Wings

Wings. Christopher Myers. Illus. by Christopher Myers. New York: Scholastic Press, 2000. 40 pages. $16.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-590-03377-8. Grades 3-6.

My Thoughts…

When a book is as good as Wings I find that I can say the most when I talk about my thoughts, so here it goes. This book was phenomenal, from the writing, to the illustrations, to the message. One of the first things that stuck out to me was the twist/allusion to the Greek myth of Icarus. Mythology is an expansive topic that I feel is omitted from a lot of classrooms, but that interests most every child that encounters it. I think by making a popular myth have a modern setting and meaning Myers not only introduces readers to a new world, but also give significance agelessness to the message of individuality and differences. Although the story of Icarus is not shared in an author’s note, it could easily be found and read in addition to this tale. I do not think placing it in this book would have necessarily helped to story since it stands so well on its own.

I think the text itself is incredibly well written, eloquent, yet conversational. I feel that it really speaks to children and relates to the times. For example, I love the line “Ikarus Jackson, the fly boy, came to my school last Thursday.” This can be interpreted in more than one way. It could literally mean flying, fly-like, or cool. Since the thought is coming from the girl narrator it most like means the latter to her, but one of the previous options to the mass population. I think this ambiguity is important because it shows that nothing is as simple as it seems. It also teaches kids to think for themselves. I really like that it uses a modern term though. I am impressed by how much emotion is shown in this short story through the internal and external struggles of the narrator and Ikarus Jackson respectively. I think the feeling of being different and treated like less of a person is common to many children and that they will be able to identify. I think Myers achieved exactly what he wanted to “to create a book that tells kids never to abandon the things that make them different, to be proud of what makes them unique.”

Okay, now I’ve touched on the message, the concept, and the writing, but what about those illustrations? The collages are fantastic! I found it amazing the emotion and detail could be shown without facial expressions and tons of drawing. Myers plays with colors and textures to deliver the setting and the tone of each interaction and since the text is so relatable readers can match the words to the pictures. The posture of the cutouts and the alternating color of the female narrator show her insecurity and then her strength and happiness at finding a friend. I loved how Myers turned the gawking classmates in to Medusa to return back to mythology and show how they are really the monsters for being so judgmental. I enjoyed picking out everyday items used in the collages and how they are items found in neighborhoods like that in the story. I loved the photos, chain link fence, postcard markings, etc. It brought another element of real life to a story that may not actually be able to take place literally, but still takes place every day.