One small act of kindness. Four kids in different parts of the country. A chain reaction that will prove that no one is ever truly alone.
Ann Braden’s middle-grade novel “Flight of the Puffin” weaves together the stories of four young protagonists: Libby, a Vermont artist spreading hope through handmade cards; Vincent, a Seattle student bullied for his love of puffins and math; Jack, a grieving boy fighting to save his rural school; and T, a nonbinary teen surviving homelessness with their dog. Told through alternating perspectives, the novel traces how Libby’s small acts of kindness ripple outward, connecting these characters across distances and struggles. Braden’s nuanced storytelling balances themes of resilience and community, showing how individual courage can spark collective action.
Educators will find “Flight of the Puffin” especially effective for exploring SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, as it models how collaboration across differences can address systemic issues like LGBTQ+ exclusion or educational inequity. Libby’s cards, which inspire Vincent to support T and Jack to advocate for his school, exemplify being Caring by illustrating how empathy bridges personal and communal challenges.
Teachers might pair this book with a project where students design their own “kindness campaigns,” using art or writing to address local issues. The alternating perspectives also lend themselves to discussions about privilege and allyship, particularly when analyzing T’s limited agency compared to the other protagonists. For classrooms tackling civic engagement, Jack’s grassroots effort to save his school offers a concrete example of SDG 17 in action, inviting students to research real-world partnerships in their communities. While the sparse treatment of T’s homelessness may require supplemental materials, the novel’s emphasis on small, actionable acts of care makes it a hopeful entry point for fostering authentic action.
