He thinks they will be teased and/or treated badly or worse, become Americanized. Finch does not give up on her new neighbour and they eventually find a way to become friends. Finch and Pinky both need to find themselves, develop some confidence and stand up for themselves. Through a couple of situations, the girls finally realize they can be friends, be who and what they want to be and stand up for what is right. This book was a compelling read and I could not put it down. I believe that middle grade students will enjoy this book as well as learn from it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mahtab Narsimhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finch is a wonderful protagonist whom many kids will identify with. A beautiful story about cross-cultural friendships and learning how to accept difference and diversity. Feathered will spark many meaningful discussions in a classroom.

[Laura Phelps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finch suffers from her mother’s depression, the death of her father, the cruelty of her brother’s friend, and the bullying of girls at school. Her reality is truly dire, until she slowly starts making friends with a new girl across the street, Pinky, whose family has recently moved from India. The story takes a startling turn when Pinky’s family also falls apart. This is grim, but swiftly moving and the sorrow of both Finch and Pinky is palpable.

[Karen Upper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The small book packs a powerful punch! Inclusivity, diversity, acceptance, grief-loss, bullying, child abduction.
Tightly written a story that can be read by any age!
Well done Deborah Kerbel!
Highly recommended!
4 stars!!

[Mireille Messier · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful chapter book set in the 80s with characters so real I felt like I knew them. The smoke, that green chair, the fish sticks, the Jordache-wearing meanies... Kerbel really hits it out of the park with the middle grade reader!

[Leslea Abshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book easy read about death, change, depression and parental kidnapping.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those incredibly sad middle grade fiction books. Finch is 11 and her dad died of cancer last year, her mom is struggling with depression, her brother has a super creepy best friend, her own best friend has ditched her for someone more fashionable, she's struggling with writing and has the meanest teacher ever. However, a new family moves next door and she wants to be friends with the girl who lives there. Except that her dad is worried that the girl will be bullied or become American so he doesn't want her leave the house. It was a very compelling read and I think the middle grade kids will like it a lot.

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finch is a wonderful character with a lot of heart and grit that kids will easily relate to. Dealing with her Mom's depression, grief over the loss of her dad to Cancer, and a cruel bully and having been dropped by her best friend, it's been a difficult year, but instead of backing down, she chooses to face her problems head on, with surprising and positive results. The racism shown to the Hindu family next door, and the father's attempt to kidnap the kids could have gone into more depth, but the book will serve as a great starting point for discussion.

[C.K. Martin]

Thoroughly enjoyed this story of grief, courage and friendship as experienced by a middle school girl who feels like an outsider. Loved Finch and Pinky's friendship and the eighties setting (fellow Little House fan here!). Kids who have experienced similar losses or consider themselves outside the mainstream, for whatever reason, will find a lot to love here too.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway. Many thanks to the author and publisher!

A good little book all about growing up and having to deal with some pretty heavy stuff well before your time. Finch was such a heartbreaking character I found myself wishing I could give her a hug.

Recommended.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The specifics of this story are distinct and important, worthy of reading and sharing. beyond those issues, though, the human elements are universal. Well-written and compelling.

[Sue Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is geared to young adults and younger, it is packed with a lot of information. This book tells the story of a young girl that gains confidence and strength as the story continues. We begin by learning that her father died and her mother is depressed. Finch is exposed to a lot in her young live and the author does a good job of introducing us to difficult topics.

This book gently talks about bullying and child abduction. It also touches on the importance of being aware and tolerant of other cultures. What is uniquely interesting is that this is any easy and quick read yet covers such strong topics. The author did an excellent job of presenting difficult subject matter yet focus on a younger age.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had an unexpected twist towards the end of the book. I felt like the build up for it wasn’t great, but the inclusion did bring up a new topic that I think deserves more attention. I would’ve liked more exploration of the cultural differences between Finch and Pinky. I wanted to also see more of how the good role models stepped in and made an impact. I think there were also glimpses of greatness from Finch’s big brother and I wanted him to play a bigger role too, maybe learn about how he fell into the crowd he’s friends with and how he can overcome his own struggles. We started seeing how things were turning around but it didn’t feel as satisfying of a conclusion as I hoped. Overall, Finch’s personality and perseverance was so admirable and I was hoping for the best for her.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A middle grade book about a 6th grade girl whose dad died 9 months ago of cancer. Since then, her mother has been spaced out. The book spans about 4 weeks of time -- a couple of weeks before school and a couple of weeks of school.

Good for discussion of
* How to help when others are grieving
* Parental Abduction
* Bullying
* Importance of Kindness (especially kind teachers)
* Cliques/mean girls
* Being a Friend
* Looking beyond stereotypes and/or physical & cultural differences
* Learning differences

[Dorothy Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong use of bird symbolism throughout from the main character's name, Finch, to the bully destroying a bird nest and Finch wanting to fly away. Finch is eleven and feels alone when last year's best friend moves on to someone else. The new neighbors next door are from India with much tension
created when Pinky feels unwanted at school and is kidnapped by her father who hopes to return to his homeland. Set in the 80's with Terry Fox running his marathon while Finch deals with her father's death from cancer the year before. Published by kidscanpress, this is a middle grade book.

[Time to start reading again · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read up till and including chapter two and couldn't force myself onwards. The internal dialogue of this girl is full of too-mature metaphors and yaddering on without any motion forward in plot of any kind for the first two chapters. The writing quality is good, and all the individual elements I feel are valuable, but they just aren't stitched together in a way that makes me want to read more.

[Tova Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched my heart. Share it with your kids.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book through a Goodreads giveaway but that doesn't affect my rating in any way.

This book is easy to read and is probably children's or middle-grade. I thought the author captured the innocence of an 11 yr old girl so well, and the troubles that being that age can bring- difficulties with school, mean teachers and classmates, the feeling of alienation from having no friends, but also the hope and happiness that even one friend can bring, or the encouraging words of a kind teacher.

Finch, the MC, struggles with school and classmates, but also with a distant mother who is coping with grief after the death of the father, along with an emotionally-distant brother who has a bully-like questionable friend. It was sad to read for at least the first half, with all the things Finch has to face, but things start to look up for her as her mother starts trying and her brother stands up for her against nasty Matt, and she befriends Pinky.

Issues with race and discrimination because of race are lightly covered along with the topic of child abduction through the view of a child's eyes. What I really loved was how the author captured the feelings of a 6th grader so well, the topic of child abduction, grief in families, as well as the love and support that holds people together.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been so difficult to put Feathered by Deborah Kerbel for these last two days. This story is so engrossing.

Finch is only eleven years old but her life is falling apart. She managed to survive school with a mean and strict teacher. She has trouble with writing, forming the letters and spelling. Her dad died after a long battle with lung cancer. He had meant so much to her. Her mother is constantly smoking and never gets anything done unlike before his death. Her mother has a scary vacant look to her eyes. Her brother is gone from the house in this summer a lot, spending time with boy who is always very mean to her. Her best friend had stopped acting like a friend. Her father told her that she was named after a famous writer but her mother told her that she had had a bird feather attached to her and there was a scar after it was removed. Right now, she preferred her mother’s story. She wished that she was a bird and could fly away from her troubles.

But a little girl Finch’s age, moves next door. She has darker skin and her mother seems to be praying all the time. She is from India. Maybe things will get better?

The author Deborah Kerbal skillfully weaves many problems that girls Finch’s age have and they are not small ones! If you look above, you can figure out that Finch’s mother is deeply depressed. All the signs are there. Finch is a sensitive person, she doesn’t take her past teacher’s remarks lightly. The whole family grieving over the loss of her father. Her brother is escaping from negative atmosphere at home by staying with his friend so much. And there are other very important problems that I haven’t mentioned that are included in Finch’s story. Yet the story flows smoothly and the pace is even.

I would recommend this book to all eleven year old girls. This book is realistic and also has a little bit of fantasy in it.

I received a finished copy of this book as a win from FirstReads from the publisher but that in no way determined my thoughts or feelings in this review.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this free book from a goodreads giveaway, and I appreciate getting to read it and write a review.

Feathered by Deborah Kerbel is a great young child / preteen book that is sort of a coming of age type of book for younger children.

Finch is an 11 year old girl who is having a bit of a hard time. Her father died less than a year ago, her brothers friend tends to bully and pick on her, she hasn't begun to change like the other girls in her class, she lost her best friend to another girl, she has a hard time writing words and her teacher seems to have it out for her and it feels like not only has she lost her Dad but her Mom too because her mom is so depressed and she has changed so much since her fathers death.

Finch meets a young girl next door named Pinky. Pinky and her family are from India. Finch tries to befriend Pinky but Pinky's father is afraid for her to have friends, go to school and learn, because he does not want her to loose her Indian heritage, and he wants to protect her from people making fun and other things.

Finch, as the story goes, once grew a feather and had to have it plucked. She is just biding time and waiting for the rest of her feathers to grow in so she can finally fly. The scare from the feather is still there on the back of her neck and when times get tough she seems to touch the scar as a reminder that she is born to fly.

Things are about to change for Finch, things are about to look up. Will her Mom finally begin to get back to her life? Will she make a good friend? What about her teacher?

The end of the book brings with it some adventure as Finch is sure she is about to loose her friend Pinky because Pinky's father is trying to secretly sneak Pinky and her sister Padma back to India.

Will Finch finally grow her wins and get to fly?

I absolutely enjoyed this young coming of age story about Finch and her family. Great read.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life for 11-year-old Finch looks pretty bleak. Her dad died 9 months ago. Her mom refuses to leave the house and just sits and smokes the days away without any true awareness of the world. Finch’s dinner is always frozen fish sticks because they’re so broke (on sale 4 for $5). Her older brother now ignores her and even worse--his closest friend, Matt, is the biggest bully who gets increasingly violent toward Finch. The last time Matt chased her with violent intentions, Finch jumped out of the window to escape and sprained her ankle.

The mail is piling up on the kitchen table and Finch wonders what the word “foreclosure” means because she’s not the smartest at school and boy does her teacher never let her forget her stupidity. New neighbors moved in next door with a daughter Finch’s age, but their strict Punjabi father refuses to let his daughters play or even associate with anyone.

It’s the fall of 1980 and Finch wishes she was Laura Ingalls living life on the prairie where the only annoyances were Nellie Olsen and Finch knows she wouldn’t be afraid of her. Finch longs to fly away to a better place and constantly touches the bump on the back of her neck where her dad plucked out a curly white feather when she was three years old. Finch just knows that one day she will grow all the feathers back and be able to fly.

Life is lonely for Finch both at home and at school where she has no friends until the day she writes on the bathroom stall, “I wish I could disappear” and finds a response the next day: “me too.” Thus begins a new friendship of possibility through bathroom graffiti.

Tweens and teens will be drawn to this realistic story full of twists and turns and a clear ending. The way all loose ends are tied up at the end does stretch plausibility a bit, but kids will enjoy taking Finch’s journey to some dark places knowing that sunshine might just be lurking around the corner.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Feathered" is a heartwarming story that incorporates some issues many young people deal with in their childhood. Eleven year old Finch's lost her father and her Mother is having an extremely difficult time dealing with his death.

At the same time, she must deal with her brother's friend, Matt who bullies her and causes her to jump out the window. As well, she's not the best student, so there is a teacher who is not as sympathetic to her and gives her a hard time.

There seems to be a bright light when she discovers the new neighbours have a daughter of the same age. They start a friendship, but cultural roadblocks from the father make the continued friendship difficult.

As an eleven year old child, Finch appears to be the adult in the family. Eventually, she is so felt up with her Mother's behaviour that she gets angry and yells, "I know why you keep giving us those awful fish sticks every night cause I opened the default letter from the bank and I'm not sure what foreclosure means but I'm scared they want to take away our house and I'm even more scared because you're not doing anything about it! And Mrs. Garvin hates me and calls me stupid in front of all the other kids and I think I'll die if I have to stay in her class another day and I don't have any friends left because she turned them all against me! And I have nobody to talk to about any of this . . . and all you do is sit in the green chair and stare out the window!" (p. 74)

The story is an easy read and would provide lots of good discussion with young readers.

Thank you GoodReads for the book.

[La La · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Middle Grade that volleyed back and forth between stellar and marginal. At first the story was very fitting for MG age readers and then it dipped into this pseudo-sexual bullying/curiosity thing that never went anywhere in the storyline, so I was left scratching my head about why it was even in there. Again a MG story having an 11 year old girl be concerned with things older than her age. So many of these MG books lately would make more sense, and be more age appropriate, written with 13 year old MCs and classified as YA.

There was also an extremely violent act against some animals that was too visually detailed and gruesome for MG. And lastly, the ending of the story shifted and felt off kilter. It was already making a diversity statement and then all of a sudden, wham, we get hit with another issue related element, basically undeveloped, which went nowhere and added nothing but some confusion.

This is a somewhat nice book that could have used a good editor familiar with MG aged children.

I was approved for an eARC, via Edelweiss, in return for an honest review. I will not be reviewing this title on my blog because it is less than four stars.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legal first: I won this book via a Goodreads Giveaway.

I read this book before sending it off to my grandkid and I found it was written clearly and should sit well with Middle Grade or YA.

The subject matter of bullying was handled with real class. Every kid, boy or girl, is bullied at some point in their early life and this act has been secret for too long. Bravo.

The story does touch on the "sex" subject but it does not dwell on it. Sadly, kids today are confronted on a daily, if not hourly, deluge of boobs. butts, condoms, and everywhere in between, so yes, it was needed in this story.

Other good subjects are noted but left a little bland but not every story can have everything.

Then there is the nasty animal stuff: not needed in detail and could have been approached better. (1 star lost)

Lastly, I am happy to send this book to my grandkid and answer any questions, especially on sex and bullying.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Win Copy

A young girl finds herself coping with the sudden death of her father from cancer. Her mother is still grieving the loss and an older brother who basically ignores her with his bullying friend. She has no friends and a teacher who picks on her.

When she was three, her mother plucked a feather from her neck that left a scar. She believed that one day the rest of her feathers will grown in and she will be able to fly away.

Things start to look up when she befriends the girl next door who also does not fit in due to her India background and over protective father who is weary of strangers. But when an unexpected twist occurs she must come to the said of her new friend.

It’s a story of learning to believe in you and doing what is right despite the consequences. It is a moving storyline that anyone can relate towards

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Finch dreams of the day she will grow feathers and fly away. She has lost her father to cancer, and her mother is in the grips of depression. Finch feels lonely, struggles in school, and has to confront bullying behavior from various fronts. Her life begins to change after she befriends her new next door neighbor Pinky, an immigrant girl from India.

For me, the book felt like a 3.5, but I'm bumping it up to 4 stars for its relevancy. The author touched on many issues that adolescents have to confront, and the message was hopeful and positive. I enjoyed the setting of 1980, and Kerbel referenced some historical events and took care to incorporate aspects of popular culture into the story. I think middle-graders would benefit from reading this story and discussing the issues addressed.

Many thanks to Hachette Book Group for this Goodreads giveaway!