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Flying Tips for Flightless Birds
From debut author Kelly McCaughrain comes a sweet and kooky romcom for fans of R. J. Palacio's Wonder, Sarah Crossan, and Susin Nielsen's We Are All Made of Molecules. Twins Finch and Birdie Franconi are stars of the flying trapeze. But when Birdie suffers a terrifying accident, Finch must team up with the geeky new kid, Hector Hazzard, to form an all-boys double act and save the family circus school. Together they learn to walk the high-wire of teen life and juggle the demands of friends, family, first love and facing up to who they are – all served up with a dash of circus-showbiz magic.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2018
18 people are currently reading
1784 people want to read
About the author
Kelly McCaughrain
3 books27 followersKelly was born in Belfast in 1977 and grew up in nineteenth-century Avonlea. She doesn’t remember much about her (probably very nice) childhood and suspects this is because she wasn’t paying attention. She was reading Anne of Green Gables.
She started writing when she was six.
She started hiding her writing when she was seven.
She was forced out of the writing closet when she was 35. One of her favourite activities is talking to teenagers about writing because she was too shy to do this when she was young.
She studied at Queens University Belfast, where she did two degrees. For fun. She currently lives with her husband Michael and their ancient VW campervan Gerda.
Her first novel, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, has been described by insiders as an elaborate and thinly veiled attempt to make her husband love circuses. She refuses to comment.
She started writing when she was six.
She started hiding her writing when she was seven.
She was forced out of the writing closet when she was 35. One of her favourite activities is talking to teenagers about writing because she was too shy to do this when she was young.
She studied at Queens University Belfast, where she did two degrees. For fun. She currently lives with her husband Michael and their ancient VW campervan Gerda.
Her first novel, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, has been described by insiders as an elaborate and thinly veiled attempt to make her husband love circuses. She refuses to comment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
January 3, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
This is one of the most beautifully written YA novels I’ve ever read – the story is written in layers and I feel like you could read it a number of times and feel like you’re reading something different each time.
This is a story about a pair of twins living in rural Ireland, they’re both flamboyant dressers and members of a circus family who run the local circus school so they’re already socially doomed from the start. Finch is at the start of his journey of acceptance that he’s gay, something that’s going to be a much bigger deal than it needs to be living where he does, but he’s happy to embrace his identity as an outsider as long as his sister, Birdie, is at his side. When they’re forced to take some time apart, Finch has to discover who he is as an individual rather than one of a pair – it’s a lot for a teenager to cope with in such a short span of time which is what makes it such an intriguing read.
This book is more about this journey than it is actual romance or romantic relationships, the characterisation in this book is something truly beautiful and shows the main characters as a entire people, the good and the bad. Sometimes they can be selfish, uncertain and downright mean but that’s what makes them real people. The story covers the relationships between almost all of the characters and how they fit in together, this makes it all feel so much more real for me rather than it being only about a single main character with all other characters revolving around them.
I love that the circus aspect of this book adds a bit of extra flavour to a story that would have been excellent on its own, most chapters are prefaced with a blog post by Birdie about circus life and gives insight into her frame of mind at the time of writing them.
This title is so heartfelt and well written, it’s found itself a spot on my incredibly exclusive re-read shelf. I would recommend it for readers of all ages as a wholesome and thoughtful read, and an excellent addition to any LGBT library for younger readers.
This is one of the most beautifully written YA novels I’ve ever read – the story is written in layers and I feel like you could read it a number of times and feel like you’re reading something different each time.
This is a story about a pair of twins living in rural Ireland, they’re both flamboyant dressers and members of a circus family who run the local circus school so they’re already socially doomed from the start. Finch is at the start of his journey of acceptance that he’s gay, something that’s going to be a much bigger deal than it needs to be living where he does, but he’s happy to embrace his identity as an outsider as long as his sister, Birdie, is at his side. When they’re forced to take some time apart, Finch has to discover who he is as an individual rather than one of a pair – it’s a lot for a teenager to cope with in such a short span of time which is what makes it such an intriguing read.
This book is more about this journey than it is actual romance or romantic relationships, the characterisation in this book is something truly beautiful and shows the main characters as a entire people, the good and the bad. Sometimes they can be selfish, uncertain and downright mean but that’s what makes them real people. The story covers the relationships between almost all of the characters and how they fit in together, this makes it all feel so much more real for me rather than it being only about a single main character with all other characters revolving around them.
I love that the circus aspect of this book adds a bit of extra flavour to a story that would have been excellent on its own, most chapters are prefaced with a blog post by Birdie about circus life and gives insight into her frame of mind at the time of writing them.
This title is so heartfelt and well written, it’s found itself a spot on my incredibly exclusive re-read shelf. I would recommend it for readers of all ages as a wholesome and thoughtful read, and an excellent addition to any LGBT library for younger readers.
December 9, 2022
relamente no tengo razones para no darle 5 estrellas estoy sonriendo como una boluda
March 5, 2018
This lovely story brought back my memories going to the circus laughing out loud at the clowns. Full praise to Kelly McCaughrain for this delightful first novel. I would like to thank Walker books for sending me this book to read and review.
September 15, 2018
A solid 3.5 stars.
I read this book in one day aka it was entertaining and easy to read. The cast of characters was cute, if a little bit cliché and there were a fair share of sad, cute and funny moments each.
Our first person narrator, Finch, was kind of a difficult nut. On one hand really relatable, but on the other I also kind of wanted to shake him so he would wake up so instead of only concentrating on how people treated him, he could also take a look at himself to see how he treated other people.
So basically it was your typical coming of age story, but with a circus backround. Nothing super earth shattering, but nicely written and leaves the reader with a good feeling after reading the last page.
The focus of this story is on the relationship between twins and the friendship Finch is trying to build with the new kid in town: Hector (okay, Hector tries to build it and Finch is kind of resisting for various reasons). Hector is a true ray of sunshine and the highlight of the book and his friendship with Finch is the true soul of this book (I honestly expected the sibling relationship to be exactly that).
This book is also not really havey on plot. There is more of an overarching theme of who people really are, if they can change and where it leads them. Of course there is the Franconi circus school and the characters preparing for a big performance, but that all is of secondary importance to the characters and their relationships.
All in all this was a cute and fluffy read with a colorful cover for a rainy day.
I read this book in one day aka it was entertaining and easy to read. The cast of characters was cute, if a little bit cliché and there were a fair share of sad, cute and funny moments each.
Our first person narrator, Finch, was kind of a difficult nut. On one hand really relatable, but on the other I also kind of wanted to shake him so he would wake up so instead of only concentrating on how people treated him, he could also take a look at himself to see how he treated other people.
So basically it was your typical coming of age story, but with a circus backround. Nothing super earth shattering, but nicely written and leaves the reader with a good feeling after reading the last page.
The focus of this story is on the relationship between twins and the friendship Finch is trying to build with the new kid in town: Hector (okay, Hector tries to build it and Finch is kind of resisting for various reasons). Hector is a true ray of sunshine and the highlight of the book and his friendship with Finch is the true soul of this book (I honestly expected the sibling relationship to be exactly that).
This book is also not really havey on plot. There is more of an overarching theme of who people really are, if they can change and where it leads them. Of course there is the Franconi circus school and the characters preparing for a big performance, but that all is of secondary importance to the characters and their relationships.
All in all this was a cute and fluffy read with a colorful cover for a rainy day.
July 18, 2018
Picked this one up from my YALC reading challenge TBR as I was in the mood for some contemporary. Unfortunately I didn’t have a lot of faith in the story due to that very children’s book cover. I quickly knew that this book WAS going to be a hit with me as both the style of writing and the story resonated in the same frequency as my soul. I freaking adored the story and the message in this book, and I want to hug the stuffing out of it. If you’re looking for an amazing beach read, this is definitely a good book for you. Even if the cover is still an absolute eyesore.
February 7, 2021
Me gustó mucho 💓 le tomé mucho cariño a cada personaje. La historia me pareció muy linda y divertida; la narración me pareció excelente y muy original con los "post" del blog de Birdie. Precioso todo.
Además el inglés es bastante básico y no se me complicó tanto (por suerte...)
A mi corazón le dio altos y bajos de felicidad pero terminó haciéndome sonreír muchísimo.
Fue una buena lectura. Hubiese amado saber un poco más de Py pero estoy satisfecha con la historia en general.
Reseña completa:
https://eldecimolibro.blogspot.com/20...
Además el inglés es bastante básico y no se me complicó tanto (por suerte...)
A mi corazón le dio altos y bajos de felicidad pero terminó haciéndome sonreír muchísimo.
Fue una buena lectura. Hubiese amado saber un poco más de Py pero estoy satisfecha con la historia en general.
Reseña completa:
https://eldecimolibro.blogspot.com/20...
June 30, 2020
Wow wow wow I adored this book so much and the fact that so many people *haven't* read it is a crime. The family element, the look into what life can be like at school and how friends can become family is wondeful and I highly recommend that everyone reads this book.
May 9, 2022
The audiobook version did not capture my interest at all, so I gave up on listening to it around an hour in. I'm not the target audience for this book, and I'm not even sure whether I would have continued with it had I been.
October 1, 2023
4.5/5 muy tierno ❤️🩹
July 23, 2023
amo que los libros me hagan sonreír como imbécil, y es lo único que hice mientras lo leía. que hermoso todo. birdie reina. hector te banco. finch te mereces muchas cosas lindas.
July 9, 2018
----Spoiler Free Review----
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds by Kelly McCaughrain is her debut novel, a young adult contemporary set in Ireland. It is centred on Finch and his twin sister Birdie, the Franconi twins who are the trapeze stars of the family circus. However, a new boy, Hector, moves to their school one day, and he soon becomes very important to the twins. The Franconi’s lives are turned upside down however when Birdie suffers a terrible fall. Can the Franconi’s continue to perform after this tragedy?
This was a beautifully told story, which has great LGBTQ+ representation. The characters mature and develop throughout, and feel as though they jump off the page, similar to their circus performances. I’ve always loved stories based around a circus, and this novel didn’t fail to disappoint.
I also liked the format that this novel was told in. The beginning of many chapters features a blog post written by Birdie in which she talks about interesting facts about their own circus, or circus’ in general. These posts kept the novel fresh and engaging, as you never knew what she was going to write about next.
I also enjoyed the humour. It flowed effortlessly and never felt forced. As Hector and Finch get to know each other, we see how Hector’s clumsiness makes him the perfect clown, with Finch as his partner in crime.
This novel also teaches the important lesson of not judging people. As the novel unfolds, the reader learns important truths about each of the characters that help explain why the characters act in certain ways. These discoveries led me to view certain characters in a more positive light toward the end of the novel.
My only criticism was that I felt Finch was a bit cruel to Hector at the beginning of the novel, but this changed as the novel progressed.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone looking for a light hearted YA read, as it is a perfect summer read.
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds by Kelly McCaughrain is her debut novel, a young adult contemporary set in Ireland. It is centred on Finch and his twin sister Birdie, the Franconi twins who are the trapeze stars of the family circus. However, a new boy, Hector, moves to their school one day, and he soon becomes very important to the twins. The Franconi’s lives are turned upside down however when Birdie suffers a terrible fall. Can the Franconi’s continue to perform after this tragedy?
This was a beautifully told story, which has great LGBTQ+ representation. The characters mature and develop throughout, and feel as though they jump off the page, similar to their circus performances. I’ve always loved stories based around a circus, and this novel didn’t fail to disappoint.
I also liked the format that this novel was told in. The beginning of many chapters features a blog post written by Birdie in which she talks about interesting facts about their own circus, or circus’ in general. These posts kept the novel fresh and engaging, as you never knew what she was going to write about next.
I also enjoyed the humour. It flowed effortlessly and never felt forced. As Hector and Finch get to know each other, we see how Hector’s clumsiness makes him the perfect clown, with Finch as his partner in crime.
This novel also teaches the important lesson of not judging people. As the novel unfolds, the reader learns important truths about each of the characters that help explain why the characters act in certain ways. These discoveries led me to view certain characters in a more positive light toward the end of the novel.
My only criticism was that I felt Finch was a bit cruel to Hector at the beginning of the novel, but this changed as the novel progressed.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone looking for a light hearted YA read, as it is a perfect summer read.
January 17, 2021
Content warning: Bullying, homophobia, hospitalised family member
This book is a masterpiece. I loved it so much! I read the last 200 pages in one sitting because I literally could not put it down.
What it's about: This is a slower-paced character-driven story about a circus kid whose sister suffers an accident; to help save the family business, he teams up with the new kid at school to create their own double act.
What I liked: Coming from a burlesque/cabaret background, the premise of the story was completely up my street. Several of the chapters start with a blog post by Birdie which talk about circus history that I found really interesting, though I can understand why some people may not like them as they take you out of the narrative. I felt they were a way for the reader to get to know Birdie more, as she is absent for a large portion of the book.
The characters are brilliant, I absolutely love Hector - he is such a sweetheart. Whilst I don't think characters need to be likeable to make a book good, it certainly made my experience better. Even though they are likeable, the characters aren't perfect. Finch is an asshole a lot of the time but if you were ever picked on as a kid you can understand why.
The friendship between Hector and Finch is beautiful and so natural - no insta love, just slow burn friends-to-lovers. There's a lot of moments in the book where they are just hanging out and talking. The texting back and forth - adorable. .
This book is a new all-time favourite and I'm sure I'll re-read it at some point this year. I'd love to see a movie adaptation of it. Hoping Kelly McCaughrain writes another book soon, because this was fantastic.
This book is a masterpiece. I loved it so much! I read the last 200 pages in one sitting because I literally could not put it down.
What it's about: This is a slower-paced character-driven story about a circus kid whose sister suffers an accident; to help save the family business, he teams up with the new kid at school to create their own double act.
What I liked: Coming from a burlesque/cabaret background, the premise of the story was completely up my street. Several of the chapters start with a blog post by Birdie which talk about circus history that I found really interesting, though I can understand why some people may not like them as they take you out of the narrative. I felt they were a way for the reader to get to know Birdie more, as she is absent for a large portion of the book.
The characters are brilliant, I absolutely love Hector - he is such a sweetheart. Whilst I don't think characters need to be likeable to make a book good, it certainly made my experience better. Even though they are likeable, the characters aren't perfect. Finch is an asshole a lot of the time but if you were ever picked on as a kid you can understand why.
The friendship between Hector and Finch is beautiful and so natural - no insta love, just slow burn friends-to-lovers. There's a lot of moments in the book where they are just hanging out and talking. The texting back and forth - adorable. .
This book is a new all-time favourite and I'm sure I'll re-read it at some point this year. I'd love to see a movie adaptation of it. Hoping Kelly McCaughrain writes another book soon, because this was fantastic.
March 31, 2018
I was immediately intrigued by this book when I read about it in an email. The title interested me and I’m all for reading about circuses at the moment. A massive thank you to Walker for sending me a copy of this book. I’m always excited when I hear that a book is a debut. I’m always on the search for fabulous new writing talent. I am happy to say I’d easily read another book by Kelly McCaughrain, I was really impressed with her debut!
It centres around twins Finch and Birdie. They are the stars of the flying trapeze in their family circus. Finch and Birdie are treated horribly at school because they are outsiders, they dress outlandishly and express themselves through their outfits! Lots of people at school pick on them because they’re different. Birdie has a terrifying accident, leaving her out of action for the family circus school. Finch has to work with Hector, a new geeky kid at school. He’s a little bit hopeless at all things circus, but Finch perseveres with him. Finch and Hector grow closer as they learn to deal with friends, family and school pressures. They learn about who they really are.
I thought this was such a cute book! I have to admit that it took me a few chapters to get into it, but when I was, I was completely captivated. I found it incredibly easy to read. I loved how there were many positive messages that could be taken from the story. Finch, Birdie and Hector are such fantastic characters. I especially grew to love Finch and Hector. I loved how their friendship developed over the course of the story. I was championing Hector from the very beginning too. Such an adorable character.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. My heart grew to love these truly special characters.
It centres around twins Finch and Birdie. They are the stars of the flying trapeze in their family circus. Finch and Birdie are treated horribly at school because they are outsiders, they dress outlandishly and express themselves through their outfits! Lots of people at school pick on them because they’re different. Birdie has a terrifying accident, leaving her out of action for the family circus school. Finch has to work with Hector, a new geeky kid at school. He’s a little bit hopeless at all things circus, but Finch perseveres with him. Finch and Hector grow closer as they learn to deal with friends, family and school pressures. They learn about who they really are.
I thought this was such a cute book! I have to admit that it took me a few chapters to get into it, but when I was, I was completely captivated. I found it incredibly easy to read. I loved how there were many positive messages that could be taken from the story. Finch, Birdie and Hector are such fantastic characters. I especially grew to love Finch and Hector. I loved how their friendship developed over the course of the story. I was championing Hector from the very beginning too. Such an adorable character.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. My heart grew to love these truly special characters.
February 15, 2018
Lots to love here - lots about circuses, standing out, and finding to place to belong.
A little more serious than I was expecting, and sort of wished I got a better feeling of the Northern Ireland location.
Some really positive messages.
A little more serious than I was expecting, and sort of wished I got a better feeling of the Northern Ireland location.
Some really positive messages.
February 1, 2018
This book is SO CUTE. I loved it
April 30, 2018
I wanted to shake Finch a couple of times when he was being an idiot, but I otherwise really enjoyed this.
January 24, 2021
"Even though he could do this on his own if he wanted to, he wants to be partners with me."
Qué libro más bonito, dulce, y significativo.
No pensé que me iba a gustar tanto, pero al final terminé amando cada una de sus páginas.
Disfruté mucho el mundo del circo, los datos que Birdie comparte en su blogg, y la dinámica de la familia Franconi.
Los personajes son entrañables. Héctor con su torpeza, y Finch con su sarcasmo; son absolutamente adorables.
Le hubiera dado 5 estrellas, pero soy egoísta y me faltó un epílogo que contara sobre el futuro del circo, de Birdie, y con un poco de romance.
Qué libro más bonito, dulce, y significativo.
No pensé que me iba a gustar tanto, pero al final terminé amando cada una de sus páginas.
Disfruté mucho el mundo del circo, los datos que Birdie comparte en su blogg, y la dinámica de la familia Franconi.
Los personajes son entrañables. Héctor con su torpeza, y Finch con su sarcasmo; son absolutamente adorables.
Le hubiera dado 5 estrellas, pero soy egoísta y me faltó un epílogo que contara sobre el futuro del circo, de Birdie, y con un poco de romance.
July 18, 2023
La trama puede que sea algo simple, pero la historia es preciosa.
January 28, 2021
"The trick is to choose a hand you like holding, wherever you are".
Es una historia de autoconocimiento muy bonita .
Héctor sin lugar a duda fue mi personaje favorito. Es una joya de persona.
Es una historia de autoconocimiento muy bonita .
Héctor sin lugar a duda fue mi personaje favorito. Es una joya de persona.
May 3, 2019
DNF at page 120. My reasons for this are the following:
- Struggled to get on with the writing
- Didn't like Birdie's blog posts at the start of every couple of chapters - felt that these took me out of the narrative, which after each blog I then had to get back into again
- The blurb promises me that Birdie has a terrifying accident, and then Finch and Hector have to team up - at the point at which I put this down none of these things had happened, which was really frustrating as this was what I expected the book to be about... everything I'd read so far felt like very long preamble
- Wasn't able to connect with either the circus theme (despite liking circuses) or the characters. I think I'd have found this possible had there been more plot to hang the characters around, but there wasn't.
Readers who enjoy slower paced character novels may connect with this more than I did.
- Struggled to get on with the writing
- Didn't like Birdie's blog posts at the start of every couple of chapters - felt that these took me out of the narrative, which after each blog I then had to get back into again
- The blurb promises me that Birdie has a terrifying accident, and then Finch and Hector have to team up - at the point at which I put this down none of these things had happened, which was really frustrating as this was what I expected the book to be about... everything I'd read so far felt like very long preamble
- Wasn't able to connect with either the circus theme (despite liking circuses) or the characters. I think I'd have found this possible had there been more plot to hang the characters around, but there wasn't.
Readers who enjoy slower paced character novels may connect with this more than I did.
June 30, 2018
I loved this sweet and heartwarming story. Finch Franconi and his twin sister Birdie are trapeze stars at their own family’s circus, a circus which is in danger of being closed down. Despite problems at school they decide to hold a special performance, to save it, but when an accident threatens to end the twins double act, Finch has to find another way to rescue the place he loves.
This was such a lovely and charming story that I’m still smiling after reading it. Set in a small village in Northern Ireland the story begins with a blog post entry from Birdie (which also explains the title of the book) before moving onto the main story which is narrated by Finch throughout. I wasn’t sure if I’d get into the book at first, although it was easy to read. I wasn’t sure if the circus background was one I would click with and I wasn’t sure about the over the top stereotype look that Hector and some of the other characters had, but a few more pages into this and I began to enjoy it…So much so that soon I couldn’t put it down!
As the story continues we find out more about Finch and Birdie’s life at their family’s circus school and how hard it is for them to fit in at their regular school. I have to admit quite a bit of the story was predictable for me, especially the overall ending, but I still loved reading it, and Finch’s character is definitely one I grew to like. It becomes obvious early on that Finch not only struggles at school because of being part of the circus, but he also struggles because he is gay, and dresses in a way that makes him more of a target. Despite Finch’s struggles and his defensiveness, I liked the self confidence he has and it’s something many teens can relate to, wanting to be themselves. Birdie’s blog post entries happen at the start of several of the chapters and I liked reading these as they gave an insight into actual circus life as well as giving clues to what was happening in the main story.
There are some serious moments, like when Birdie has an accident, that can leave you feeling a bit emotional, but overall this book definitely has a romantic comedy vibe, with Finch’s friendship with Hector being both sweet and funny to read. I loved the way the two work on their double act, and the constant back and forth with Finch’s feelings and opinions on Hector, the arguing and conversations they have. I knew (or hoped I knew) how the story would end and I was so amazed and pleased with the way that it finished. It was a lovely and satisfying ending and it definitely got me in the heart it was so sweet.
There’s nothing dark in this story and barely any use of the s swear word. Overall the story is just a funny romantic contemporary which I think anyone will love reading. The story is predictable but at the same time it’s one I love because the whole circus/not fitting in theme is one I and so many teenagers can relate to. I’d definitely recommend this book and want to read it again which I always see as the mark of a brilliant novel!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
This was such a lovely and charming story that I’m still smiling after reading it. Set in a small village in Northern Ireland the story begins with a blog post entry from Birdie (which also explains the title of the book) before moving onto the main story which is narrated by Finch throughout. I wasn’t sure if I’d get into the book at first, although it was easy to read. I wasn’t sure if the circus background was one I would click with and I wasn’t sure about the over the top stereotype look that Hector and some of the other characters had, but a few more pages into this and I began to enjoy it…So much so that soon I couldn’t put it down!
As the story continues we find out more about Finch and Birdie’s life at their family’s circus school and how hard it is for them to fit in at their regular school. I have to admit quite a bit of the story was predictable for me, especially the overall ending, but I still loved reading it, and Finch’s character is definitely one I grew to like. It becomes obvious early on that Finch not only struggles at school because of being part of the circus, but he also struggles because he is gay, and dresses in a way that makes him more of a target. Despite Finch’s struggles and his defensiveness, I liked the self confidence he has and it’s something many teens can relate to, wanting to be themselves. Birdie’s blog post entries happen at the start of several of the chapters and I liked reading these as they gave an insight into actual circus life as well as giving clues to what was happening in the main story.
There are some serious moments, like when Birdie has an accident, that can leave you feeling a bit emotional, but overall this book definitely has a romantic comedy vibe, with Finch’s friendship with Hector being both sweet and funny to read. I loved the way the two work on their double act, and the constant back and forth with Finch’s feelings and opinions on Hector, the arguing and conversations they have. I knew (or hoped I knew) how the story would end and I was so amazed and pleased with the way that it finished. It was a lovely and satisfying ending and it definitely got me in the heart it was so sweet.
There’s nothing dark in this story and barely any use of the s swear word. Overall the story is just a funny romantic contemporary which I think anyone will love reading. The story is predictable but at the same time it’s one I love because the whole circus/not fitting in theme is one I and so many teenagers can relate to. I’d definitely recommend this book and want to read it again which I always see as the mark of a brilliant novel!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
May 18, 2018
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2018/05...
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds is a sweet and quirky coming of age story set in a circus school in rural Wales. The main characters are twins Finch and Birdie Franconi, but the story is narrated only by Finch. He is a very complex and sometimes difficult to like character but he definitely steals the show.
Finch and Birdie are a team, both in stage and in real life. They don't have any other friends in high school and are often bullied by the "cool" kids. Finch doesn't seem to care, as long as they face them together. But then, two huge things happen: a new boy, Hector, joins their school and is determined to be their friend and Birdie suffers an accident. This means Finch has to face a new reality and he soon realizes that he might actually care, a lot.
I have to stay that the story was a bit slow at the beginning but after the first few characters, it picked up pace and I started having fun with these characters. Plus, at the beginning of each chapter, there is a blog post from Birdie talking about the circus school, their students, how it started and about circus history in general. I found those really interesting, not only because there were a lot of things I didn't know about the circus, but because they fitted with the story. It felt like Birdie was talking directly to Finch and helping him figure it all out.
I also enjoyed how the friendship between Hector and Finch developed. Hector was a very interesting character and I admired his dedication and optimism. Some of their scenes together were really special, and Hector's brighter personality complemented Finch's moody and sometimes darker one.
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds is a sweet and quirky coming of age story set in a circus school in rural Wales. The main characters are twins Finch and Birdie Franconi, but the story is narrated only by Finch. He is a very complex and sometimes difficult to like character but he definitely steals the show.
Finch and Birdie are a team, both in stage and in real life. They don't have any other friends in high school and are often bullied by the "cool" kids. Finch doesn't seem to care, as long as they face them together. But then, two huge things happen: a new boy, Hector, joins their school and is determined to be their friend and Birdie suffers an accident. This means Finch has to face a new reality and he soon realizes that he might actually care, a lot.
I have to stay that the story was a bit slow at the beginning but after the first few characters, it picked up pace and I started having fun with these characters. Plus, at the beginning of each chapter, there is a blog post from Birdie talking about the circus school, their students, how it started and about circus history in general. I found those really interesting, not only because there were a lot of things I didn't know about the circus, but because they fitted with the story. It felt like Birdie was talking directly to Finch and helping him figure it all out.
I also enjoyed how the friendship between Hector and Finch developed. Hector was a very interesting character and I admired his dedication and optimism. Some of their scenes together were really special, and Hector's brighter personality complemented Finch's moody and sometimes darker one.
July 12, 2018
A delightful teen romcom story, great for John Green fans, twins, misfits, people with crazy grannies, and those who dream of joining the circus. 😋
Really loved the main characters and all the circus kids really. The slow build of romance was really well done, so much so that it’s almost more about friendship than romance, which I think is a good thing. The clown-training bits were fab, and I had multiple moments of having little chuckles on the train...Proper feel-good book.
Really loved the main characters and all the circus kids really. The slow build of romance was really well done, so much so that it’s almost more about friendship than romance, which I think is a good thing. The clown-training bits were fab, and I had multiple moments of having little chuckles on the train...Proper feel-good book.
April 22, 2018
This wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I liked the individual plot elements but it felt like the author had trouble tying them all together, which made the overall pacing a huge mess and was the main reason why it took me ages to get through.
Side note: the book had very little to do with its summary - why would you mention something that happens literally 150 pages into the book?
Side note: the book had very little to do with its summary - why would you mention something that happens literally 150 pages into the book?
October 24, 2018
It has a circus in it, so you know I had to read it. (Proper review to come c:)
January 28, 2021
Una historia hermosa y llena de mensajes.
La autora hizo foco en los personajes y eso me encantó.
Birdie es un gran pilar en la vida de Finch, este llega a ser muy dependiente de ella, más allá del lazo de gemelos, Birdie es la única amiga que tiene en la escuela. Acá hay un tema de bullying hacia estos personajes, y que es fundamental en el primer vistazo de la personalidad de Finch, respondiendo sarcásticamente y no haciendo caso, como si no le importara.
Este siento que es el personaje más complejo pero más simple de la historia, si bien tiene sus cosas que quizá no le caiga bien a todos los lectores no quita que está excelente su construcción.
*SPOILER* hay una conexión entre su forma de vestirse y el bullying, pero el efecto este lo ví mucho más reflejado en el momento en el que tiene que hacer su acto con Héctor y ser un payaso, dejar que la gente que ría de él. Como algo que tiene que enfrentar. Con la ayuda de Héctor, Finch puede sobreponerse en esta situación y seguir adelante y aceptar que tiene, puede y quiere ser también un payaso en el circo *FIN SPOILER"
El otro personaje que se nos presenta es Héctor, un chico con muchos secretos a la percepción de Finch pero no tan secretos para los demás. Es un personaje muy dulce y agradable, por más que Finch al principio lo empujara fuera de su círculo, Héctor paso a paso se pudo meter en él. Sus escenas son de mis favoritas, más cuando Héctor hacía reír a Finch.
En cuanto a la historia en sí, si bien está ambientada en el circo (que no es algo que me guste) lo encontré súper interesante, ya que no solo se queda en la ambientación sino que también mediante los posteos de Birdie en su blog (otro detalle que me fascinó) sobre historias y lenguaje me divirtieron y me hicieron aprender otras caras del circo que nunca me hubiese imaginado. Además de que es un recurso que utiliza para poder expresarse de una forma que no puede con Finch, para poder decir cosas entre líneas que no le puede decir a la cara.
Además de que también se habla de familia sin lazos de sangre, en el circo además de Birdie y Finch, y sus padres, tenemos a otros personajes como Py, Wren y Jane. Donde ellos también son familia, y aquel lugar es su lugar seguro. Y esto me lleva a reflexionar de que sucede muchas veces, ya sea, por ejemplo, un estudio de danza; hasta el lugar de estudio mismo. Donde conoces gente con la cual pasas muchas horas al día, creando un vínculo fuerte, creando un lugar cómodo.
Y como dije, la autora centró su foco en los personajes, por lo tanto estos tienen un crecimiento capítulo a capítulo, me encantó leerlo y explorar el camino con ellos.
En fin, me pareció un libro súper interesante, súper recomendable ya que es muy chill para épocas del año donde solo queremos algo tranquilo. También lo recomiendo por si leyeron "Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe" no comparación, pero tienen una vibes similar.
La autora hizo foco en los personajes y eso me encantó.
Birdie es un gran pilar en la vida de Finch, este llega a ser muy dependiente de ella, más allá del lazo de gemelos, Birdie es la única amiga que tiene en la escuela. Acá hay un tema de bullying hacia estos personajes, y que es fundamental en el primer vistazo de la personalidad de Finch, respondiendo sarcásticamente y no haciendo caso, como si no le importara.
Este siento que es el personaje más complejo pero más simple de la historia, si bien tiene sus cosas que quizá no le caiga bien a todos los lectores no quita que está excelente su construcción.
*SPOILER* hay una conexión entre su forma de vestirse y el bullying, pero el efecto este lo ví mucho más reflejado en el momento en el que tiene que hacer su acto con Héctor y ser un payaso, dejar que la gente que ría de él. Como algo que tiene que enfrentar. Con la ayuda de Héctor, Finch puede sobreponerse en esta situación y seguir adelante y aceptar que tiene, puede y quiere ser también un payaso en el circo *FIN SPOILER"
El otro personaje que se nos presenta es Héctor, un chico con muchos secretos a la percepción de Finch pero no tan secretos para los demás. Es un personaje muy dulce y agradable, por más que Finch al principio lo empujara fuera de su círculo, Héctor paso a paso se pudo meter en él. Sus escenas son de mis favoritas, más cuando Héctor hacía reír a Finch.
En cuanto a la historia en sí, si bien está ambientada en el circo (que no es algo que me guste) lo encontré súper interesante, ya que no solo se queda en la ambientación sino que también mediante los posteos de Birdie en su blog (otro detalle que me fascinó) sobre historias y lenguaje me divirtieron y me hicieron aprender otras caras del circo que nunca me hubiese imaginado. Además de que es un recurso que utiliza para poder expresarse de una forma que no puede con Finch, para poder decir cosas entre líneas que no le puede decir a la cara.
Además de que también se habla de familia sin lazos de sangre, en el circo además de Birdie y Finch, y sus padres, tenemos a otros personajes como Py, Wren y Jane. Donde ellos también son familia, y aquel lugar es su lugar seguro. Y esto me lleva a reflexionar de que sucede muchas veces, ya sea, por ejemplo, un estudio de danza; hasta el lugar de estudio mismo. Donde conoces gente con la cual pasas muchas horas al día, creando un vínculo fuerte, creando un lugar cómodo.
Y como dije, la autora centró su foco en los personajes, por lo tanto estos tienen un crecimiento capítulo a capítulo, me encantó leerlo y explorar el camino con ellos.
En fin, me pareció un libro súper interesante, súper recomendable ya que es muy chill para épocas del año donde solo queremos algo tranquilo. También lo recomiendo por si leyeron "Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe" no comparación, pero tienen una vibes similar.
June 8, 2018
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds is a lovely coming of age story set in rural Ireland. The book is narrated by Finch, but you also get blog post from Birdie, which give a bit more insight into how she's seeing the world differently from her brother. Finch lives and breathes the circus school, it's his favourite place to be. This is partly because the twins are very much odd ones out at their school, wearing flamboyant clothing and generally attracting the attention of the class bullies. The circus is his safe haven, and he can't imagine not having it in his life. Due to past events (which are eventually revealed, but not for a while), Finch doesn't really trust other people very much, and I liked how that really emphasised how much trust he puts in Birdie when they're on the trapeze. It also means that he's very reluctant to let Hector hang out with them, despite Birdie wanting to make friends.
Then a few chapters in, Birdie has her accident, and suddenly Finch has to figure out who he is when he isn't half of Birdie-and-Finch. So much of his life has revolved around his twin, and now there are huge questions that make it seem like maybe she wasn't always as open and honest with him as he thought. I loved the focus on the twins' relationship in this book. Finch really struggles in a lot of ways without her, and at times it made him a not very likeable character, but even so, I felt like that was very realistic: his actions made sense given his past experiences and current uncertainty. Even when I was a bit frustrated and annoyed with him and the choices he was making, I hoped he would figure things out.
I also liked the fact that while Finch is gay, and that's a fairly central thing, it's not a book about him coming to terms with his sexuality. I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that there's a romantic plotline, too, but again it's a subplot, not a main focus of the story.
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds was a really fun book to read. It tackles some deeper topics, and in my opinion does them well, but overall it was a happy book which made me smile a lot. It's a great portrayal of life in a small town, where everybody knows you and you've all been at the same school together since you were five, which is absolutely something I could relate to. If you're looking for an entertaining, uplifting coming of age story with memorable characters, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds is definitely it. I'm giving it 8 out of 10.
[Review first posted on my book blog; link in my profile.]
Then a few chapters in, Birdie has her accident, and suddenly Finch has to figure out who he is when he isn't half of Birdie-and-Finch. So much of his life has revolved around his twin, and now there are huge questions that make it seem like maybe she wasn't always as open and honest with him as he thought. I loved the focus on the twins' relationship in this book. Finch really struggles in a lot of ways without her, and at times it made him a not very likeable character, but even so, I felt like that was very realistic: his actions made sense given his past experiences and current uncertainty. Even when I was a bit frustrated and annoyed with him and the choices he was making, I hoped he would figure things out.
I also liked the fact that while Finch is gay, and that's a fairly central thing, it's not a book about him coming to terms with his sexuality. I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that there's a romantic plotline, too, but again it's a subplot, not a main focus of the story.
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds was a really fun book to read. It tackles some deeper topics, and in my opinion does them well, but overall it was a happy book which made me smile a lot. It's a great portrayal of life in a small town, where everybody knows you and you've all been at the same school together since you were five, which is absolutely something I could relate to. If you're looking for an entertaining, uplifting coming of age story with memorable characters, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds is definitely it. I'm giving it 8 out of 10.
[Review first posted on my book blog; link in my profile.]
January 29, 2021
Reseña
Libro: Flying Tips for Flightless Birds
Autora: Kelly McCaughrain @kmccaughrain
4.5/5 🖤🖤🖤🖤
.
BOOKSTAGRAM READING CHALLENGE 2021
#47 Un libro que tenga el título en otro idioma
.
Hoy les voy a hablar del libro que leímos en el club Once Upon A Time #OUAT @ouat_bookclub
que organizan @chapterbychapter_books y @bookish.arg Primero, muchas gracias a ellas por este grandioso espacio. Lo disfruté un montón en especial las clases. Y esa entrevista final que nos regalaron dios que hermosura!!
.
Este libro nos presenta a Finch y Birdie, dos gemelos que pertenecen a una familia circense. Ambos son trapecistas y estrellas de este show, pero ahora están en la búsqueda de nuevos miembros para el lugar, ya que si no lo logran podrían cerrar. Pero el problema es que donde viven es un pueblo muy pequeño y en el colegio los molestan por pertenecer al circo, entonces no tienen muchas opciones por eso deciden crear un blog para atraer más personas.
.
A través de la historia, conocemos a Finch, un chico con un estilo de la moda peculiar, leal a su familia y que ama mucho el circo, pero a la vez, algo inseguro y con problemas en la escuela.
Birdie es muy dulce, ama a su familia y el circo también, pero tiene dudas de si esto es todo lo que puede hacer en su vida, ya que ella explica que es un asunto de 24/7 siempre practicando, o ayudando con el show.
.
Entonces entra en escena Hector, un chico geek, tímido, y muy inteligente que llega nuevo a la escuela. Él trata de acercarse a los hermanos y ser su amigo, Birdie lo recibe gratamente mientras que Finch no lo acepta porque no entiende que quiera ser su amigo y además porque con su hermana siempre ha tenido una gran conexión, siendo ellos dos toda la vida. Pero entonces Birdie sufre un accidente y a raíz de eso Hector y Finch empiezan a pasar tiempo juntos, creando poco a poco una amistad y al mismo tiempo Hector se interesa por el show y decide que quiere ser parte del circo.
.
Me encantaron las diferentes situaciones que se desarrollaron a lo largo del libro. Vemos varios temas como la familia, el circo, aceptación, orientación sexual, bullying, entre otros, que hacen de esta historia una maravillosa lectura. Toda la temática del circo en especial es muy cautivante, aunque al inicio lo dudes, luego te atrapa totalmente. Y AMO los personajes, la escritora aquí fue super genial al crearlos. Amooo a Hector, en serio este personaje es un amor, y Finch awww, y la dinámica que estos dos manejaron!! Birdie se robó también parte de mi corazón con todos sus blogs.
.
Yo lo recomiendo totalmente, es una gran historia, y espero que muy pronto tengamos más libros de esta autora. ¿Lo leerían?
.
#reseña #instalove #romance #bookstagramersunidos #lectura #libros #recomendaciones #books #booklover #bookstagramcol #bookstagrammer #cliches #bookcommunity
Libro: Flying Tips for Flightless Birds
Autora: Kelly McCaughrain @kmccaughrain
4.5/5 🖤🖤🖤🖤
.
BOOKSTAGRAM READING CHALLENGE 2021
#47 Un libro que tenga el título en otro idioma
.
Hoy les voy a hablar del libro que leímos en el club Once Upon A Time #OUAT @ouat_bookclub
que organizan @chapterbychapter_books y @bookish.arg Primero, muchas gracias a ellas por este grandioso espacio. Lo disfruté un montón en especial las clases. Y esa entrevista final que nos regalaron dios que hermosura!!
.
Este libro nos presenta a Finch y Birdie, dos gemelos que pertenecen a una familia circense. Ambos son trapecistas y estrellas de este show, pero ahora están en la búsqueda de nuevos miembros para el lugar, ya que si no lo logran podrían cerrar. Pero el problema es que donde viven es un pueblo muy pequeño y en el colegio los molestan por pertenecer al circo, entonces no tienen muchas opciones por eso deciden crear un blog para atraer más personas.
.
A través de la historia, conocemos a Finch, un chico con un estilo de la moda peculiar, leal a su familia y que ama mucho el circo, pero a la vez, algo inseguro y con problemas en la escuela.
Birdie es muy dulce, ama a su familia y el circo también, pero tiene dudas de si esto es todo lo que puede hacer en su vida, ya que ella explica que es un asunto de 24/7 siempre practicando, o ayudando con el show.
.
Entonces entra en escena Hector, un chico geek, tímido, y muy inteligente que llega nuevo a la escuela. Él trata de acercarse a los hermanos y ser su amigo, Birdie lo recibe gratamente mientras que Finch no lo acepta porque no entiende que quiera ser su amigo y además porque con su hermana siempre ha tenido una gran conexión, siendo ellos dos toda la vida. Pero entonces Birdie sufre un accidente y a raíz de eso Hector y Finch empiezan a pasar tiempo juntos, creando poco a poco una amistad y al mismo tiempo Hector se interesa por el show y decide que quiere ser parte del circo.
.
Me encantaron las diferentes situaciones que se desarrollaron a lo largo del libro. Vemos varios temas como la familia, el circo, aceptación, orientación sexual, bullying, entre otros, que hacen de esta historia una maravillosa lectura. Toda la temática del circo en especial es muy cautivante, aunque al inicio lo dudes, luego te atrapa totalmente. Y AMO los personajes, la escritora aquí fue super genial al crearlos. Amooo a Hector, en serio este personaje es un amor, y Finch awww, y la dinámica que estos dos manejaron!! Birdie se robó también parte de mi corazón con todos sus blogs.
.
Yo lo recomiendo totalmente, es una gran historia, y espero que muy pronto tengamos más libros de esta autora. ¿Lo leerían?
.
#reseña #instalove #romance #bookstagramersunidos #lectura #libros #recomendaciones #books #booklover #bookstagramcol #bookstagrammer #cliches #bookcommunity
March 9, 2018
A circus school setting for an adolescent tale of growing up, family, love and accepting who you are.
I'll get it out of the way first - I didn't like the title. I didn't really see the relevance and thought it could have been something more pithy or cropped. That may be just me though, and it certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of the quite novel story inside.
One of a pair of twins, Finch, narrates the story of his world - a life he shares with his twin Birdie and their family, as teachers and performers in their own circus school. Juggling (sometimes literally!) school work and the life of a teenager with their rehearsals and performances, Finch comes across as very dedicated to his art but also a bit of a killjoy.
Desperate to attract new custom to keep afloat, we get an insight into Birdie's mind too, through her blog, meant to attract new students, and it's a good thing we have these insights, as Birdie falls prey to a heart-stopping accident and Finch is left alone, a twin without its partner, to try to save Franconis alone.
Or is he alone? Despite his defiant and uncivil demeanour, a new student refuses to give up and stop trying to learn from him. Hector wants to be a part of the circus.
I really admired the way in which Finch opened up to us before our eyes as the pages progressed. I gradually saw my feelings for him shift as I saw his interactions with others, saw Birdie's life, saw Hector and his family. He's a complicated character.
There are some heart-warming scenes between Hector and Finch as they use their unique talents and work together, and a fresh modern look at the old Mickey Rooney "let's put on a show!" theme. Especially as it's a circus. The use of the school context and seeing these characters in a school situation was also well played and written. Some minor characters get a little limelight and come across as realistic teenagers.
Finch is a great creation, he's almost but not quite an 'unreliable narrator' as it's fairly obvious at times what he isn't saying, feeling or admitting, but it's also not quite certain exactly how that will fit in with others.
A mature and 'different' YA novel, a fresh setting and protagonist, with a contemporary theme that needs discussing.
For ages 13 and above.
With thanks to Walker Books for the sample reading copy, sent for review purposes.
I'll get it out of the way first - I didn't like the title. I didn't really see the relevance and thought it could have been something more pithy or cropped. That may be just me though, and it certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of the quite novel story inside.
One of a pair of twins, Finch, narrates the story of his world - a life he shares with his twin Birdie and their family, as teachers and performers in their own circus school. Juggling (sometimes literally!) school work and the life of a teenager with their rehearsals and performances, Finch comes across as very dedicated to his art but also a bit of a killjoy.
Desperate to attract new custom to keep afloat, we get an insight into Birdie's mind too, through her blog, meant to attract new students, and it's a good thing we have these insights, as Birdie falls prey to a heart-stopping accident and Finch is left alone, a twin without its partner, to try to save Franconis alone.
Or is he alone? Despite his defiant and uncivil demeanour, a new student refuses to give up and stop trying to learn from him. Hector wants to be a part of the circus.
I really admired the way in which Finch opened up to us before our eyes as the pages progressed. I gradually saw my feelings for him shift as I saw his interactions with others, saw Birdie's life, saw Hector and his family. He's a complicated character.
There are some heart-warming scenes between Hector and Finch as they use their unique talents and work together, and a fresh modern look at the old Mickey Rooney "let's put on a show!" theme. Especially as it's a circus. The use of the school context and seeing these characters in a school situation was also well played and written. Some minor characters get a little limelight and come across as realistic teenagers.
Finch is a great creation, he's almost but not quite an 'unreliable narrator' as it's fairly obvious at times what he isn't saying, feeling or admitting, but it's also not quite certain exactly how that will fit in with others.
A mature and 'different' YA novel, a fresh setting and protagonist, with a contemporary theme that needs discussing.
For ages 13 and above.
With thanks to Walker Books for the sample reading copy, sent for review purposes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews