Flying Solo

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Flying Solo

Cover of hardcover 1st edition
Author Ralph Fletcher
Original title flying solo
Country U.S.
Language English
Series sandpiper
Genre Young Adult
Publisher Clarion Books
Publication date
 1998-09-21
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Pages 138
ISBN 978-0-395-87323-6
OCLC 38216537
LC Class PZ7.F632115 Fl 1998

Flying Solo is a young adult novel written by Ralph Fletcher, first published in 1998.

Plot

Mr. Fabiano is a sixth-grade teacher that calls in sick on April 28. When his class arrives they discover that their substitute teacher has not shown up. The class decides that they will not report this to administration and decide to run the classroom by themselves. The students follow the instructions left by their teacher and all goes fairly smoothly.

Characters

  • Mr. Sal Fabiano;— a handsome and beloved sixth grade teacher.
  • Rachel White — The de facto protagonist, Rachel has been mute for six months since a classmate (Tommy Feathers) who had a crush on her died six months earlier, the day after she told him off.
  • Bastian Fauvell — A sarcastic and rebellious Air Force brat. It's his last day of school before he moves to Hawaii.
  • Sean O'Day — A shy boy from a poor family who has a crush on Rachel.
  • Karen Ballard — The natural leader of the class who was basically the teacher for the day.
  • Jessica Cooke — The only member of the class that questions the students running the class for the day.
  • Christopher Ransom — An obnoxious and spoiled boy, that irritates most of the class.
  • Missy;— Rachel's best friend, who is also overweight and insecure. She usually acts as Rachel's interpreter.
  • Rhonda- A sassy girl who is also brave and competitive.

Themes

Several of the topics in the novel include selective mutism, death and grief.[1]

Reception

Susan P. Bloom in her review for Horn Book Magazine was positive, saying "this kaleidoscopic novel is more thoughtful and poignant than most school stories, while still appropriately leavened with comic moments"; it "demonstrates an utter respect for its characters and its readers, who will appreciate the honest and uncondescending portrayals."[2] Julie Siebecker reviewing for School Library Journal said that "the prose is economical but not sparse, and the characters are developed as sketches rather than in-depth portraits, which helps keep the book moving briskly. Not a must-have but a worthwhile purchase."[3] Nancy J. Johnson in her review for The Reading Teacher said that "Fletcher's characters are realistic and complicated. They rely on the writing lessons Mr. Fabiano taught them to explain, understand, and uncover the challenges of growing up and facing independence."[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ward, Marilyn (2006-06-06). Voices from the Margins. Information Age Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 978 -1593114008. 
  2. ↑ Bloom, Susan P. (Nov/Dec98). Horn Book Magazine 74 (6): 728–729. ISSN 0018-5078. 
  3. ↑ Siebecker, July (October 1998). "Flying Solo". School Library Journal 44 (10): 135. ISSN 0362-8930. 
  4. ↑ Johnson, Nancy J. (November 99). Reading Teacher 53 (3): 234. ISSN 0034-0561. 

External links

Recommended For 5th Graders

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