By Nansubuga Nadadya Isdahl (author)
"Full of rhythm and joy, this is a delightful story of friendship and learning to accept change."
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
View All Editions (1)
April 2024 Debut of the Month
Philadelphia teen, Kamaria, just wants to concentrate on her and her track team friends winning the upcoming state relay championship. Kamaria is confident, loves her friends fiercely and is enjoying her first tastes of independence, but she hates change. And with lots of change on the horizon, Kamaria’s life is about to get difficult.
She’s fallen out with her best friend, Odie, and she’s not sure why. When it’s announced that an aunt she barely is knows is coming to stay and will be sharing HER bedroom, things go from bad to worst. Kamaria’s life is all out of sync and she’s not sure how to get her rhythm back.
This is a charming, gentle novel that perfectly captures the early teen years; those magical years when you’re just discovering who you truly are, and your friendships are central to everything. Isdahl writes with a warmth and obvious understanding of her readers. Kamaria’s reaction to her Aunt Rose’s arrival is far from friendly or welcoming at first, but we don’t hate her for it, though uncharitable her displeasure at sharing her space is understandable.
I enjoyed watching their relationship change and grow, as Aunt Rose shared her wisdom and taught Kamaria about her Tanzanian heritage.
The novel is set in 1992 and is peppered with music, sports and pop culture references that make the era come to life and adds another layer to the story. Just like Kamaria’s feet on the running track, the novel has a rhythm of its own, with a 3-part (“on your marks”, “get set”, “go”) structure and short chapters that felt like relay race bursts of energy.
Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Kereen Getten , this is a well-told story of a young girl learning to embrace new experiences.
Join author Nansubuga Nadadya Isdahl in conversation with LoveReading4Kids editorial expert Amy McKay and two of our fabulous Reading Ambassadors, Petal and Lilly.
Kamaria Kessy is 13, independent, confident and loving life.
But BIG change is coming!
She's fallen out with her best friend, Odie, and she has no idea how to talk to him about it. Plus her Tanzanian aunty is about to be her new roommate - NIGHTMARE!
All Kam wants to do is focus on winning big with her relay team (and best girlfriends)! But to fly down the race track she's going to need to learn what truly makes her soar.
An uplifting and empowering book following a strong young girl as she navigates friendships, family drama, and her own passion for running, and eventually learns to find her own steady inner rhythm as her outer world falls apart.
'Fresh and fly! A heartfelt and earnest read! I was rooting for Kam all the way through' - Maisie Chan author of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths
'This imaginative international tale will delight readers of all ages' - Kirkus starred review
'Delicate sensitivity . . . superb' - Comics Review
Nansubuga Isdahl is a writer and editor. Her recent books include Beyonce (Knowles-Carter) and Nelson (Mandela), which are part of David Fickling Books' First Names series of illustrated biographies.
Nansubuga has also worked on international development programmes, primarily in East and Southern Africa, for over a decade. Her clients include the World Bank, World Education, UNICEF and UNESCO.
Read to the Beat! 2026 Summer Reading Challenge Book Collection Announced
Play On: Best Children's Books for Kids Who Love Sport
2024 Preview - Brilliant Children's Books to Look Forward to This Year
the best books for 9-12 year olds
Baller Boys vs. The Bulldozers
Kamaria Kessy is 13, independent, confident and loving life. But BIG change is coming!
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Girl on the Fly and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Girl on the Fly features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Sporting Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Girl on the Fly was written by Nansubuga Nadadya Isdahl and published by David Fickling Books
Girl on the Fly has 341 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.