Growing Wings

This is a wonderful book. It's about an ordinary girl who has something amazing and magical happen to her, and yet, it's so realistic! It is also alternatively funny and sad, as Linnet and her friends find out how limited their life will be because of their wings,but also that those very wings may,if they try hard, allow them to fly. I loved this book: it's exciting and the ending isn't too sad, my most important qualifications for novels!

Have you ever experienced something...out of the ordinary? In the novel Growing Wings, by Laurel Winter, one of the protagonists, Linnet, discovers something a bit odd about herself at age eleven. Her mother always was a bit mysterious when it came to family matters. Linnet finally has the guts to ask her mother the question lurking in her mind: What are those things coming out of my back?! Her mother answers, "Wings-you're growing wings" (p. 2). With that said, Sarah and Linnet's hidden secrets were revealed. Sarah's mother bonded and amputated her wings after being a `cut-wing' herself! Knowing what it felt like, Sarah refuses to let the same happen to her daughter. Linnet survives the rest of her school year hiding her `secret' behind her long hair and big shirts. As soon as school is out, her mother and she leave to Wyoming, where Sarah's past lurks. On the trip, it seems that Sarah has abandoned Linnet at a hotel! On her own, she finds her grandmother and is shortly escorted to a sanctuary where she finds others like herself. Though that would sound like a nice ending, it is not quite! There she faces many conflicts: internal and external. She finds herself fighting against and then being best friends with one of the girls, Andy. Even with these `moood swings,' together they conquer the dangers and journeys that come their way. They escape reporters looking for some winged people, and have discovered a way to fly! I chose this book because it was filled with surprises and unique situations. The book is often intellectual and is blessed with beautiful quotes at the beginning of each chapter. `"Hope" is the thing with feathers- That perches in the soul- -Emily Dickinson' (p. 47) It is a short and easy read. You have nothing to lose! If you are in for a terrific fantasy and adventure book, here is your chance! Get to a book store or library now!

This is a wonderful book about a young girl who discovers that she is growing wings. She realizes that she is different and seeks others like her. This book can help children to have compassion for others that are different. I would recommend this book to anyone.

My mom ordered this book for me because she met Laurel Winter at the Celtic Women's Conference last year and had been waiting for the book to be published. It finally arrived and once I started it, I couldn't put it down! It was a really different book. I have never read a book like that before. Ms. Winter has a lot of imagination to come up with all that stuff. I hope she writes more books soon! I also hope she comes back to the Celtic Women's Conference again this year so I can come and meet her and get my book autographed! It was awesome!!!

Both adults and young adults should enjoy this book. It is about a young girl, Linnet, who actually starts to grow wings. The book follows her as she tries to hide them from the world and eventually comes to terms with her wingedness. Along the way she meets other winged folk who help her. One great aspect is that since this is sci-fi and not fantasy, she can't really fly (at least not at first). For humans to fly, the wings would have to be huge, which these are not. Part of the story is about her attempts to fly and her adventures in avoiding the press. In the end the story is about how society treats those who are different from the norm and whether those people should be hidden away or be able to live openly as winged people. It is very suspense-filled and the chapter-ending cliffhangers will keep you turning the pages. I think young-adults especially will love it.