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13th out of 97 books
—
224 voters
Silverwing (Silverwing #1)
by
Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author)
One of Canada's best books for young readers was written by a pretty young writer himself. Kenneth Oppel, who had his first book published when he was 18, really hit his stride a dozen years later with Silverwing, the first volume in a thrilling adventure trilogy set in the nocturnal world of bats that immediately captured the attention of middle readers and award juries a...more
Paperback, 1st Harper Collins Mass Market Paperbach Edition, 128 pages
Published
1998
by Harper Collins
(first published October 1st 1997)
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"Silverwing" is a colony of small dark bats, migrating south, ahead of runt Shade. Swept out to sea by a storm, he meets older Marina, banished by Brightwings who thought her band was a poison curse. She asks to join Shade's colony, led by a banded elder. They believe bands are a sign of divine promise that bats will regain the day, against present owl law. Every stranger has beliefs that challenge and rock Shade's, reminding us to question everyone.
I don't like children who misbehave and endan...more
I don't like children who misbehave and endan...more
Being a fan of bats, I was very pleased to find this new trilogy, with bats as the main characters! The hero's quest to find his colony, as well as unraveling layers of legend and mystery surrounding an ancient prophecy, was fun. I especially liked the aerial action scenes and the description of echolocation.
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Silverwing is just amazing! I read it in just a day, and that's no small feat for me! It was just so capturing! It was quite fast-paced I found, but I liked that for a change!
It was just un-put-down-able!
The story-line is very original, which I loved, and is about bats! This is my very first bat fiction story that I've read, and it had made me have a taste for bat stories!
This is a flawless and exciting story {{I found myself cheering and wishing Goth and Throbb would just hurry up and die!}} a...more
It was just un-put-down-able!
The story-line is very original, which I loved, and is about bats! This is my very first bat fiction story that I've read, and it had made me have a taste for bat stories!
This is a flawless and exciting story {{I found myself cheering and wishing Goth and Throbb would just hurry up and die!}} a...more
I bought this as a gift, thought I'd give it a quick read first, and ended up devouring the whole thing in 24 hours. Good job this is a 250-page children's book, as I knew I wouldn't be getting to sleep last night before I found out what happened to Shade.
A newborn runt with a father missing presumed killed, Shade tries to prove himself by staying up till dawn to behold the face of the sun. By doing so he breaks an ancient law and brings the vengeance of the owls down upon his colony. Matters ar...more
A newborn runt with a father missing presumed killed, Shade tries to prove himself by staying up till dawn to behold the face of the sun. By doing so he breaks an ancient law and brings the vengeance of the owls down upon his colony. Matters ar...more
Extremely good book, with very interesting characters and story line. If you like books about animals and fantasy, this is a perfect book.
The characters are all likable and the story line is so captivating. The beginning was a bit slow, but in part two it just got awesome, and the reason for this is one word.
Goth.
He was by far the best character. I love it in books when the author writes from the villains perspective. it just gives the readers a chance to get into there heads. There are so many...more
The characters are all likable and the story line is so captivating. The beginning was a bit slow, but in part two it just got awesome, and the reason for this is one word.
Goth.
He was by far the best character. I love it in books when the author writes from the villains perspective. it just gives the readers a chance to get into there heads. There are so many...more
This is book is so totally amazing!!! This book is as good and exciting as the TV show that they showed in 2003! After reading (and still watching the TV show), I love bats!!! This book is about a runt Silver-haired bat, named Shade, in the Silverwing colony, while was hunting, was taunted by a bigger bat named Chinook. So, Shade, offended by Chinook's taunts, decided to act more braver by looking at the sun. There is a law that bats were forbidden to look at the sun because of the Battle of the...more
If I remember correctly, I read this back in Elementary School. It was probably around 1st-3rd grade when I read it. My sister had recommended it to me, and back then, she was my idol, so of course I HAD to read it, too.
I can't say I LOVED it, because when I was younger, I used to think that you ALWAYS had to finish a book if you started it, even if you absolutely despised it. I don't know how I came up with that rule, but I did. (It probably had to do with my kindergarden teachers scolding ever...more
I can't say I LOVED it, because when I was younger, I used to think that you ALWAYS had to finish a book if you started it, even if you absolutely despised it. I don't know how I came up with that rule, but I did. (It probably had to do with my kindergarden teachers scolding ever...more
I read this book about a couple years ago. It was a great book that just had that "kick" to it, the minute I started reading it I couldn't let go of it, all it did to the reader was make them ask that very important question; what will happen next? It doesn't have a specific because the book is all over the place in forests, cities, and across massive tracts of land where it will take you, you never know. One of its most interesting aspects is its characters, Shade the bat of the story, that's r...more
I'll admit to being taken with this story. Perhaps it's just been such a long time since I read a story told from the point of view from an animal. In fact, there's much to draw a comparison to one of my favorite books when I first started reading: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH We have multiple animal species who have their own anthropomorphized politic world and can readily speak to one another, though not to humans.
What is a bit disconcerting is exactly how formulaic this book seems as you...more
What is a bit disconcerting is exactly how formulaic this book seems as you...more
I'm wavering between 2 stars and 3 stars for this book. I think if I had read this as a child, I would have rated it higher.
A perpetually-curious outcast who has to overcome the odds, try to figure out some mysteries, avoid bad guys, make new friends, and manage to make his first winter migration without the rest of his colony. Oppel creates a unique world with the bats' perspective and varying mythologies/beliefs about how to solve the problems of their world. My one problem with the book was...more
A perpetually-curious outcast who has to overcome the odds, try to figure out some mysteries, avoid bad guys, make new friends, and manage to make his first winter migration without the rest of his colony. Oppel creates a unique world with the bats' perspective and varying mythologies/beliefs about how to solve the problems of their world. My one problem with the book was...more
Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel
Review by: Javier Sarria
1. What did you think the book was about?
I think Silverwing was a story about a bat born the youngest and as a “Runt”. The bat’s name was Shade, in the story he gets into trouble, with his leader’s law, and put them in danger. When Shade and his family were migrating for the winter, Shade gets separated from the pack and is lost during the winter. Shade is scared and alone, while he needs to find his family and friends before winter starts.
2. D...more
Review by: Javier Sarria
1. What did you think the book was about?
I think Silverwing was a story about a bat born the youngest and as a “Runt”. The bat’s name was Shade, in the story he gets into trouble, with his leader’s law, and put them in danger. When Shade and his family were migrating for the winter, Shade gets separated from the pack and is lost during the winter. Shade is scared and alone, while he needs to find his family and friends before winter starts.
2. D...more
Who writes a book about bats? Kenneth Oppel does! And he does it extremely well. The characters are all very realistic and I felt like I was watching real bats with the descriptions and actions. One of my favorite things that still blows my mind about this book is that the author admits to using only 'black', 'white', and 'silver' as colors in the book. I didn't even notice, but now that I know it's very amazing to me. Kudos to Kenneth Oppel and his great writing.
This fiction story is about a life of a bat called Shade. Bat usually can not go face the sun. Another bat dared Shade to go look at the sun so Shade accepted the challenge and took a glance at the sun. An owl saw Shade and was chasing Shade trying to kill him but can not because Shade flew away. The owl then destroyed the bat's home and the bat had to migrate to live at another place. As they are migrating, the storm took place and Shade was separated from his own family. He met a new bat frien...more
I usually don't care too much for books with an animal protagonist, but this one was a lot of fun. Although the main characters are bats, they struggle with many of the same emotions as humans, and young readers would have an easy time identifying with them. The story also moves smoothly and quickly as Shade and Marina fly from adventure to adventure. There was a lot of information about bats woven into the story, but it never bogged down the plot. In fact, it helped to make the setting and char...more
Schatten ist die kleinste Fledermaus der Silberfluegel-Kolonie und wird als Knirps
von den anderen nicht ernst genommen. Er versteht nicht, warum die Fledermaeuse
nur nachts draussen herumfliegen duerfen. Bei dem Versuch, die aufgehende Sonne
zu sehen, wird er fast von den Eulen, den Todfeinden der Fledermaeuse, getoetet
und der Baumhort der Fledermaeuse wird zerstoert. Auf dem langen Flug zur
Ueberwinterung im Sueden verliert Schatten die Kolonie. Er lernt Marina kennen,
eine Glanzfluegel-Fledermaus...more
von den anderen nicht ernst genommen. Er versteht nicht, warum die Fledermaeuse
nur nachts draussen herumfliegen duerfen. Bei dem Versuch, die aufgehende Sonne
zu sehen, wird er fast von den Eulen, den Todfeinden der Fledermaeuse, getoetet
und der Baumhort der Fledermaeuse wird zerstoert. Auf dem langen Flug zur
Ueberwinterung im Sueden verliert Schatten die Kolonie. Er lernt Marina kennen,
eine Glanzfluegel-Fledermaus...more
I first read this book in 7th grade, and this is the book that really inspired me to start seriously writing my own stories. I fell in love with this book right away and I'm pretty much still in love with it! I've read it many times, drawn the characters many times, and even today my own predominant writing style is very similar to Kenneth's. :D
One of my favorite things about this book (even though I have lots of favorite things xP) is the way we get to see very mundane, everyday things made new...more
One of my favorite things about this book (even though I have lots of favorite things xP) is the way we get to see very mundane, everyday things made new...more
A weird thing about this book, is that it starts off horribly. The author doesn't even grip you with whatever he tries to grip you with. The boringness is incredible. I just sat there, managing my way through it. I thought to myself, "People recommended this to me," and I thought to myself as well, "This is incredibly overrated." I starts off with no action whatsoever. But then, suddenly, it starts taking off so don't let the very beginning deceive you. It still isn't at all action-packed or any...more
Silverwing
by Kenneth Oppel
fantasy
128 pages
September
Shade is a young bat. He lost his father and is tormented by Chinook. He is used to being called runt and to being ignored. His different from the others he owns something the others don't really have. Curiosity. He wants to know why all bats are banished from the sun. More importantly, he wants to see the sun. He wants to be brave. One night he challenges Chinook to see who is brave enough to watch the sun rise. Chinook leaves before the sun...more
by Kenneth Oppel
fantasy
128 pages
September
Shade is a young bat. He lost his father and is tormented by Chinook. He is used to being called runt and to being ignored. His different from the others he owns something the others don't really have. Curiosity. He wants to know why all bats are banished from the sun. More importantly, he wants to see the sun. He wants to be brave. One night he challenges Chinook to see who is brave enough to watch the sun rise. Chinook leaves before the sun...more
Reading this juvenile literature was an enjoyable experience - it was being read in a few of the elementary classrooms I visited this month. I can see how children easily identify with the runt of the Silverwing bat family, Shade. His adventurous journey with the banded bat Marina had enough thrills for the imaginative, some scientific facts thrown in for the curious, and ancient sounding names (Brutus, Freida, Remus and Romulus) for the kids who go on to read the classics. It also adds some evo...more
Bats come to life! At first I thought, great a story about bats, how interesting could that be. But then, the author personified the bats and they became characters that I could relate to and care about. The story is unlike any I’ve read before, and was interesting. Shade is an interesting young bat who faces a lot of challenges, and by what seems to be utter luck or his own innate ability to survive he faces those challenges and overcomes them, with his friend Marina by his side. There were som...more
One of my favorite books--lots of suspense, some thoughts about purpose in life, and a teensy bit of romance. I was such a fan of
as a child, so I was very excited to read this in fifth grade. I loved it so much that I regaled my teacher with stories of it, and she ended up reading it aloud to the class.
This is a coming of age story told through the eyes of a runty bat living in a civilization that exists in this book hidden alongside our own. Shade's quest to rejoin his family after being lo...more
as a child, so I was very excited to read this in fifth grade. I loved it so much that I regaled my teacher with stories of it, and she ended up reading it aloud to the class. This is a coming of age story told through the eyes of a runty bat living in a civilization that exists in this book hidden alongside our own. Shade's quest to rejoin his family after being lo...more
This book was cute and interesting. It was a good adventure and perfect for younger kids, but is also a good quick read for the older audience. It busts a lot of bat myths (like the common "blind as a bat" myth) and inspires curiosity about the small flying mamals. Before I read this book I was a little weary of bats, but afterwards I was intensly interested in them, and all my fear was chased away. The only reason I did not rate this book higher is because at the begining I felt that I was almo...more
Warning: Some spoilers
It was just as I expected. While reading I kept thinking of it as a mix between the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series and The Tale of Despereaux.
Some parts were quite unbelievable and pretty weak in the story: the Silverwing religion, star maps and echo maps. The encounter with the rats did not seem necessary at all, but I have a feeling it might be important in the next book.
The most interesting character was Goth. He seemed the most fleshed out of everybody. I would read the...more
It was just as I expected. While reading I kept thinking of it as a mix between the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series and The Tale of Despereaux.
Some parts were quite unbelievable and pretty weak in the story: the Silverwing religion, star maps and echo maps. The encounter with the rats did not seem necessary at all, but I have a feeling it might be important in the next book.
The most interesting character was Goth. He seemed the most fleshed out of everybody. I would read the...more
Silverwing follows the story of a bat named Shade who gets seperated from his colony on their yearly journey to Hibernaculum, a place where they are dormant during the winter months. The narrative is rich with details about the life of bats plus the author creates a world with their deities, relationships and how they use sonar to tell storys and make maps.
I would like to finish up this triology because it holds such promise and has such adventure.
Favorite quote: Marina looked thoughtful again....more
I would like to finish up this triology because it holds such promise and has such adventure.
Favorite quote: Marina looked thoughtful again....more
Silverwing was a really fun book to read. It's about a silverwing bat named shade who gets lost from the rest of his colony in a storm and ends up on an island where he meets a brightwing bat named Marina. Marina joins him while he makes his way to Hibernaculum (at least I think that's what it's called), which is his colony's hibernation home. On the way they meet many other people, two of them are really important, they are the main villains. Their names are Goth and Throbb. If you think about...more
I had to read this twice, because I got to the end and thought: I don't like it. Then I read how there were no colours in the book. Was that why I didn't like it? Because it was all black and silver and shapes, the way a bat would see the world?
So, I left it a few months and picked it up again. It's very well written, but it's preachy, like a Disney film, rather than true and heartfelt. Having said that, I wonder how fair it is to judge a book I didn't read when I was a child. It's not meant for...more
So, I left it a few months and picked it up again. It's very well written, but it's preachy, like a Disney film, rather than true and heartfelt. Having said that, I wonder how fair it is to judge a book I didn't read when I was a child. It's not meant for...more
If any children's book should become a Pixar movie, this is it! If I were more motivated, I would contact a screenplay writer! The book follows the adventures of a little runt bat who gets separated from his family during his migration flight. Told from a fruit bat's point of view, evil vampire bats and inquisitive humans are an interesting problem. Characters are well developed and interesting. Even adults enjoy this gem of a series! Makes a great read-aloud. It hooks the kids and they want to...more
SUMMARY
Shade is a Silverwing bat that has the adventure of his life finding his colony after being lost in a large storm.
PASSAGE
Page 57, Para. 1
Mariana led him under the roof and into the crawl space of an old wooden shach near the bay. The roost she'd made for herself was deep inside a heap of fishing nets, old sails, oily blankets, and muddy leaves, which Shade assumed she'd carried in to stop up any drafts.
REASON
I picked this passage because this is when Shade realises that Mariana colud be a...more
Shade is a Silverwing bat that has the adventure of his life finding his colony after being lost in a large storm.
PASSAGE
Page 57, Para. 1
Mariana led him under the roof and into the crawl space of an old wooden shach near the bay. The roost she'd made for herself was deep inside a heap of fishing nets, old sails, oily blankets, and muddy leaves, which Shade assumed she'd carried in to stop up any drafts.
REASON
I picked this passage because this is when Shade realises that Mariana colud be a...more
As three stars indicates, I liked this book. I probably would have liked it even more when I was in the target teen age group. I read it because it was a Smithsonian notable book because of it's accuracy about bat habits. Like Watership Down is about rabbits, Silverwing is about bats, who have a whole folklore, history, and social system. The conflict of the story is that some bats have these rings on their legs and there's a lot of speculation amongst the other bats as to why this is. Then ther...more
Silverwing is about a little silverwing bat named Shade. Shade was a little runt to everyone because he was so small, but Shade was a very intellegent bat. One day, Shade decided to see the sun even though his mother told him not to (there was a law saying bats cannot see the sun), but an owl caught him in the act and burned down Shade and the rest of his colony's home. Because of this, the colony had to fly to the south a little earlier than planned for the winter, but during the trip, there w...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverwing | 9 | 33 | Sep 20, 2012 06:51pm |
I was born in 1967 in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia...At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer (this came after deciding I wanted to be a scientist, and then an architect). I started out writing sci-fi epics (my Star Wars phase) then went on to swords...more
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