YELLOW BIRD AND ME

by Joyce Hansen ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 1986

In a sequel to The Gift Giver, Doris helps the class troublemaker find a better outlet for his talents, and discovers the rich rewards of friendship. Doris is miserable without her friend Amir, who has been sent from his foster home to a residential center; all she can think about is trying to earn the money to visit him. She isn't interested in making new friends, and especially not with Yellow Bird, the worst-behaved person in her sixth-grade class. But because Amir had befriended Bird, Doris begrudgingly begins to help him with his schoolwork. As they get to know each other, she grows fond of Bird, especially when she discovers that his clowning covers dyslexia. How she helps Bird redeem himself in the eyes of his teacher, with the help of a special improvisational theater program, and how she reaffirms her closeness to Amir despite their physical distance make a lively and heartwarming story. Smoothly written and easy to read; the language, with touches of colloquial black English, has strength and vitality. Rich with the distinctive personalities in Doris' world, the story is particularly valuable for its emphasis on friendship, generosity of spirit, and seeing what's below the surface.

Pub Date: April 21, 1986

ISBN: 0618611169

Page Count: -

Publisher: Clarion/Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1986

Categories: CHILDREN'S