What This Book Is About
On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explodes. Valentina Kaplan wakes to a strange metallic taste in the air and a sky that glows an eerie orange. Her classmate Oksana Savchenko—the girl who bullies her relentlessly because Valentina is Jewish—wakes to the same nightmare. When their families are evacuated, both girls are sent to Leningrad to live with Valentina's grandmother, a woman who has survived her own horrors during World War II.
Alternating between 1986 and the 1940s, the novel reveals how Valentina's grandmother faced antisemitic persecution during the Siege of Leningrad, and how those wounds shaped three generations of women. As Valentina and Oksana navigate their new life as reluctant roommates, they begin to understand that the hatred Oksana learned was taught—and can be unlearned. Anne Blankman braids together a nuclear disaster, a wartime siege, and a schoolyard rivalry into a story about how prejudice is passed down like radiation: invisibly, persistently, and with devastating consequences if left unchecked.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
With its dual timeline exploring antisemitism, nuclear disaster, and forced migration, The Blackbird Girls hits multiple UWC themes simultaneously. It teaches students that prejudice is not natural—it is learned behavior that can be challenged and changed. This is a foundational message for a school that brings together students from cultures that may have historical tensions with one another.
For students in Singapore, many of whom have experienced relocation and the disorientation of starting over in a new country, the refugee experience in this novel feels personal rather than distant. The book also introduces students to two pivotal historical events—Chernobyl and the Siege of Leningrad—that may be outside their existing knowledge, broadening their understanding of 20th-century history beyond Western-centric narratives.
Reading Level Guide
Too challenging at A2. Build up to this book through B1-level novels like Holes or Ghost Boys.
The sweet spot. A rewarding challenge for strong B1 readers; comfortable for B2.
A quick read at C1 but the historical depth and dual timeline keep it engaging.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free 30-minute English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.