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On The Wings of Heroes
by
Richard Peck
Davy Bowmans dad looks forward to Halloween more than a kid, and Davys brother, Bill, flies B-17s. Davy adores these two heroes and tries his best to follow their lead, especially now. World War II has invaded Davys homefront boyhood. Bill has joined up, breaking their dads heart. Its an intense, confusing time, and one that will spur Davy to grow up in a hurry. This ...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
October 16th 2008
by Puffin
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Amy Brown
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
WWII, boys, historical fiction
Shelves:
4th-6thgrade
I don't read a lot of Richard Peck books and I'm not a big historical fiction person. But I really liked this book. Davy Bowman is growing up during WWII with a father who was a soldier in WWI and won't talk about his experience at all and a brother who is learning to fly planes. Each short chapter talks about Davy's life as he wishes for a Schwinn bike, collects various products for the war effort, gets into scraps as he adventures out with his best friend, and hopes that his brother will give ...more
Richard Peck never disappoints. He may well be my favorite author. His books are always full of heart-warming, side-splitting, illuminating, and page-turning details. I. LOVE. HIM. Okay, maybe not HIM, but his writing, for sure.
I read this book in two days. Before you think I've shirked my motherly duties, let me say this: the book was a mere 148 pages. Easy to read half of the book after the chitlins have gone to bed. Especially when the read was such a good one.
D...more
I read this book in two days. Before you think I've shirked my motherly duties, let me say this: the book was a mere 148 pages. Easy to read half of the book after the chitlins have gone to bed. Especially when the read was such a good one.
D...more
Richard Peck is an amazing writer. Despite how short his novels are, he fleshes out interesting characters and hints at whole other stories attached to them. His historical detail is accurate, interesting, and often funny. This book is no exception. It takes place just before and during WWII in a small town. The main character is 11-13 and the story is told from his perspective. He gathers newspapers and metal for the war effort, learns to identify planes, and notices how the town becomes a plac...more
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This story takes place during World War II, and Davy, the young boy in the story, feels the effects; his big brother has joined the Air Force, he and his friend Scooter are kept busy by endless scrap drives, food and shoes and gasoline are being rationed. You feel a sense of the time...doing things for "the duration", stars hanging in windows, victory gardens, new war-time songs, the dreaded telegram being delivered to your home. Richard Peck has a fabulous sense of humor, and create...more
What makes someone a hero? Is it the feats of a mythical figure like Superman, who swoops out the sky to save the day? Is it your favorite sports star who makes the impossible catch to win the game? What about the heroes that are much closer to home? The heroes who put their lives on the line everyday to provide for us and to protect us.
Davy Bowman would tell you that his heroes are his father and his brother Bill. Dad runs the service station but always has time for his boys. Bil...more
Davy Bowman would tell you that his heroes are his father and his brother Bill. Dad runs the service station but always has time for his boys. Bil...more
Fiction/Coming of age/World War II
On The Wings of Heroes is a story about a young boy who tells his story about life before and during World War II. He praises the energy and spirit of his dad, who served in World War I and doesn’t talk about his experiences. The boy however, knows that the war deeply affected his dad. Then World War II starts and his brother goes to war. This causes tension in the family, but life goes on. It is a story of wartime America from a child’s perspective ...more
On The Wings of Heroes is a story about a young boy who tells his story about life before and during World War II. He praises the energy and spirit of his dad, who served in World War I and doesn’t talk about his experiences. The boy however, knows that the war deeply affected his dad. Then World War II starts and his brother goes to war. This causes tension in the family, but life goes on. It is a story of wartime America from a child’s perspective ...more
Heidi
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Shelves:
2010-book-challenge,
2010-ya-book-challenge,
audio,
fiction,
historical,
humor,
ya-12-19,
character
With my interest in WWII viewpoints, this was a good book to show a US small town boy and how the war affects him, his family, and his community. It wasn't all war-war-war. In fact, I think my favorite parts were his adventures with his friend, and the escapades in school. typical of the author, I found myself laughing when I hadn't expected to. It also took me a while to get into the book (as happened with the other books). But his ability to create atmosphere and characters who seem so alive t...more
Davy Bowman remembers, "Nobody was a stranger before the war."
The Illinois neighborhood rang with the sounds of children playing hide-and-seek, of neighbors sharing stories on their front porch, and of laughter from the delights of successful Halloween antics. Davy Bowman's world is happy and safe because of his heroes, his Dad and his older brother Bill, who always seemed to find time to do things with Davy.
Pearl Harbor is bombed and Davy's world changes. H...more
The Illinois neighborhood rang with the sounds of children playing hide-and-seek, of neighbors sharing stories on their front porch, and of laughter from the delights of successful Halloween antics. Davy Bowman's world is happy and safe because of his heroes, his Dad and his older brother Bill, who always seemed to find time to do things with Davy.
Pearl Harbor is bombed and Davy's world changes. H...more
Set in World War II era small town America, Richard Peck's latest story is about Davey Bowman and his family. Told from Davey's point of view, the story begins before the U.S. has entered the war. Davey's brother Bill is in the Army Air Corps, and is training to fly the B-17 bombers. Davey's family, friends, neighbors, and occasional oddball characters populate this funny and poignant tale of a different war and a different time. Rationing, scrap drives, air raid drills are all an integral...more
This is not as funny as some of Richard Peck's other work, although there is one roll on the floor/wipe your eyes funny spot. There is humor, there is tenderness, there is understanding at a deep level of families being affected by war. My guess is there is a lot of autobiographical material in it. There are moments when you can really feel and almost taste and smell 1943. It was a time when everyone "fought" the war whether you were on the front lines or taking up collections at h...more
This is my first Richard Peck book and I'm definitely looking for more! A wonderfully written coming-of-age story it starts when Davy is 10 or 11 before WWII and ends at the end of the war. It had the same general feel to me as To Kill a Mockingbird-- the child narrator with larger adult issues, neighbor characters, small town feeling, and strong father figure. I loved the characters and got goosebumps at the end. There are so many WWII books for YA out there but I feel like I now have a bet...more
I had the choice experience of meeting Richard Peck a few months ago and the memory is something I wouldn't give up for all the money in the world. He was absolutely delightful, and his spirit shines through his latest novel in the same way as so many of his other books. I love the way Peck weaves hisotyr into the story without becoming preachy or letting his reader know that he intends to teach them something along the way. A former English teacher himself, Peck seeks ways to hook young readers...more
This is my first book by Richard Peck and I understand why he is such a popular author for historical fiction. Although it is not personally my favorite genre, I was interested throughout this novel about a 6th grade boy growing up during WW2. The book begins before the war and ends at the end of the war, and contains an at-home look at sending siblings off to war, rationing, collecting for the effort, and women joining the workforce. Material was clean, and I would recommend for younger readers...more
World War II is beginning and young Davy and his best friend Scooter are busy doing their part by collecting the junk de jour. One day they're searching for scrap metal in creepy old Mr. Stonecypher's attic the next they're scavenging for milkweed near an old barn. While they're searching around the barn they spy a vintage car and try out the seats. They're scared to death when a woman shoots her shotgun and announces that they're on her property. I loved this book. There's a lot of informa...more
Davy Bowman's dad and his older brother Bill are his heroes and Davy wants to be just like them. When WWII begins, Davy's life changes. Bill joins the airforce and scrap drives, shortages, and rationing begin. It's an intense time and Davy has to grow up quickly. But Peck's trademark humor alongside poignant moments and life lessons is always a treat. I really liked the characters, especially the dad. And I learned a few things: I didn't know that they collected milkweed pods to stuff lif...more
Davy Bowman is growing up on the American homefront during World War 2. Davy’s life is affected in every way imaginable, from collecting scrap metal and air raid drills at school to his older brother, a pilot in the war effort.
If you’ve read “A Year Down Yonder” or “A Long Way from Chicago”, this is very similar, sans Grandma Dowdel (although Miss Titus is a good substitute!) The first third of the book can get a bit dry, but the middle and end makes up for it, using both humor and a...more
If you’ve read “A Year Down Yonder” or “A Long Way from Chicago”, this is very similar, sans Grandma Dowdel (although Miss Titus is a good substitute!) The first third of the book can get a bit dry, but the middle and end makes up for it, using both humor and a...more
I really enjoyed this book. Sam and I read it together and I was a bit emotional at the end so I had him finish reading it out loud! I love historical fiction so sharing it with Sam and talking about what happened in WWII through Peck's story was a great time for us. The story made me laugh out loud in several parts and like I said get a big lump in my throat at the end...love a book like that!
Samuel is reading this one for school and he told me as he was reading he had no i...more
Samuel is reading this one for school and he told me as he was reading he had no i...more
WHY: I pre-read this for Logan recently. He's a bit young for it yet (6), but I want to remember to bring this one out later. Slim though it is, it evokes the feel and details of the time just before and then during WWII. The main character's older brother goes off to be a pilot and his father fought in WWI, but doesn't talk about it. Peck is never heavy-handed or manipulative. This story is funny, touching, and I think will help a modern kid like Logan to understand how war affects the people a...more
On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck was trying much too hard at the start, and as a result, had a decidedly To Kill a Mockingbird vibe, complete with adult themes recounted from a child’s perspective, the overwhelmed teacher, and upstanding father. It found its own voice eventually (and it’s a short YA novel), and became the story of young Davy Bowman, his family, friends, and all those on the homefront in his town for the duration as Davy’s brother, Bill, goes off to fight in the war, traini...more
I love this author. Peck is funny and writes hysterical historical fiction for young people (like his Newbery-Honor-winning A Long Way From Chicago and the Newbery-Medal-winning A Year Down Yonder). But what I like best about him is that he grew up in Decatur, Illinois and writes about his childhood. I've met Mr. Peck at conferences and he KNOWS my high school English teacher. He knows the road where my parents live. Scary, but true. If you ever have the chance to hear Mr. Peck speak, he is wort...more
I saw the review of On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck at Maw Books Blog. I had enjoyed Past Perfect Present Tense and wanted to read something else by the author. I'm glad I took recommendation and picked this novel about growing up during World War Two.
Davy Bowman narrates the novel, recounting the way the Second World War affected his town, his family and his life. The book begins at Halloween with his older brother shipping off to learn how to be a B-17 pilot. While the older...more
Davy Bowman narrates the novel, recounting the way the Second World War affected his town, his family and his life. The book begins at Halloween with his older brother shipping off to learn how to be a B-17 pilot. While the older...more
LaSchelle
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
youth,
fiction,
library-borrowed-and-returned,
2009,
history,
history-wwii,
historical-fiction
The story of WWII through the eyes of teen. Davy's father was injured in WWI and thought his service would ensure that he would never have to send one of his own to fight in war. Well, he has to send his son Bill into WWII. Bill is Davy's hero.
A sweet story of how middle America was effected by war. The rationing, the collection of materials to support the war effort. A very quick read.
I loved the description of their teacher Miss Landis on p 75 "She was real pr...more
A sweet story of how middle America was effected by war. The rationing, the collection of materials to support the war effort. A very quick read.
I loved the description of their teacher Miss Landis on p 75 "She was real pr...more
I've read a few other things by Richard Peck and really liked them. This book had the same nostalgic feel and easy-reading story telling, but I felt that it lacked a clean story line. Although I enjoyed it, I just didn't get a sense that the narrator was telling one actual story instead of just a bunch of random anecdotes from their past. It's really late and I'm writing this so if it doesn't make sense, there is poor grammar or it is all misspelled, just ignore it.
Richard Peck is an excellent writer, and while this wasn't quite as good and memorable as some of his other books, it was still a good book. I'm amazed at how much detail he can give in so few sentences. This book has the typical character development and humor that I love in his books. This book takes place during WWII in the USA giving me a lot to think about in contrast with The Book Thief. Life was a lot easier during the war in the USA than in Europe.
Not as funny as some of the other Peck books I've read, but a lovely book. It was a lot of fun to read and even though it had me tearing up it was really an upbeat war themed book. I liked how each chapter title became the beginning of the first sentence of the chapter. And I loved that the dad in the story was a great dad, and that the intrusive and cantakerous grandmother was not all she seemed.
Set during World War II, the focus of this book is on what happened at home in a small town during the war. There is not much action in the story, and boys who pick this up hoping for World War II battles will be disappointed. The book reads like a memoir (and perhaps it is...I'm never very good at reading all the introductory notes...), but although it left me satisfied, I wasn't excited.
I enjoyed this book a lot and I also liked the narrator's voice. It was nice to read about WWII from a young boy's perspective, since I'm used to reading about it from the perspective of a young girl, especially the American Girl, Molly. Although, I'll say that if you're a boy or a girl, your experience staying home as a child during the war was extremely similar. Good read.
This was sucha "feel good" story. It was informative about what
the families back home went through, and at the same time,
I felt like I was almost reading about my own youth,
growing up in a small town, and playing games with
not only the neighbors but my Dad. Good values, and
the fun of a Father who loved to play pranks and teach good values
to others!
the families back home went through, and at the same time,
I felt like I was almost reading about my own youth,
growing up in a small town, and playing games with
not only the neighbors but my Dad. Good values, and
the fun of a Father who loved to play pranks and teach good values
to others!
Excellent book! Historical fiction set in WWII. I will be reading this to my class later this year. It gives a look into the lives of families of soldiers, rationing, and the hardships of that war. There are a few incidents of bullies getting their comeuppance just like in A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago. I loved this book!
This book, which is in the style of evolving anecdotes of war-time life, has its charms. It's not so different from other boyhood tales of the same time which leads me to believe that it may not be one of the prolific Richard Peck's best books. For a memoir of the same time-period that works as a sort-of version of On the Wings of Heroes for adults, try Charles Osgood's Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack: A Boyhood Year During World War II.
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Richard Peck is an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder.
Richard Peck was born in 1934 in Decatur, Illinois, a town he describes as quiet and safe. His mother, Virginia, was a dietitian and his father, Wayne, was a merchant who often rode his Harley Davidson to w...more
More about Richard Peck...
Richard Peck was born in 1934 in Decatur, Illinois, a town he describes as quiet and safe. His mother, Virginia, was a dietitian and his father, Wayne, was a merchant who often rode his Harley Davidson to w...more
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