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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

141 Reviews

Featured Reviews

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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!

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The Blackbird Girls

Video review by Gabi
The Blackbird Girls

Reader Reviews

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Interesting

Review by Wildflower16

Interesting liked how this book shared the perspectives of both girls.

Jan 06, 2026 07:57 PM
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Pretty good book

Review by Ateam11

Good at the beginning but boring as the story moves on. Very predictable and most action in the beginning with the power plant exploding.

Jan 05, 2026 06:26 PM
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The best of new friends

Review by SuperheroBW

This 📕 book is about two girls 👧👩🏼‍🦱 who where enemies but know are b friends.There’s more to their story.If you want to know more than…read this book 📕 📚📖 Also if you like sad books than this is your book and last some of it is true.Go ahead and read this book 📕!

Jan 05, 2026 06:03 PM
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Blackbird Girls

Review by unicornpoetry

This book was exciting to read. I liked how it switches perspectives and how emotional it is.

Jan 04, 2026 03:22 PM
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AMAZING!!!!

Review by Devorah81

This was a fantastic, heartwarming book about friendship and seperation. I liked how it was based of a real event other than WW2 and how it swiched perspectives. A MUST read!

Jan 04, 2026 03:11 PM