Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly

I'm feeling pretty good this year's Sequoyah Intermediate Book List!  I'm plowing through these titles!  Next up is Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly.  This book kind of reminded me of last year's book There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart.  Socially awkward middle schooler discovers how to accept their uniqueness and realize opinion of their peers are not the most important thing in life.

Apple, who's real name is Analyn, moves to Chapel Spring, Louisiana from the Philippines after her father dies.  Her mother wants to make sure they have a better life, and with help from a friend, they make the across the world move and arrive on a snowy day.  Apple looks different, eats different foods, has an unusual nickname - and all of this causes trouble during the middle school years.

The author cleverly titles each chapter after a Beatles's song.  Before they left the Philippines, Apple took her father's favorite Beatles CD with her.  She develops a love for the music and desperately wants to learn to play the guitar, just like her favorite Beatles, George Harrison.  Her mother doesn't want Apple to waste her time with foolishness of learning to play the guitar.  However, Apple is determined and soon discovers she has talent.  All of this happens during the difficult time of navigating through middle school.

Definitely would recommend this book for the middle school collection.  It highlights the many kinds of "friends" during middle school.  Some are good choices and others are not...  You'll be rooting for Apple as she finds her place and better friends.