Release: February 2nd, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Versify
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N.
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In this magical middle-grade novel, ten-year-old Gabrielle finds out that America isn’t the perfect place she imagined when she moves from Haiti to Brooklyn. With the help of a clever witch, Gabrielle becomes the perfect American—but will she lose herself in the process? Perfect for fans of HURRICANE CHILD and FRONT DESK.
It’s 1985, and ten-year-old Gabrielle is excited to be moving from Haiti to America. Unfortunately, her parents won’t be able to join her yet, and she’ll be living in a place called Brooklyn, New York, with relatives she has never met. She promises her parents that she will behave, but life proves to be difficult in the United States, from learning the language to always feeling like she doesn’t fit in to being bullied. So when a witch offers her a chance to speak English perfectly and be “American,” she makes the deal. But soon, she realizes how much she has given up by trying to fit in and, along with her two new friends (one of them a talking rat), takes on the witch in an epic battle to try to reverse the spell.
Gabrielle is a funny and engaging heroine you won’t soon forget in this sweet and lyrical novel that’s perfect for fans of Hurricane Child and Front Desk.
About the Author:
Marie Arnold was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and came to America at the age of seven. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, alongside her extended family. Marie enjoys creating stories full of adventure, and wonder, which centers on girls of color. When she’s not writing, she’s adding to her insanely long Netflix queue and trying not to order pizza. THE YEAR I FLEW AWAY is her debut middle-grade novel. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Instagram: @mariarnoldbook
Twitter: MarieArnoldBook
Facebook: Marie Arnold – Children’s Author
The Year I Flew Away Review:
“The Year I Flew Away” turned out to be so much better than I expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Firstly, while I love the cover of the book, I feel it does the story injustice. When I saw the book cover, I thought this would be a cute, contemporary novel. But, the story has witches, talking rats, bewitched mangoes, and much more! The author does a fantastic job in narrating the tale, and I never had a dull moment reading. The story reminded me a lot of “The Little Mermaid,” especially Lady Lydia as Ursula. Moreover, the author also highlights racism through the conversations that Gabrielle has with her Uncle or when she faces Tianna.
Similarly, the characters are adorable, and I instantly loved them all. Carmen is also cute, and I enjoyed the friendship she shared with Gabrielle. Rocky is hilarious as the sidekick and made the story entertaining and funny. On a side note, I also liked Ms. Tsosie and the wisdom she imparts about immigrants to Gabrielle. Mrs. Bartell is also very memorable.
Furthermore, the author also does a beautiful job of balancing the magical aspects with the realistic family situation. For instance, I loved the natural moments when Gabrielle spends with her Uncle and Aunt when she gets suspended. At the same time, I also loved the fantasy element of the tale. The story has a little of everything; magic, family, friendship, acceptance, and being part of something important.
Overall, “The Year I Flew Away” turned out to be a pleasant surprise as it exceeded my expectations!
