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Bunting, Eve, and Ronald Himler. Fly Away Home. Ed. James Cross Giblin.
The third book I have chosen to include in my text-set about poverty is titled Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting.
This picture book describes the life of a young boy and his father who live in an airport. The book is written in first person and the speaker is a young Caucasian boy. The boy begins the story stating that he and his father live in the airports because it is better than the streets which automatically allows readers to understand that they are a family who lives in poverty. He describes how the most important rule to follow while living in the airport is to never get caught. He explains what belonging they have, they wear blue jeans, blue T-shirts, and blue jackets and they carry blue zippered bags with a change of blue clothes. He talks about an experience they once had where a lady got caught living in the airport and quickly was removed, “She wore a long, dirty coat and she lay down across a row of seats…” He explains that he and his dad sleep sitting up and use different airport terminals to stay unseen. He talks about how there are others they know who also live in the airport but they don’t sit together because that would be noticeable as well. He talks about how everything in the airport is in motion, yet he and his father stay. The little boy then digresses to tell a story about a bird he once saw in the airport that was stuck. The boy gave encouragement to the bird silently, and in a few days the bird escaped through a sliding door. The boy expressed happiness in seeing the bird escape. The boy then goes on to describe his usual routines, getting clean by washing up in the airport bathroom, buying food from the cafeteria, and how his dad leaves for work on the weekends. His dad is a janitor but only works on the weekends. He describes how on those days he is watched by another family, the Medinas, who also live in the airport. He and another boy return luggage carts or call cabs for people to get money. His dad pays the Medinas for watching him by buying them dinner. He expresses his want to have their own apartment again and is even saving up money in his shoe. He shares how he knows that his dad is looking for apartments but they are all too expensive and that makes his dad sad and angry. He also discusses how next year his dad says he has to start school. We are able to see his frustration with him and his dad’s lifestyle. He envies others who are at the airport and have homes. He describes, “Sometimes I just want to cry. I think Dad and I will be here forever.” Yet he finds hope in the bird that was able to be free.
I feel that this book is a very good book to include in this text set because it talks about how this young boy is able to cope with his situation. His feelings seem realistic, wishing that he was able to have a home like others, but also hopeful that by collecting money he will eventually be able to escape. Homelessness is something that is not usually discussed in children’s books but by including this book in my text-set I am allowing children to gain a better understanding of situations that are occurring in many communities. This book works as a piece of diverse literature because it includes the aspect of homelessness as something that can happen to any family. The book also received a “Heal the World” award from school children. Even if students have had no experience with homelessness themselves they have more than likely seen it when traveling or in the least heard family members talk about money. Especially in today’s economy I feel that it is an important thing to talk about especially in terms of community. Eve Bunting lived in
Information about Eve Bunting found at:
Polichenco, Jennifer. "Eve Bunting." American Collection: Educator's Site.
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