Flight of the Puffin: paying it forward

 

Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden is a touching story that reminds us that we are all connected, whether we want to believe it or not.  Told from the perspective of four middle schoolers, each one is going through their own personal struggle.  Being bullied for being different, being misunderstood by their family, facing the guilt of the loss of a sibling and school closure, and surviving on the streets because of not being accepted for being non-binary by their family.

At first all four people seem to be in their own bubble of strife.  That all changes when one of them leaves positive messages around town for others who are feeling low.  Libby recalls her art teacher's advice: create the world of your dreams!  How, Libby wonders? One line at a time.  These positive messages reach the other three in ways that end up changing their lives.  

Through difficulties of understanding new perspectives, like living as a transgender person, each person comes away with an appreciation that they aren't alone.  They can reach out and be supported by not only their loved ones, but by complete strangers, too.

As a teacher and school librarian this story hits especially close to my heart.  The importance of getting to know your students and their stories creates a bond and relationship that can help improve their lives.  Braden writes each person's viewpoint with incredible authenticity.  When Vincent is bullied at school he expresses this by saying, "The sound of a slamming metal door is loud when you're outside a locker, but it's even louder when you're inside."  This is what Braden has done with this novel. She brought us inside each of these young people as their thoughts, fears, and hopes resonated loudly for the reader to take in and take action in their own lives to be more empathetic to issues facing our society's youths.