Flying Lessons & Other Stories

Flying Lessons & Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by diverse authors and edited by Ellen Oh, co-founder of We Need Diverse Books. The anthology features works from established writers including Kwame Alexander, Matt de la Peña, Grace Lin, and Walter Dean Myers, among others. Each story centers on young protagonists navigating different aspects of identity, family relationships, and coming-of-age experiences. The narratives span various genres and settings, from contemporary urban environments to basketball courts to small rural towns. The characters encounter universal challenges like first crushes, family expectations, and finding their place in the world. These experiences are shaped by the characters' specific cultural backgrounds and personal circumstances. The collection explores themes of belonging, self-discovery, and courage while highlighting perspectives that have been historically underrepresented in children's literature. Through these stories, readers encounter authentic voices that reflect the richness and complexity of growing up in contemporary America.

Readers appreciate the diversity of voices and perspectives across the 10 short stories, noting how each author brings unique cultural experiences while keeping themes relatable for middle-grade audiences. Many reviews mention the collection serves as a gateway for young readers to discover new authors. Readers highlight Matt de la Peña's "How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning" and Grace Lin's "The Difficult Path" as standout stories. Parents and teachers note the stories prompt meaningful discussions about identity and belonging. Some readers found the quality inconsistent between stories and wanted more depth from certain pieces. A few mentioned the stories felt too short just as they were getting invested in the characters. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "Perfect for classroom libraries" appears frequently in teacher reviews. Multiple readers noted they purchased additional copies to give as gifts.

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🔖 Ellen Oh is a co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit organization that promotes diversity in children's literature. 📚 The book is a collection of short stories from diverse authors including Kwame Alexander, Matt de la Peña, and Grace Lin. ✍️ Each story in the anthology explores themes of growing up and self-discovery from different cultural perspectives. 🏆 Multiple contributors to Flying Lessons are recipients of prestigious awards, including the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. 📖 The collection was published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books to help fill the gap in diverse middle-grade literature and provide young readers with stories that reflect their own experiences.