Flying the Dragon

Flying the Dragon is a sweet coming-of-age story told from two perspectives. Skye is Japanese American, but has always lived a totally American life. She has never been to Japan, never met her father's Japanese family, does not speak Japanese and barely knows how to use chop sticks. When her father's family comes from Japan and moves in down the street, Skye's cousin Hiroshi complicates her life. He doesn't fit in at school, and Skye's classmates want to know why she is hanging around the strange new kid. Hiroshi is suffering culture shock. He thought being in the same class with his cousin would help him make the difficult transition, but Skye wants nothing to do with him, and he doesn't know why. Things are difficult at home, too. Hiroshi's life-long best friend is his grandfather, but now grandfather is spending more time with Skye than him. Grandfather, one of Japan's most respected kite makers and competitive kite flyers, even invites Skye to learn how to make and fly kites. In Japan Hiroshi was grandfather's apprentice and was just starting to make a name for himself with his outstanding kite fighting skills. Hiroshi is hurt by what he sees as rejection from both his cousin and his grandfather. Flying the Dragon realistically shows how the two families re-connect after many years and how Skye and Hiroshi learn to appreciate their families, their cultures and each other. The descriptions of kite fighting and kite fight competitions are fascinating. I would expect that many readers will be going on line for instructions on building and flying soon after reading this excellent story.

This is the story of love, compassion and understanding that shows up within a clash of cultures. It is a coming-of-age for two cousins brought together by tragedy and held together by family. It is an awesome book, an easy read and is full of exciting twists and turns just as the Dragon Kite makes in the sky. I recommend this book for any reader age eight and up.

Emotional and captivating. A very fun read. I Would recommend to anyone looking for a good story to read. Will be re-reading it.

This Texas Bluebonnet nominee will appeal to girls with its strong female character trying to please her family and make her soccer goals come true. Boys will be intrigued by the sport of kite-flying and will cheer for Hiroshi as he seeks to find a way to adjust to America and still honor his Japanese heritage. Author Natalie Lorenzi tells this story from the perspectives of both characters which gives the reader greater insight into both. Loved it and know that my students will, too!

My 9 year old son read this with his 3rd grade class and encouraged me to read it as well. This book is perfect for 3rd, 4th and maybe 5th grade, both boys and girls.I'm glad they are reading books like this in school; it promotes cultural understanding, being true to oneself and embracing being different. This book was well written, moved fast enough to keep the attention of an active 9 yr boy and a mom who rarely holds still.

This book was amazing because it was sad. It has so much language. The 2 points of view make the story become realistic. The story represents a lot of things. Love, friendship, and most of all, the bonds that hold everyone together.

I just cried and cried and cried at the end but it made me happy to I will never forget this book and I will recommend this book to a lot of people I red this book because at my school they r now selling bluebonnet books but I wanted to by them on my iPad! I will never ever forget this amazing book! This is how I felt😄😊😃😂😭😓😔😞😥😰😨😪😡😌😳😲

A amazing read. "Flying the Dragon " was totally worth putting on hold and waiting for 2 WEEKS to get. l greatly enjoy when Skye & Hiroshi fly in the rokkakua kite battle together. They learned the true meaning of being cousins. Though Skye & Hiroshi go through rocky times, in the end everything works out. Hope you enjoy the book MY librarian wrote.