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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

Alexander McCall Smith: IMG The Courage of Others

0 comments By Alexander McCall Smith

I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War... Continue »
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    La's Orchestra Saves the World

    Alexander McCall Smith
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1 Beaverton Children's- Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Wings (Aprilynne Pike)

by Aprilynne Pike

Wings (Aprilynne Pike) Cover

ISBN13: 9780061668036
ISBN10: 0061668036
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, er eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Review:

"Pike's debut novel — a faerie story with a touch of Arthurian legend — offers a botanical twist on the genre. Laurel Sewell, the new girl in town, discovers a strange 'zit' on her back, which blooms into a flower. With the help of her friend and growing love interest, David, with whom she entrusts this information, Laurel finds out that she is a faerie, and that faeries are really highly evolved plants (Pike gives readers hints: Laurel prefers to have lunch outside and eats little besides vegetables and Sprite). Tamani, her sexy faerie guardian, completes the love triangle, as he protects Laurel from encroaching dark forces and fills in the blanks about her past. As Laurel and David never muster much chemistry, her rocky journey of self-discovery is the main draw ('It makes me want to go home and go to sleep and wake up to find that all of this is a dream. That the flower, the bump, even public school never happened'). Pike's novel mythology should win fans for this book, billed as the first in a series. Ages 12 — up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

When a flower blooms in the middle of her back, Laurel discovers that she is a faerie and was placed with human parents as a child. As Laurel learns about her true background and the dangers that face the faerie realm, she struggles to find her place in both worlds.
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About the Author

Aprilynne Pike has been spinning faerie stories since she was a child with a hyperactive imagination. She completed her BA in creative writing at the age of twenty at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Aprilynne currently lives with her husband and three kids in Utah, where she dreams of warmer climates.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
margaretskipper, December 14, 2009 (view all comments by margaretskipper)
Quote. There is always someone who secretly believes in myths and legends. Those are the people who look beyond the obvious and see things in this world that are truly wonderful. -David
Summary

"Fifteen-year-old Laurel has led a sheltered, homeschooled life in a very small town, so when her parents decide to move and enroll her in high school, she has trouble getting used to her new life. A life, as it turns out, that's not at all like those of other kids. One clear sign is a winglike blossom that blooms on her back. Oh, and her new best friend, the scientifically minded David, reveals under a microscope that her cells are more plant than animal. But it takes an encounter at her old home with the handsome but decidedly different Tamani to convince her that she is a faerie. She also learns it's up to her to save her land from the evil influences that are trying to take it away from her and her family." -Ilene Cooper

My Opinion

Characters. I love the characters in this book. Laurel, the main character, seems like a very typical teenagers, but I like her. The author does a really good job building her and the other's in this book. The characters seemed "true" to themselves throughout the book, which I find important. You get a very good sense of who they are! My favorite is Tamani, of course. I love mythological men!! :D

Theme. The theme of this book is growth and discovery. The protag learns some secrets about her past and needs to learn more about it and herself. It's almost a coming-of-age story. Then you throw in the love factor. The theme is similar to others in the young adult fantasy genre. I would think the next books will focus more on the love factor. There is also a theme of acceptance from others and accepting yourself.

Plot. The plot in this book starts as easy going learning and discovery and cycles to a suspenseful fight. One plot element of this book does includes mild suspense. Towards the end Laurel has to fight for her Fairy-ness.

Style. There is some mild humor in the book and some symbolism. The writing style is very clear and concise. Very easy to read, understand and like.

Setting. The settings in this book is the forest and in school in a small-town.

Comparison. This book is similar to others in the genre. I think it also stands out because the choice is a little different. In book one, the choice-phase hasn't quite come to past yet, but in the next books, Laurel will have to choose between her fairy life and her human life. The difference is that she's already a fair..unlike in Twilight, where the main character has to be changed.

Overall. I really enjoyed this book. I am older (ahem, ahem..lol), but i still enjoyed this book. It sends a positive message. Very good overall.

The Bottom-Line

Laurel discovers she is a fairy. She finds herself stuck between two worlds..and two guys. She will end up having to choose.

margaretsbookstbr dot blogspot dot com
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780061668036
Author:
Pike, Aprilynne
Publisher:
Harper Teen
Author:
by Aprilynne Pike
Subject:
Plants
Subject:
Interpersonal Relations
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Social Issues - Adolescence
Subject:
Girls & Women
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Subject:
Trolls
Subject:
Fairies
Edition Description:
Hardback
Series:
Aprilynne Pike
Publication Date:
May 2009
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
- Up
Language:
English
Pages:
294
Dimensions:
8.14x6.02x1.07 in. .86 lbs.
Age Level:
12-UP
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