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A review by jillianelis_
Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a youth services library assistant, you would think I would read a lot more middle grade books in my free time.
Nope. I definitely prefer YA to MG for my own personal reading, but for work, I’ve been helping vet MG books for our annual Battle of the Books. I picked this one after seeing it on the Youth Media Award winners list and after hearing my co-workers rave about it.
Folks, I do not remember the last time I cried while reading a MG book. I was enthralled by the Jewish mythology and by the Khazar empire, an empire and a period of history I have very little knowledge of. Ziva, Pesach, and Almas were all so spirited and felt like fully fleshed out characters, and I felt as though I were in their wagon on the way to Luz with them. Despite the story being a tad predictable, it didn’t make it any less fun or emotional.
I will 1000% be going to bat for this book when we make our Battle booklists. It’s heavy at times, but it’s fun, fast-paced, full of magic and mystery and lessons about grief and love that some kids may really need. I haven’t been this passionate about a MG book in a while but WOW Sofiya Pasternack, you really got me good!!!
Nope. I definitely prefer YA to MG for my own personal reading, but for work, I’ve been helping vet MG books for our annual Battle of the Books. I picked this one after seeing it on the Youth Media Award winners list and after hearing my co-workers rave about it.
Folks, I do not remember the last time I cried while reading a MG book. I was enthralled by the Jewish mythology and by the Khazar empire, an empire and a period of history I have very little knowledge of. Ziva, Pesach, and Almas were all so spirited and felt like fully fleshed out characters, and I felt as though I were in their wagon on the way to Luz with them. Despite the story being a tad predictable, it didn’t make it any less fun or emotional.
I will 1000% be going to bat for this book when we make our Battle booklists. It’s heavy at times, but it’s fun, fast-paced, full of magic and mystery and lessons about grief and love that some kids may really need. I haven’t been this passionate about a MG book in a while but WOW Sofiya Pasternack, you really got me good!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Terminal illness