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21st out of 57 books
—
13 voters
Wenny Has Wings
by
Janet Lee Carey (Goodreads Author)
In the fight with the truck barreling toward them, Wenny and Will lost big. Wenny lost her life. Will lost a sister -- and lost faith in himself. But then Will starts writing letters to Wenny. He tells her all about the secret of his near-death experience, and the troubles he's having at home. Some letters are funny. Some letters are harsh. And when read together, they tel...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
May 18th 2004
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
(first published 2002)
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Although this book was sad I really enjoyed it. Its one of those books which its short, to the point, and that you make a connection with. I liked that the book was written in one-person perspective and that it was also written in a journal entry form. It created a more true story feel and it became a way of copping with someones death. I also liked that the book was written in a eleven year old point of view but in a way that teenagers wont get bored of reading. If the book was made into a movi...more
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In a beautiful and eloquent series of letters to his sister Wenny, eleven year old Will North relates his near death experience after the accident that has taken his younger sister's life, landed him in the hospital with broken bones, and devastated his father. As guilt-stricken Will moves through the grieving process and begins to cope with his loss and his unusual experience, the reader is moved to catharsis as well.
The tone of the young narrator is mostly believable as that of a thoughtful an...more
The tone of the young narrator is mostly believable as that of a thoughtful an...more
Oct 15, 2010
Kelsey
added it
Wenny Has Wings was a marvelous book. Janet Lee Carey captured all the aspects of a great book. If you read this book, make sure you have a couple of tissues on hand. Wenny Has Wings will more than likely make you shed a few tears.
Eleven year old Will and his sister, Wenny, both get hit by an eighteen wheeler. Will makes it through, but just barely. Wenny, unfortunately, does not. Will remembers a warm, bright light in a tunnel.
Even with all of his broken body parts, Will writes letters to his...more
Eleven year old Will and his sister, Wenny, both get hit by an eighteen wheeler. Will makes it through, but just barely. Wenny, unfortunately, does not. Will remembers a warm, bright light in a tunnel.
Even with all of his broken body parts, Will writes letters to his...more
1 like · like · see review
Very, very, very, sad. As a mother, I had a very hard time getting through a paragraph. This story is about a young boy who lost his sister. It's a journal of his experience after a serious accident.
In the fight with the truck barreling toward them, Wenny and Will lost big. Wenny lost her life. Will lost a sister — and lost faith in himself.
But then Will starts writing letters to Wenny. He tells her all about the secret of his near-death experience, and the troubles he's having at home. Some le...more
In the fight with the truck barreling toward them, Wenny and Will lost big. Wenny lost her life. Will lost a sister — and lost faith in himself.
But then Will starts writing letters to Wenny. He tells her all about the secret of his near-death experience, and the troubles he's having at home. Some le...more
This is such a good book. Once I started it I couldnt put it down. The ending made me cry.... And I dont ever cry at any books! Janet Lee Carey is an amazing author.
1 like · like · see review
The guilt of survival and harshness of life lead young Will on a journey of self-discovery and healing as he writes letters to his dead sister who passed as a result of an accident they were both involved in. We are catapulted into his thoughts, fears and hurts as he delves into his nightmares about the accident, his anger at Wenny for not turning back, and the weight of caring for his parents and their growing depression. Carey writes with a such a personal tone that is authentic to the inner w...more
You know how sometimes you start a book when you're a kid and then you spend years trying to find it again and when you finally do it's not anywhere near as cool as you remembered? Too bad. It shouldn't happen, but it does.
"Wenny Has Wings" is one of those books that never quite lives up to its potential. The idea is strong, there are many good elements, but the execution is somehow underwhelming. When I was 12 or 14 the voice worked just fine for me, but reading it now I have trouble connecting...more
"Wenny Has Wings" is one of those books that never quite lives up to its potential. The idea is strong, there are many good elements, but the execution is somehow underwhelming. When I was 12 or 14 the voice worked just fine for me, but reading it now I have trouble connecting...more
Oct 25, 2012
Heidi
added it
I enjoyed this book. I appreciated the 1st person POV and that it was written in journal form by a 10-12yo child. I feel this book is appropriate for all ages and could be beneficial in opening lines of communication with children who have lost loved ones of any age. The manner in which Will deals with his loss and the tension in his home is timeless, treasured and heartbreaking all at once. The story ultimately ends on an upbeat note, which I feel is necessary for the target audience.
h =^..^=
h =^..^=
This story has the ring of truth to it--Will has a near death experience when he and his sister are hit by an out-of-control truck. Will recovers, but his sister dies. It is a struggle to recover physically and emotionally from the experience for Will, but also for his parents. Will works through his pain by writing to his sister in a journal. There is humor and sadness and anger.
This was probably one of the easiest books I've ever read but it was worth reading. I enjoyed it and the main character was easy to relate too. The way Carey wrote it helped me imagine how painful it must be to lose a younger sibling which actually made me a cry a little. Something I hardly ever do. It was simple yet powerful in its own way so I in my opinion in did deserve being in the WAW list.
I remember reading this when I was in fourth grade, about six or seven years ago now. It was the first really sad book I ever read and, I must say, one of the best. Having never gone through a death at that age I found it to be extremely sad and has touched me even at my current teenage years. I loved the book then and I still love it now.
This is a perfect, poignant look at how an 11-year-old boy struggles to go on after the tragic death of his little sister and his own near-death experience. Many have called it sad, but I don't see it that way at all. It's brutal, yes, and honest, but also beautiful and filled with hope and healing. Nicely done, Janet!
I thought that this book was truely amazing. I laughed a bit but also cried alot throughout it. It is also very well written and really sweet. It's an amazing read, may be quiet short but still amazing. It's really good if you believe in the after life, up in Heaven with God so if you do I strongly recommend this book. :)
This sad story helps you see the perspective of how someone feels when they have died and "came back to life".In other they didn`t fully go to the light. You get a feel of how sad life is when you just lost a family member and your parents wish that you were dead instead of them.I liked this book because it is sad and funny, it gives you mixed emotions.
I read Wenny had Wings in 5th Grade and loved it! It made me smile, laugh, cry and I felt a connection with the characters, especially Wenny, even though she's only mentioned. I picked it up again last year, and I must say, the effect wasn't the same. I didn't like it as much. it wasn't as believable. Such a shame.
Nov 16, 2010
Julie
added it
Such a good read. this was recommended by a co-worker. it is a telling how a death in a family can take its toll on the parents and living sibling. it also show an insite to how people see the life after death or near death experiences. it is a good book for anyone to read in bewteen everything else
Apr 14, 2010
Quill
added it
My son and I read this together. There was enough goofiness to keep him giggling, and also some tough, emotional, questions which we discussed. One night, I found him reading without me. He was crying into his pillow. I said, "We have to read this together. It's just too sad to read by yourself!"
It's a very good book for the 4th - 7th Grade Crowd. I believe I was 10 or 11 when I read this book, and it touched my heart in ways I could not describe. It's not quite as intriguing anymore, but I can still see the appeal. The story line is touching and fantastic.
c'est le meilleur livre que j'ai jamais lu de toute ma vie! Je n'ai jamais rien lu de pareil.Je voudrais pouvoir propre de ce livre. Il s'agit d'un livre primé. Janet Lee Carey est une source d'inspiration pour tous les jeunes wrighters.Je voudrais être son ami!
I loved this book! It really gave u a great picture of what a family would be going through if a loved one died. Although it was really sad i thought it was touching how his dad was taking the "old, messed up" photos and making them into master pieces
It was interesting enough to keep me reading to the end. It's a good book 10 to 15 years of age. I can immagine this could very well happen to a family when tragedy hits. Probably more often than we think, it can break up a family. Guilt is a strong emotion.
Wenny Has Wings is a very terribly sad book. In the very 1st page it says that Wenny dies, her brother Will breaks his leg, and their cat breaks its tail. All that this book is basicly Will writing letters to his little sister.
I haven't read the book yet but I rate it as a 5 star because it sound like a good book I checked it out at my school in Athens Georgia and I really want to Finnish it before its due but if it gets due I'll check it out agin
That was so amazing, not just because I came sooo close to using tissues, but because I could see this happening to anyone in real life. My only regret was that this book was not longer; I totally wanted to read more.
I absolutely sobbed my face off reading this.
It was sooooo gooood. And clearly sad.
That's pretty much the extent of my review.
Go read it for yourself.
and take tissues.
loads of tissues.
It was sooooo gooood. And clearly sad.
That's pretty much the extent of my review.
Go read it for yourself.
and take tissues.
loads of tissues.
This is a quick read that children in the target age range will enjoy. The author did a good job in creating the kid voice, and the reactions of both Wenny's brother and parents felt authentic.
Dec 24, 2009
April
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to April by:
me
Shelves:
kids-books
i loved this book in my younger years, in middle school the author had came to our school but i did have the book bought/no money on me and nothing for her to sign, sad =(
This books deals with a tough issue in a sensitive, kid-friendly, genuine way. The responses to the situation are very real, and the whole book is intriguing from start to finish.
i love this book...it was really sad but i enjoyed reading it. yall dont know what the book is about odviously because ur all wrong. i know what its about
This book is an amazing story about what it is like when parents lose a child and when children lose a sibling. This book made me cry, laugh, and rejoice.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great but sad book | 1 | 6 | Jan 05, 2010 04:51pm |
~Things are never what they seem. Find the lost inside the dream ~
Janet Lee Carey is the award-winning author of eight Children's and YA novels. Her YA fantasy is critically acclaimed: "Verdict: This is quite simply fantasy at its best–original, beautiful, amazing, and deeply moving.” School Library Journal starred review. Janet links each new book with a charitable organization empowering reader...more
More about Janet Lee Carey...
Janet Lee Carey is the award-winning author of eight Children's and YA novels. Her YA fantasy is critically acclaimed: "Verdict: This is quite simply fantasy at its best–original, beautiful, amazing, and deeply moving.” School Library Journal starred review. Janet links each new book with a charitable organization empowering reader...more
