PJ Our Way - The Blackbird Girls

Mode

kid

parent

Valentina and Oksana are fifth grade classmates, but they are definitely not friends. Then a nuclear disaster strikes their Chernobyl home and they discover that everything they’ve been taught is a lie…

Ages 11+

Pages 352

Publisher Penguin Random House

Last Offered Nov 2025

Awards

Sydney Taylor Silver Medal Winner

National Jewish Book Award Winner

Average Rating

144 Reviews

Featured Reviews

I really loved this book!

Review by Aubrey

It’s about Valentina and Oksana, two girls who are enemies. After the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explodes, they are forced to move to Leningrad to stay with Valentina’s grandmother who is a stranger to both girls. Neither of them are happy about it, but the power of friendship eventually shines through. This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down. I loved how it switched perspectives from Valentina, Oksana, and Rifka from 1941. It was a perfect story of friendship!

The Blackbird Girls

Video review by Gabi

Reader Reviews

ABSOLUTLY AMAZING!!!!!!

Review by Lilbill

This book was one of a kind!! It had so many details and it was always really exciting!!! This was one of my favourite books from PJ Our way. Definitely recommend for Anyone that wants to know about the past and how people lived.

Jan 24, 2026 01:05 PM