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A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe

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A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe

By: Mahogany L. Browne
Narrated by: Emana Rachelle, Ozzie Jacobs, Elena Rey, Mahogany L. Browne, Amir Royale, Nile Bullock, Andrea Emmes, Brandon Miles, Kiebpoli Calnek, Ali Nasser, Tyla Collier, Marie-Francoise Theodore, Ron Butler, Chantelle Ramdeen
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About this listen

 LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • A powerful, genre-bending mosaic of fiction and poetry that celebrates the humanity, grace, and resilience of teenage New Yorkers riding out the pandemic—from the award-winning author of Chlorine Sky

“A gorgeous, tender testament to the generation of young people who shouldered the pandemic.”—New York Times bestselling author Brendan Kiely

A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

We found out what true longing looked like. Longing for crushes to crush back the week after next. Longing for hugs. Longing for connection.

As New York goes into lockdown and neighborhoods begin to feel the brunt of the pandemic, the city’s teens persevere with love and hope amidst all the fear and loss: Malachi writes an Armageddon short story inspired by his new reality. Tariq helps their ailing grandmother survive quarantine. Zamira struggles with depression and loneliness after losing her parents. Mohamed tries to help keep his community spirit alive.

Mahogany L. Browne’s unforgettable, interconnected short stories and poems remind us to breathe as these New York City teens discover their will to survive, their determination to dream, and their joy. Death & Dying Difficult Situations Illness & Health Problems Literature & Fiction

Critic reviews

★ "Heavy, important, powerful and evergreen; remembers kids during the time when the world stopped." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "An emotionally impactful read." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "The book boasts memorable characters and beautiful writing—especially the poems. It is singularly relevant in its unsparing examination of the plague and its impact on young lives." —Booklist, starred review

★ "An essential purchase to explore grief associated with the pandemic; give to fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Elisabet Velasquez." —School Library Journal, starred review

"[An] intriguing and heartbreaking collection of stories and poems." —The Bulletin
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