Flying Solo
| Flying Solo | |
|---|---|
 Cover of hardcover 1st edition |
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| Author(s) | Ralph Fletcher |
| Genre(s) | Young Adult |
| Publisher | Clarion Books |
| Publication date | 1998-09-21 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 144 |
| ISBN | 978-0395873236 |
| OCLC Number | 38216537 |
| LC Classification | PZ7.F632115 Fl 1998 |
Flying Solo is a young adult novel written by Ralph Fletcher, first published in 1998.
Contents |
[edit] 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.Or does it?
[edit] Characters
- Mr. Fabiano AKA Mr. Fab;— an "adorable" sixth-grade teacher
- Rachel — She has been mute for six months since a classmate (Tommy Feathers) who had a crush on her died six months earlier
- Bastian — A sarcastic rebellious Air Force brat
- Sean — A shy boy who has a crush on Rachel
- Karen — The natural leader of the class who was basically, the teacher for the day
- Jessica — The only member of the class that questions the students running the class for the day
- Christopher — An obnoxious spoiled boy, that irritates most of the class
- Missy — An overweight girl, she is Rachel's best friend who helps Rachel with her "no talking" stage
- The Substitute;-Some lady that never showed up for school that was out for being sick
Sky- a new boy that came in January.
[edit] Themes
Several of the topics in the novel include selective mutism, death and grief.[1]
[edit] 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]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ward, Marilyn (2006-06-06). Voices from the Margins. Information Age Publishing. pp. 36. ISBN 978 -1593114008. http://books.google.com/?id=SSiUYIqefMkC&pg=PA36&dq=%22flying+solo%22+fletcher.
- ^ Bloom, Susan P. (Nov/Dec98). Horn Book Magazine 74 (6): 728–729. ISSN 00185078.
- ^ Siebecker, July (October 1998). "Flying Solo". School Library Journal 44 (10): 135. ISSN 03628930.
- ^ Johnson, Nancy J. (November 99). Reading Teacher 53 (3): 234. ISSN 00340561.
