Parents' Guide to

Wild Wings

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Tender tween tale of endangered wildlife, friend's death.

Book Gill Lewis Animals 2011
Wild Wings Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 8+

Based on 2 parent reviews

3ofmine
3ofmine Parent of 2, 6 and 9-year-old
July 21, 2012
age 9+

Great coming of age book

My son read this when he was eight and really liked it, it was his favorite book that he read that summer. It had adventure, hope, friendship, death and caring all in one. He couldn't stop talking about when he had read each day.
Cynthia Ingelfinger
Cynthia Ingelfinger Adult
August 6, 2011
age 6+

Rave review for Wild Wings

It was a moving story with great messages about hope, trust, and friendship. The natural history of ospreys and migration was very educational and engaging. It was emotional but happy in the end.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set primarily in rural Scotland, the adventure begins when Iona (a girl shunned as "crazy" and "strange" by her classmates) shows Callum an osprey nest she has spotted on his farm. These endangered birds live mostly on a nearby preserve, and it's unusual and very special for one to be nesting on private land. They decide they should keep the nest a secret, which tests Callum's other friendships. However, it also builds a strong bond between Callum and Iona, insures the safety of the osprey, and leads to an amazing adventure. Tragedy strikes Iona, but not before the two friends enlist the help of a nearby naturalist who untangles the bird from fishing line, and fits her with a transmitter to track her migration to Africa. From there, the adventure broadens: one friendship comes to a tragic end, other friendships are mended, and a new one brings a Gambian girl, and the osprey, back to Scotland.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This suspenseful, fast-paced book is poetic and packed with solid information about wildlife. It's also a bit of a tearjerker. In language that manages to be both descriptive and to-the-point, WILD WINGS tells a moving story that borders on the unbelievable at times. Still, full-bodied characters and the author's attention to detail keep it grounded. This one will appeal to mid-grade boys and girls alike, especially animal lovers who will connect with its message about saving endangered wildlife.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about books that deal with death. Can you think of other books or movies that deal with a friend's death? How does this book handle this painful topic? Why did the author include this plot point?

  • What do you think of the book's title? Does it fit the story? What title would you have chosen for it?

Book Details

  • Author: Gill Lewis
  • Illustrator: Yuta Onoda
  • Genre: Animals
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Atheneum
  • Publication date: May 24, 2011
  • Number of pages: 304
  • Last updated: June 18, 2015

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