Wings

by Loizeaux, William; Bowman, Leslie

• ISBN13: 9780374348021
• ISBN10: 0374348022
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-09-05
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Summary

At first it looks like a small gray ball of fluff, its head a cloud of frizzy feathers, fine as dandelion seeds. The baby bird isn't even strong enough to spread its wings, but ten-year-old Nick is determined to save it. Together with his best friend, he coaxes the wild bird he names Marcy to eat worms and take rides on their fingers. Then he watches, amazed, as she finally opens her wings - and flies! As Marcy grows, so does Nick - forced to make some hard choices about friends and family. And for the first time he dares to ask questions about the death of his soldier father. But other questions loom in the air: Will Marcy try to fly away? And will Nick be able to let her go? Beautifully rendered drawings capture the poignancy and joy of this unforgettable story about growing up, loving, and letting go.

Author Biography

WILLIAM LOIZEAUX is the author of Anna: A Daughter’s Life, a New York Times Book Review Notable Book. This is his first novel for children. He lives in Hyattsville, Maryland. LESLIE BOWMAN has illustrated many children’s books. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

From Wings
One afternoon in late June, I was pushing the mower home from the Finleys'. I had passed the woods, passed the field where they were building the new tract houses, when I saw something in the middle of the road. From a distance, it was just a small gray ball of fluff. Then I could see its beak and short tail. For a while I watched it. No cars came by, and no other birds came to help it. I walked closer, thinking I'd scare it off the road where it would be safer. But it didn't move, didn't even flinch, so I squatted down right in front of it.
            And that's when it reached toward me, stretching its neck like a rubber tube and opening its beak like a hinge. It made a sound that I'll never forget. It went TTCHAAAAAAACK!!! Just once. Like a rusty gate. Such a big sound for such a small thing.
            I picked up the bird in both hands, cupping it carefully to my chest. I could feel it breathing fast. But if it was scared, it didn't try to go anywhere. It wriggled down into my palms. Its feet felt dry and scratchy. I could see pink flesh through its furry wings. Around its head was a cloud of frizzy feathers, fine as dandelion seeds. It had a sad, scrunched-up old man's face, with a wrinkled neck, thin yellow lips, and a beak that was arrow-shaped. Its black eye blinked. It wasn't particularly beautiful or cuddly, but holding it made me shiver inside. It seemed like so much to carry, and at the same time so little and so light.
 

Excerpts

From Wings
One afternoon in late June, I was pushing the mower home from the Finleys’. I had passed the woods, passed the field where they were building the new tract houses, when I saw something in the middle of the road. From a distance, it was just a small gray ball of fluff. Then I could see its beak and short tail. For a while I watched it. No cars came by, and no other birds came to help it. I walked closer, thinking I’d scare it off the road where it would be safer. But it didn’t move, didn’t even flinch, so I squatted down right in front of it.
            And that’s when it reached toward me, stretching its neck like a rubber tube and opening its beak like a hinge. It made a sound that I’ll never forget. It went TTCHAAAAAAACK!!! Just once. Like a rusty gate. Such a big sound for such a small thing.
            I picked up the bird in both hands, cupping it carefully to my chest. I could feel it breathing fast. But if it was scared, it didn’t try to go anywhere. It wriggled down into my palms. Its feet felt dry and scratchy. I could see pink flesh through its furry wings. Around its head was a cloud of frizzy feathers, fine as dandelion seeds. It had a sad, scrunched-up old man’s face, with a wrinkled neck, thin yellow lips, and a beak that was arrow-shaped. Its black eye blinked. It wasn’t particularly beautiful or cuddly, but holding it made me shiver inside. It seemed like so much to carry, and at the same time so little and so light.
 

---

Excerpted from Wings by William Loizeaux
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.