Fly Away Home

by Eve Bunting

Other authorsRonald Himler (Illustrator)

Paperback, 1993

Status

Available

Call number

362.56

Genres

Children's Books

Publication

HMH Books for Young Readers (1993), Edition: Reissue, 32 pages

Description

A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal and trying not to be noticed, is given hope when he sees a trapped bird find its freedom.

User reviews

LibraryThing member kirkonly

Fly Away Home is about a boy and his father who live in an airport. They live there because they have no other place to live. You find out that they move from terminal to terminal and try not to get noticed. This story is a great story of a boy who just wants to have an apartment again.

As a student

I found this book sad. The boy works very hard to get money, as well as the father, but they can’t seem to find an apartment. You see what it might be like if you were living in an airport. The boy just wants to live in an apartment again, but knows that it is going to take some time to do this. The book stresses friendship and patience. Good read.

As a teacher I see no problem using this book in my classroom. I understand that it might scary some kids into thinking that living in an airport is bad and that it might happen to them. But if a discussion is held afterwards then there should be no problem. Teacher recommended.

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24 more

LibraryThing member AshleyCampbell

This tear jerking book is a good way to make anyone aware that there are people (children included) who do not have a home. The child's perspective on being homeless makes it easy for children to relate to the feelings and reality of Andrew's homelessness.

LibraryThing member miksmom

A homeless boy named Andrew and his father take shelter in an airport. Fitted with matching blue oufits (so as not to stand out) and simple luggage, they try not to be noticed as they move from terminal to terminal. They are not alone, and Andrew knows some of the other "regulars" by name. In this

touching story, Andrew describes what a typical day is like, for him and his dad. Sometimes, seeing travelers reunite with their families makes Andrew feel sad or angry. He doesn't understand what makes them "special," having a home to go to, when he doesn't. This is a good question for discussion with children of all ages, who will empathize with Andrew regardless of their own situations. This book would serve as a good introduction to the issue of homelessness for younger children, or as a starter for discussion or role-playing with older students. It is both realistic and unbiased in its treatment of a sensitive issue.

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LibraryThing member occovey

Andrew and his father are homeless living in an airport. Andrew tells us about a typical day of his life, his father goes to work and he stays with another one of the "regulars" as he calls it. They wear matching blue outfits so that they do not stand out. In the book the Andrew finds a bird that

is trapped in the airport, this reinforces the feeling that Andrew and his father do not have home to go too and that is what he wants more than anything else he sees the bird finally escape and knows that just like the bird one day he will fly away home too. The book is sad and has a very intense plot because it is a very true fact that homelessness is real and it is a problem. But the fact that Andrew sees a future for himself is a great lesson. Kids will enjoy this book both to make predictions about what is going to happen.

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LibraryThing member sllumpkin

This book tells the story of a young boy and his father that live at the airport. The boy describes the misfortune that he and his father are experiencing, as well as how they cope with this obstacle.

LibraryThing member DBPeeples

This is a book about home. A father and son live in a an airport. On a day-to-day basis they try to go unnoticed by the airport security. They move to a different terminal each day. Their goal is one day move into a house. The son does find a little bird to relate too. The bird flies out the door

one day and the son wants to do the same thing soon.

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LibraryThing member medeese

Monica Brunetti has it all. A great husband and family. But then her adopted boys leave for america, and her husband's daughter might leave as well. This story shows Monica's struggle to cope with an empty nest and her need for another child.

LibraryThing member sdlucas

In this book a little boy and his father are homeless and live in an airport. This book would be for 3-5 because it potentially be a hard read for younger grades. This is a good book and deals with a very sensitive and real subject that some children in the class may be facing.

LibraryThing member Anna-KateSisson

This book is about a little boy and his father that live in the airport because they are homeless. They hide among people traveling in the airport and get by with very little.

LibraryThing member aabengtson

This is a story of a boy and his Dad who live in an airport. It tells of how they live every day and the people they encounter along the way. This could be a good book to use while teaching comprehension. The pages have about a paragraph on each page so this story would be best for upper level

readers or read by the teacher during read alouds.

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LibraryThing member leighanderson

Fly Away Home is a story about a homeless man and his son. They live in the airport and have to survive living in the airport. This is a deep story that should probably only be talked about with older students.

LibraryThing member ecrobinson

This sweet story opens with a little boy and his father who are homeless. They live in the airport for safety just hoping daily that they do not get caught. The boy's father works in the city as a janitor and when he goes to work, the boy stays with friends who also live in the airport. Although

this little boy does not have a lot to look forward to, he compares his live to that of a bird and that one day he and his father will be set free of living in the airport.

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LibraryThing member britny89

This book is sad and it recommended for older children. It tells of a boy and his father who live in an airport. It has very good illustrations and would be a good book to have a discussion about.

LibraryThing member mmburks

This book is a multicultural book and is about a little boy and his father who live in an airport. They have figured out how to survive there without getting caught. It is a a sad book and can really get students thinking.

LibraryThing member mlsweatman

Fly Away Home is a good book that I chose to read for my second read aloud at Holt Elementary school. This is a good book to keep childrens attention and to get them to ask questions about the book. This book also has some tier 2 words that I used to ask my students questions about what a word

means. This is a good book and tells a good story about a father and son that are homeless and living in a airport. The students responded really well to the book choice.

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LibraryThing member kmsmith13

Fly Away Home is about a boy and his dad that live in the airport. The boy tells us that the best way to live in the airport is to go unnoticed. In order to stay unnoticed they wear plain clothes, move around from terminal to terminal, and never talk. This book would be a great way to address the

theme of homelessness with students.

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LibraryThing member mdkladke

This book is about a boy and a dad that live in an airport, they move around from terminal to terminal and no one ever notices them. This is a sad story and it depicts life of some families that may not have money. I would read this to younger children to help them understand that other people may

not be as better off as you are, but you should have respect and be nice.

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LibraryThing member msalissa

This is a good book that helps address the difficult issue of homelessness. This book would be really good if there is someone in the class that may be having troubles at home. After reading this book, you could get your students to talk a little bit about the issues.

LibraryThing member Remugnaini

Summary: A boy and his father live in an airport. The book describes various people they meet as a result of their circumstance. The boy watches a sparrow that is caught in the airport finally get out of an open door and go home. This incident makes the reader wonder if the same will happen for the

little boy and his dad.
This is wonderful book that sheds light on the issue of poverty through a young boy's eyes. With beautiful illustrations and great meaning behind each word, this book is sure to capture any child's attention. It would be especially great when discussing airports or deeper issues like poverty. The subject matter and reading level may be most appropriate for students in upper elementary grades.

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LibraryThing member BeckieZimmerman

“Fly Away Home” was actually the first children’s book I have read about poverty, and I was really impressed. This is a realistic fiction picture book for readers in 1st to 3rd grade. I really liked this book because it portrayed financial struggles through a little boy’s eyes, and also

through a very unfamiliar situation. I have never heard of people living in an airport before, and it did expose me to a completely different life style. Though the reader would definitely pity the characters in this story, it was very encouraging how the little boy wanted to be like the trapped bird, and he knew that eventually he and his father would find a way to improve their lives and find a true home. This book not only had a fantastic central message that I would recommend to all young readers about perseverance and hope, but also is a great book that exposes children to an usual difficult topic of one’s socioeconomic status. This book definitely gets a 5 out of 5 stars.

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LibraryThing member hebeaton

This book has very good pictures but it is really sad. Its about a homeless boy who lives with his father at the airport. It has a good message but I would recommend it for old kids. It would provide good group discussion.

LibraryThing member Bethany1221

This book was sad to me but told a good message at the end. A father and his son are homeless and live in an airport. They walk around and switch where they stay every night so they do not get noticed. They used to live in an apartment but the mother died and they haven't much money. The little boy

one day watches a bird get stuck inside of the airport. He silently roots for the bird to get out. After a few days the bird finally gets out and the little boy roots for the bird. He hopes one day he can get out of the airport and be in a new home.

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LibraryThing member ktholt

Sad book for younger children; better for children who are older. This book discusses what it is like to not have a home. Also, it mentions what the father and son must do, so they will not be kicked out of the air-port.

LibraryThing member ashley3919

This book is about a father and son who are homless and live in an airport. It is really sad, but heartwarming at the same time.

LibraryThing member btivis

Eve Bunting discusses the topic of homelessness in her book Fly Away Home. She tells of a boy and his father who are homeless and living in an airport. They sleep, eat, and bathe at the airport, all while doing their best to blend in with the travelers. When other homeless people are taken away by

the police, the boy realizes just how important it is to blend in or he will be living on the streets again. When dad leaves on the weekend to work, the boy carries bags for travelers to earn money. He saves all the money he can in hopes of him and his dad getting a new place to live.
I enjoyed this book and thought the author handled the topic appropriately for the age group.
I would lile to read this book to students and let them realize they are lucky to have the things they do. I think it would be effective to read it before a food drive or when collecting toys at Christmas. Children will be able to understand how homelessness affects adults and children and the importance of helping people who need it.

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