A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe

By: Mahogany L. Browne

Published by Random House, 2026-03-03

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • A powerful, genre-bending mosaic of fiction and poetry that celebrates the humanity, grace, and resilience of teenage New Yorkers riding out the pandemic—from the award-winning author of Chlorine Sky “A gorgeous, tender testament to the generation of young people who shouldered the pandemic.”—New York Times bestselling author Brendan Kiely ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, School Library Journal We found out what true longing looked like. Longing for crushes to crush back the week after next. Longing for hugs. Longing for connection. As New York goes into lockdown and neighborhoods begin to feel the brunt of the pandemic, the city’s teens persevere with love and hope amidst all the fear and loss: Malachi writes an Armageddon short story inspired by his new reality. Tariq helps their ailing grandmother survive quarantine. Zamira struggles with depression and loneliness after losing her parents. Mohamed tries to help keep his community spirit alive. Mahogany L. Browne’s unforgettable, interconnected short stories and poems remind us to breathe as these New York City teens discover their will to survive, their determination to dream, and their joy.