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The Year I Flew Away
In this magical middle-grade novel, ten-year-old Gabrielle finds out that America isn't the perfect place she imagined when she moves from Haiti to Brooklyn. With the help of a clever witch, Gabrielle becomes the perfect American -- but will she lose herself in the process? Perfect for fans of HURRICANE CHILD and FRONT DESK.
It's 1985 and ten-year-old Gabrielle is excited to be moving from Haiti to America. Unfortunately, her parents won't be able to join her yet and she'll be living in a place called Brooklyn, New York, with relatives she has never met. She promises her parents that she will behave, but life proves to be difficult in the United States, from learning the language to always feeling like she doesn't fit in to being bullied. So when a witch offers her a chance to speak English perfectly and be "American," she makes the deal. But soon she realizes how much she has given up by trying to fit in and, along with her two new friends (one of them a talking rat), takes on the witch in an epic battle to try to reverse the spell.
Gabrielle is a funny and engaging heroine you won't soon forget in this sweet and lyrical novel that's perfect for fans of Hurricane Child and Front Desk.
It's 1985 and ten-year-old Gabrielle is excited to be moving from Haiti to America. Unfortunately, her parents won't be able to join her yet and she'll be living in a place called Brooklyn, New York, with relatives she has never met. She promises her parents that she will behave, but life proves to be difficult in the United States, from learning the language to always feeling like she doesn't fit in to being bullied. So when a witch offers her a chance to speak English perfectly and be "American," she makes the deal. But soon she realizes how much she has given up by trying to fit in and, along with her two new friends (one of them a talking rat), takes on the witch in an epic battle to try to reverse the spell.
Gabrielle is a funny and engaging heroine you won't soon forget in this sweet and lyrical novel that's perfect for fans of Hurricane Child and Front Desk.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
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February 2, 2021
Gabrielle is a 10 year old girl who gets the opportunity to move from Haiti to the US. It's what many kids in her village dream of. And though she'll be far from her parents she's excited all the same. She's heard so many great things about America from the streets being lined with coins and everyone having so much no one needs to pick them up. When she arrives in New York she's shocked and not just by the coldest weather she's ever experienced. Life outside of Haiti isn't as magical as she thought. She can't speak the language and the kids make fun of her. She also finds out money isn't as free flowing in America as she thought. Her aunt and uncle both work three jobs to provide for the family and it seems like the phone never stops ringing with calls to send money back home. And there are people who don't like her family just because they're themselves. If only she could be the perfect American girl.
Just wanting to fit in Gabrielle makes a deal with a witch for 3 wishes in exchange for giving up part of herself each time she makes the wish. And soon Gabrielle finds out the parts of her she looses are the very essence of what makes her.
I think children in 3rd and 4th grade will enjoy this as it's easy to read and Gabrielle's narrative voice flows as if she is telling a friend a story. It's a fast paced and easy to read story for them and the magic elements will help keep them engaged. I did wish the author would've used Gabrielle's special gift a little more as it has a big presence in the beginning of the story but not throughout. There's plenty of immigrant representation in this story not only from Haiti but other parts of the world. Being set in 1985 makes for fun pop culture references but this story just as easily could've been set in present day and nothing would change. Reading this in some ways took me back to navigating childhood as the daughter of immigrants.
I received an advance reader copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
Just wanting to fit in Gabrielle makes a deal with a witch for 3 wishes in exchange for giving up part of herself each time she makes the wish. And soon Gabrielle finds out the parts of her she looses are the very essence of what makes her.
I think children in 3rd and 4th grade will enjoy this as it's easy to read and Gabrielle's narrative voice flows as if she is telling a friend a story. It's a fast paced and easy to read story for them and the magic elements will help keep them engaged. I did wish the author would've used Gabrielle's special gift a little more as it has a big presence in the beginning of the story but not throughout. There's plenty of immigrant representation in this story not only from Haiti but other parts of the world. Being set in 1985 makes for fun pop culture references but this story just as easily could've been set in present day and nothing would change. Reading this in some ways took me back to navigating childhood as the daughter of immigrants.
I received an advance reader copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
December 21, 2020
omg ok. this was a fantastic book, but i do think you need to get into it with the right frame of mind—namely that it sits on the lower end of the middle-grade age category, and that it's magical realism, not outright fantasy. the voice was younger than i'm personally used to in MG, and it took some getting used to! once i got past that though, i found the protagonist gabrielle's voice fun, engaging, with sprinkles of genuine humor from the adults. this scene gives me so much joy:
the premise in a sentence: a haitian girl who newly immigrates to america makes a series of bad wishes with a witch, trading away her haitian heritage in order to fit in.
i suspect the themes of this book are going to hit hard for a lot of diaspora kids: the desperate longing to belong, the need to disown parts of your culture that stand out as different or strange in social contexts. gabrielle's deal with the witch ALMOST works as a loose retelling of disney's the little mermaid too, this aspect was very cool!
two liiiiiiiiiittle issues i found with the book:
ultimately, the tone of the book was more goofy than anything else, i think, but the lessons it teaches about the danger of blind assimilation and the importance of diversity are earnest and heartfelt. the ending is also very very warm and true to its themes, and may or may not have caused some tears.
the premise in a sentence: a haitian girl who newly immigrates to america makes a series of bad wishes with a witch, trading away her haitian heritage in order to fit in.
i suspect the themes of this book are going to hit hard for a lot of diaspora kids: the desperate longing to belong, the need to disown parts of your culture that stand out as different or strange in social contexts. gabrielle's deal with the witch ALMOST works as a loose retelling of disney's the little mermaid too, this aspect was very cool!
two liiiiiiiiiittle issues i found with the book:
• i thought gabrielle's aunt and uncle (who essentially foster her during her first few months in america as her parents weren't able to go along with her) were a little... mean to her? there is a little further exploration of their attitudes in later scenes, particularly how their strictness with gabrielle is born from the racism that they face as adults too, and how they don't want her to face the same. they do apologise to her as well. still though, i didn't expect them to be quite as cold to gabrielle when she first started living with them (she's a kid! she's in a completely new country and being bullied!), and i think i would've appreciated a little more upfront calling out of their actions in the beginning since they also contributed in driving gabrielle to the witch.
• this might just be me, but the humor was pretty hit-or-miss. when the funny bits stick the landing they're hilarious, but there are just like. some weird parts. gabrielle has a classmate everyone calls "Getz" because he can Getz them anything they need. you know. like the guy who somehow has connections everywhere in a heist movie. he wears a fedora and a trench coat to school. he talks like a hustler from a heist movie. and the whole time my brain just kept going, "this kid is. ten."
ultimately, the tone of the book was more goofy than anything else, i think, but the lessons it teaches about the danger of blind assimilation and the importance of diversity are earnest and heartfelt. the ending is also very very warm and true to its themes, and may or may not have caused some tears.
March 8, 2021
Being in America means I have a chance to reach my dreams, but if it weren’t for Haiti, I’d never even know how to dream.
In The Year I Flew Away we meet Gabrielle a ten-year-old living with her parents in Haiti. The book opens and we are taken to a village with Gabrielle and her friends in the middle of a mango eating competition. Gabrielle won the competition and that same even her parents let her know she will be moving to America to live with her Uncle and his family. Gabrielle moves to New York but her parents have to remain in Haiti until a later time. Gabrielle must now adjust to life in New York, a new country, family, school and friends. She finds out that America is not an easy place to live, added to that she does not fit it.
Gabrielle is constantly being bullied for her accent and where she is from. One evening she meets a witch who promises her all of this can change, she grants her three wishes… but, we all know witches be witching and things goes worse than Gabrielle can imagine.
I honestly, enjoyed reading this book. Gabrielle is such a strong character that you WANT to see win. She is sincere and thoroughly entertaining. The author did such a great job of having strong characters alongside Gabrielle who were hilarious and beyond engaging. I think as a adult we can all see ourselves in a character who are looking to belong and have a community- this is a theme I never get tired of reading about.
I loved that the author spoke about racism and how America really is, even in a YA novel.
Yes this is YA and yes it is fantasy but it is so well done and deeply engaging. A must read.
In The Year I Flew Away we meet Gabrielle a ten-year-old living with her parents in Haiti. The book opens and we are taken to a village with Gabrielle and her friends in the middle of a mango eating competition. Gabrielle won the competition and that same even her parents let her know she will be moving to America to live with her Uncle and his family. Gabrielle moves to New York but her parents have to remain in Haiti until a later time. Gabrielle must now adjust to life in New York, a new country, family, school and friends. She finds out that America is not an easy place to live, added to that she does not fit it.
Gabrielle is constantly being bullied for her accent and where she is from. One evening she meets a witch who promises her all of this can change, she grants her three wishes… but, we all know witches be witching and things goes worse than Gabrielle can imagine.
I honestly, enjoyed reading this book. Gabrielle is such a strong character that you WANT to see win. She is sincere and thoroughly entertaining. The author did such a great job of having strong characters alongside Gabrielle who were hilarious and beyond engaging. I think as a adult we can all see ourselves in a character who are looking to belong and have a community- this is a theme I never get tired of reading about.
I loved that the author spoke about racism and how America really is, even in a YA novel.
Yes this is YA and yes it is fantasy but it is so well done and deeply engaging. A must read.
February 3, 2021
Oh my goodness. This should be a must read for all young readers! It is so perfectly makes you consider the age old cliché of be careful what you wish for.
10 year old Gabrielle can’t wait to move to America from Haiti. She will finally be in a country where money and food flow freely and school is actually free. It’s the land of riches and opportunity.
When Gabrielle moves to Brooklyn to live with her Uncle’s family, American life is far less glorious that what she envisioned. All she wants is to make friends at her new school, but with Haitian Creole as her first language and the other kids speaking English WAY too fast, she’s the new outcast that everyone decides to pick on.
Gabrielle realizes she can change her luck when she meets a witch who can grant her three wishes…the price? Something unimportant.
Gabrielle is such an incredible character. She’s passionate and enthusiastic about creating a new life filled with opportunities. Gabrielle also reminds us of the dangers of wanting to erase our otherness in order to “fit in” with everyone else.
Even though this book hits on some incredibly tough topics especially when it comes to the hardships and discrimination that immigrants (especially those with darker skin) face, there are definitely moments of joy and levity.
Also, Rocky, the talking rat who is trying so hard to be a rabbit is probably one of the funniest animal characters that I’ve ever come across. I mean, he literally tries to box Gabrielle after she accidentally squashes his home upon meeting him.
Overall, if you’re looking for a heartwarming coming of age story that is sprinkled with a bit of magic, definitely pick this one up!
10 year old Gabrielle can’t wait to move to America from Haiti. She will finally be in a country where money and food flow freely and school is actually free. It’s the land of riches and opportunity.
When Gabrielle moves to Brooklyn to live with her Uncle’s family, American life is far less glorious that what she envisioned. All she wants is to make friends at her new school, but with Haitian Creole as her first language and the other kids speaking English WAY too fast, she’s the new outcast that everyone decides to pick on.
Gabrielle realizes she can change her luck when she meets a witch who can grant her three wishes…the price? Something unimportant.
Gabrielle is such an incredible character. She’s passionate and enthusiastic about creating a new life filled with opportunities. Gabrielle also reminds us of the dangers of wanting to erase our otherness in order to “fit in” with everyone else.
Even though this book hits on some incredibly tough topics especially when it comes to the hardships and discrimination that immigrants (especially those with darker skin) face, there are definitely moments of joy and levity.
Also, Rocky, the talking rat who is trying so hard to be a rabbit is probably one of the funniest animal characters that I’ve ever come across. I mean, he literally tries to box Gabrielle after she accidentally squashes his home upon meeting him.
Overall, if you’re looking for a heartwarming coming of age story that is sprinkled with a bit of magic, definitely pick this one up!
August 21, 2020
I very much enjoyed the first half of this book -- Gabrielle's life in Haiti and the start of the transition to Brooklyn. When the magic kicked in, it worked at first but seemed to quickly descend into a nonsensical kid-storytelling, where things happen because they happen and stuff doesn't really make sense. I can't explain it, exactly, it's like she just lost the plot and substituted magical things instead? Or like the end of the book isn't really finished the way the earlier parts are -- possible! I am reading an ARC. I think what I wanted was for this clever, endearing character to either come up with a clever solution within the bounds of fairy tale logic or really dial in to listening to her friends. Neither of those quite happened. Definitely worth a read.
Advanced Reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced Reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
Read
September 26, 2021Good grief. This book was a hot mess. RTC
March 27, 2021
“And what a Black woman needs to know-regardless of where you were born-is this: America, your color walks in the door before you do. Always.”
Amazing middle grade read!
Amazing middle grade read!
December 12, 2024
Gabrielle has many happy memories in Haiti, but when she's ten, she gets the opportunity to go to America, where everyone hopes she will have a better life. Turns out NYC is not exactly what she imagined it would be, and just like the witch said, Gabrielle is mercilessly teased for her accent, her stumbling English, and anything else the kids can think of. She knows she shouldn't, but Gabrielle chooses to accept help from a witch, for what could possibly be worse than being alone in a strange country?
This book speaks deeply into the topic of authenticity and acceptance, both for others and yourself. It paints a beautiful picture of Haiti and Gabrielle's memories there but also crafts a powerful image of the ups and downs of being an immigrant in America. Yes, things got a little weird at times, but that's magical realism for you, and it was easy to see how the metaphorical tied in with the literal to create a moving ending.
This book speaks deeply into the topic of authenticity and acceptance, both for others and yourself. It paints a beautiful picture of Haiti and Gabrielle's memories there but also crafts a powerful image of the ups and downs of being an immigrant in America. Yes, things got a little weird at times, but that's magical realism for you, and it was easy to see how the metaphorical tied in with the literal to create a moving ending.
December 26, 2021
A timely book on self-acceptance, inclusion, and tolerance as an immigrant girl from Haiti tries to fit in at her new school in America. Lovely incorporation of fairy tales and Haitian culture.
February 10, 2021
Thank you Versify and Amazon Vine for my review copy.
Gabrielle left Haiti to come to America for better opportunities. Her parents want her to do well so they can all do better as a family. That’s a lot of pressure if you ask me for a ten year old. Gabrielle has a hard time fitting in no matter how hard she tries and is often teased and made fun of by other classmates.
A witch offers her three wishes, but they come with consequences. As the story progresses Gabrielle realizes that there is nothing wrong with her being Haitian and that she is American like everyone else even if she wasn’t born here. You don’t have to lose your identity or change your culture to be American.
This was my first time reading this author and even though it’s a middle grade book, I found myself nodding along as I read along. This book covered several topics such as racism, classism and what it truly means to be an American, which I loved.
Notable quote:
“And what a Black woman needs to know-regardless of where you were born-is this: America, your color walks in the door before you do. Always.”
Gabrielle left Haiti to come to America for better opportunities. Her parents want her to do well so they can all do better as a family. That’s a lot of pressure if you ask me for a ten year old. Gabrielle has a hard time fitting in no matter how hard she tries and is often teased and made fun of by other classmates.
A witch offers her three wishes, but they come with consequences. As the story progresses Gabrielle realizes that there is nothing wrong with her being Haitian and that she is American like everyone else even if she wasn’t born here. You don’t have to lose your identity or change your culture to be American.
This was my first time reading this author and even though it’s a middle grade book, I found myself nodding along as I read along. This book covered several topics such as racism, classism and what it truly means to be an American, which I loved.
Notable quote:
“And what a Black woman needs to know-regardless of where you were born-is this: America, your color walks in the door before you do. Always.”
December 25, 2020
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ebook in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
I thought this book had a lot of potential. It starts off with a young girl that is moving to America to live with her Aunt and Uncle while her parents stay behind in Haiti getting their papers together. There was so much rich culture sprinkles throughout, but I would have loved more!! As Gabrielle settles in, she finds she is picked on due to her looks and accent. She meets a witch who grants her wishes in exchange for her essence. There was more fantasy elements in this book than I expected. Some were extremely random and didn't fit into the storyline very well.
Overall the book was cute, and I could see 3rd and 4th graders liking it, but any age beyond that would see the plot holes and the weirdness that the book took. Lots of potental, just didn't quite pull it off.
I thought this book had a lot of potential. It starts off with a young girl that is moving to America to live with her Aunt and Uncle while her parents stay behind in Haiti getting their papers together. There was so much rich culture sprinkles throughout, but I would have loved more!! As Gabrielle settles in, she finds she is picked on due to her looks and accent. She meets a witch who grants her wishes in exchange for her essence. There was more fantasy elements in this book than I expected. Some were extremely random and didn't fit into the storyline very well.
Overall the book was cute, and I could see 3rd and 4th graders liking it, but any age beyond that would see the plot holes and the weirdness that the book took. Lots of potental, just didn't quite pull it off.
July 12, 2021
The world changes for 10 year old Gabrielle when her family sends her from her homeland of Haiti, to live with relatives in Brooklyn.
Her world changes from warmth and sunshine, fresh fruit, friends to cold and damp, foods in cans or from the frig --- and her basic lack of the English language makes her the brunt of many jokes by the other students in her school.
One day she encounters Lady Lydia, a witch, who will grant her 3 wishes, foolishly, Gabrielle believes that she can make one wish and stop, but Lady Lydia is more powerful than Gabrielle realizes. Before she knows what has happened she has made the three wishes, and finds that her life has been turned upside down - can these wishes be reversed???????????
Her world changes from warmth and sunshine, fresh fruit, friends to cold and damp, foods in cans or from the frig --- and her basic lack of the English language makes her the brunt of many jokes by the other students in her school.
One day she encounters Lady Lydia, a witch, who will grant her 3 wishes, foolishly, Gabrielle believes that she can make one wish and stop, but Lady Lydia is more powerful than Gabrielle realizes. Before she knows what has happened she has made the three wishes, and finds that her life has been turned upside down - can these wishes be reversed???????????
May 20, 2021
Oh, I loved this book so much! I did an entire video review talking about all the reasons I loved it, but basically, it does such a great job of tackling really tough issues of immigration and identity and fitting in, all with such a humorous tone and fantastical magic. I especially loved the way that Arnold used magic to embody some of the internal struggles that Gabrielle was having, making it more tangible for a middle grade audience. I'd very much recommend this to both middle grade and adult audiences!
Content Warnings:
bullying, racism, separation from family, near drowning
Content Warnings:
bullying, racism, separation from family, near drowning
July 4, 2021
This was a heartfelt debut story of a first generation ten-year-old girl named Gabrielle who immigrates to America from Haiti all by herself. She faces not only a new language to get used to, but the looks, laughs, and not-so-kind words from kids at her school. She did not imagine that her dream place to live would make her doubt herself and get involved with an evil witch to fix it all. Twisted with a bit of magic, this story is one that many readers can easily relate to.
March 7, 2021
I did not like the mix of realistic and fantasy elements mixed in this book. I think the topic of immigration and fitting in could have been treated better in a purely realistic book.
March 13, 2021
I listened to this as an audiobook and loved it! The author narrates it. This is a book for adults and youth, I definitely want this in my classroom library.
July 21, 2025
This is a great middle grade magical realism story about the immigrant story. I think it’s really important for kids to read stories from this perspective. Kindness and empathy are seriously lacking in school. It’s important for kids to know, ALL of us just want to be liked, accepted, and heard for who we are right now.
January 7, 2024
Excellent, entertaining audiobook!
Read
September 28, 2022I wasn't a fan of the fantasy elements in this but the characters and messages were good. Fast-paced and exciting but I wish there was more depth and more discussion beyond the surface level of identity.
February 4, 2021
Set roughly in the 1990s, The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold traces Gabrielle Jean's journey from her home village in Haiti to her uncle's home in Brooklyn where she is to begin a new life. Gabrielle initially believes that her parents will accompany her on her new beginnings but learns that as a result of a delay with their paperwork, she will make the trip alone until their administrative business is sorted. She is the success story of her neighbourhood and though pained by the imminent separation from her beloved parents, she makes a vow with herself to not become a ‘timoun pa bon’ (no good kid who gets sent back from America for misbehaving).
The novel opens with a spirited mango eating contest between Gabrielle and the tallest, biggest boy in her village. Just as she slam dunks the seed of her final mango past the rim and into the pail securing her victory, egged on by her best friend Stephanie, Gabrielle hears the shrill call of her mother's voice across the wind and runs away fearing punishment. The opening scenes of the book do a wonderful job of establishing the close knit bonds between Gabrielle and her immediate family, her friends and their community.
In a few well-written, densely packed lines, we are also brought up to speed on Haiti's tumultuous past and the political wranglings that have created gross economic chasms and islandwide poverty. But where we learn of the physical privations of its people, we are fortified by their love, pride and deep spiritual foundations. Gabrielle's material lack is overshadowed by the wealth of the spirit of her people and their ancestors.
The mysticism of African-derived spirituality runs deep in the first chapters of the novel and itself etches a wide tributary that flows throughout the novel. Magic is a powerful theme in this book. Gabrielle is gifted with a kind of third eye with which she sees the netherworld. Villagers gather with the cycles of the full moon to share stories and folklore. In subtle ways, we see how Gabrielle's gift is nurtured by a wider society that respects magic and the ancestral world, and this is the very thing that opens up the drama Gabrielle immediately experiences upon her relocation to New York.
Gabrielle struggles with her accent, her look, her background and her culture when she moves to NY. She desires nothing more than to make friends and to assimilate. Easier said than done. So when she meets Lady Lydia, a sharp-witted, intuitive witch who makes an innocuous offer to make her into the perfect, likable, 'All-American' girl, she jumps at the chance. She is proffered three delicious slices of mango (of which each slice represents a wish) and in exchange loses something (the value of which becomes apparent each time she loses it).
Gabrielle, in the end, finds herself fighting not just to defeat a powerful witch, but with herself in the working out of who she is and what it really means to belong. She finds herself challenging ugly stereotypes and she also finds herself fighting to learn that there is a strength in silence. In the process, she befriends a talking rat, a Mexican immigrant and discovers nuggets of wisdom that truly belie the suggested reading age for this book.
TYIFA is an exciting, unputdownable, fast-paced read. It is a tender exploration of discovery, self-acceptance and the beauty of being different. It encourages young readers to creatively examine choices, the price of the decisions one makes, peer pressure, friendship and how young people can happily occupy the island of the hypen of being (insert ancestral country here) - American.
There is an epic battle of magic at the end. One of the most beautiful takeaways is how many lessons are taught in the story without being overly moralistic and didactic. The story presents key narratives and allows young readers to arrive at their own conclusions, fortunately, leading them in all the right directions. Even the 'bad guys' are not fully bad. The writer provides nuances to their experiences so young readers can trace a journey to their descent and can enjoy the moments presented for their redemption.
The writing style and language is fun and vibrant; the pacing is impeccable, and the characters are vivid and interesting. Readers become intimately engaged with the story as it’s delivered in a first person narrative. At no point is it ever cliched although it is a fresh retelling of classic themes.
The Year I Flew Away is truly the best story for young readers we have had the pleasure of coming across recently. Yet it is a Caribbean story first but it is equally a universal story of triumph and kindness. It is a heartwarming celebration of family, Caribbean values and community.
In this moment of BLM and the push for diversity, The Year I Flew Away may be considered a premier aid for the promotion #ownvoices, diverse reads and will serve BIPOC, their friends, allies and the wider society nobly.
The novel opens with a spirited mango eating contest between Gabrielle and the tallest, biggest boy in her village. Just as she slam dunks the seed of her final mango past the rim and into the pail securing her victory, egged on by her best friend Stephanie, Gabrielle hears the shrill call of her mother's voice across the wind and runs away fearing punishment. The opening scenes of the book do a wonderful job of establishing the close knit bonds between Gabrielle and her immediate family, her friends and their community.
In a few well-written, densely packed lines, we are also brought up to speed on Haiti's tumultuous past and the political wranglings that have created gross economic chasms and islandwide poverty. But where we learn of the physical privations of its people, we are fortified by their love, pride and deep spiritual foundations. Gabrielle's material lack is overshadowed by the wealth of the spirit of her people and their ancestors.
The mysticism of African-derived spirituality runs deep in the first chapters of the novel and itself etches a wide tributary that flows throughout the novel. Magic is a powerful theme in this book. Gabrielle is gifted with a kind of third eye with which she sees the netherworld. Villagers gather with the cycles of the full moon to share stories and folklore. In subtle ways, we see how Gabrielle's gift is nurtured by a wider society that respects magic and the ancestral world, and this is the very thing that opens up the drama Gabrielle immediately experiences upon her relocation to New York.
Gabrielle struggles with her accent, her look, her background and her culture when she moves to NY. She desires nothing more than to make friends and to assimilate. Easier said than done. So when she meets Lady Lydia, a sharp-witted, intuitive witch who makes an innocuous offer to make her into the perfect, likable, 'All-American' girl, she jumps at the chance. She is proffered three delicious slices of mango (of which each slice represents a wish) and in exchange loses something (the value of which becomes apparent each time she loses it).
Gabrielle, in the end, finds herself fighting not just to defeat a powerful witch, but with herself in the working out of who she is and what it really means to belong. She finds herself challenging ugly stereotypes and she also finds herself fighting to learn that there is a strength in silence. In the process, she befriends a talking rat, a Mexican immigrant and discovers nuggets of wisdom that truly belie the suggested reading age for this book.
TYIFA is an exciting, unputdownable, fast-paced read. It is a tender exploration of discovery, self-acceptance and the beauty of being different. It encourages young readers to creatively examine choices, the price of the decisions one makes, peer pressure, friendship and how young people can happily occupy the island of the hypen of being (insert ancestral country here) - American.
There is an epic battle of magic at the end. One of the most beautiful takeaways is how many lessons are taught in the story without being overly moralistic and didactic. The story presents key narratives and allows young readers to arrive at their own conclusions, fortunately, leading them in all the right directions. Even the 'bad guys' are not fully bad. The writer provides nuances to their experiences so young readers can trace a journey to their descent and can enjoy the moments presented for their redemption.
The writing style and language is fun and vibrant; the pacing is impeccable, and the characters are vivid and interesting. Readers become intimately engaged with the story as it’s delivered in a first person narrative. At no point is it ever cliched although it is a fresh retelling of classic themes.
The Year I Flew Away is truly the best story for young readers we have had the pleasure of coming across recently. Yet it is a Caribbean story first but it is equally a universal story of triumph and kindness. It is a heartwarming celebration of family, Caribbean values and community.
In this moment of BLM and the push for diversity, The Year I Flew Away may be considered a premier aid for the promotion #ownvoices, diverse reads and will serve BIPOC, their friends, allies and the wider society nobly.
January 29, 2022
Overall, I enjoyed this book exploring anti-Black racism and xenophobia, experienced by a Haitian immigrant girl living in the USA. I liked the fusion of witches and magic to share this story. I know many immigrant children probably feel shame of "being different from white USA born Americans" when they arrive into the USA. This book is helpful for them to explore that and know that they are not alone in how they think.
I thought the ending could have been a little stronger, but it's still an overall creative book.
I thought the ending could have been a little stronger, but it's still an overall creative book.
March 31, 2021
This is about Gabrielle's life in Haiti and how her parents send her to America for a better life. Her parents send her to live with her uncle's family in Brooklyn until they can arrive and join her. This is about Gabrielle wanting to be more American. She is picked on and then meets a witch who will grant her 3 wishes. A lot of lessons learned in this story. Very well written. I wouldn't call it fantasy but more magical realism.
March 11, 2021
Gabrielle finds out that America isn’t the perfect place she imagined when she moves from Haiti to Brooklyn. With the help of a clever witch, Gabrielle becomes the perfect American—but will she lose herself in the process?
January 22, 2022
This book was so beautiful, amazing, and filled with humor!! “The Year I Flew Away” is a middle grade novel about a 10-year-old Haitian girl who’s struggling to fit into her new community in Brooklyn, meets a witch, makes wishes to assimilate, and learns lessons about culture, identity, and friendship. 7 y/o and I listened to the audio book, which was read by the author and had us both gasping with anticipation and laughing out loud. So good!
September 5, 2021
It’s my new favorite book
January 17, 2025
Started off good then just went off the rails.
February 5, 2021
A story about wishes and witches and being proud of your own identity.
April 18, 2023
I had a hard time finishing this. All of the reviews for this book were fantastic, and I love the background of her immigrant experience from Haiti to New York. The idea of the magical elements were great, but the writing felt juvenile and the plot is full of holes and I just had a really hard time caring.
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February 7, 2023Read for Feb 2023 mother / daughter book club with Charlotte 🥰
September 8, 2022
Its not really my kind of book but I love the message. If you like justice, witches and talking animals check it out
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