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How to Fly with Broken Wings
'If Finn Maison shouts jump you jump or you are dead.'
Twelve-year-old Willem has Aspergers Syndrome and two main aims in life: to fly and to make at least two friends of his own age. But all the other boys from the Beckham Estate do is make him jump off things. First his desk - and now the wall. As his toes teeter on the edge, Sasha Barton gives him a tiny little wink. Might she become his friend?
Bullied by Finn and his gang the Beckham Estate Boyz, Willem has no choice but to jump. As he flies through the air he flaps his arms, wishing he could fly and escape into the clouds. Instead he comes crashing down and breaks his ankle.
Sasha, angry with herself for not stopping Finn and his Boyz, is determined to put things right. And soon, while the gangs riot on their estate, Willem and Sasha form an unlikely friendship. Because they share a secret. Sasha longs to fly too.
And when Magic Man Archie arrives with stories of war-flying spitfires, he will change the lives of the kids on the Beckham Estate for ever. And perhaps find a way for Willem and Sasha to fly ...
Touching on themes such as friendship and bullying, this is a charming tale about overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in unlikely places.
Twelve-year-old Willem has Aspergers Syndrome and two main aims in life: to fly and to make at least two friends of his own age. But all the other boys from the Beckham Estate do is make him jump off things. First his desk - and now the wall. As his toes teeter on the edge, Sasha Barton gives him a tiny little wink. Might she become his friend?
Bullied by Finn and his gang the Beckham Estate Boyz, Willem has no choice but to jump. As he flies through the air he flaps his arms, wishing he could fly and escape into the clouds. Instead he comes crashing down and breaks his ankle.
Sasha, angry with herself for not stopping Finn and his Boyz, is determined to put things right. And soon, while the gangs riot on their estate, Willem and Sasha form an unlikely friendship. Because they share a secret. Sasha longs to fly too.
And when Magic Man Archie arrives with stories of war-flying spitfires, he will change the lives of the kids on the Beckham Estate for ever. And perhaps find a way for Willem and Sasha to fly ...
Touching on themes such as friendship and bullying, this is a charming tale about overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in unlikely places.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 10, 2016
I swear, if I’m going to cry again, I hope I won’t look ugly, because seriously, I just had an ugly cry after reading this. This book is far from ugly though. How to Fly With Broken Wings is a beautiful story about Willem and his quest to find two new friends and be able to fly up in the sky.
Willem was a special child who lived with her grandmother on Beckham Estate. One of his teachers told him to make two new friends instead of doing math formulas. He found a friend in Sasha Barton, when she attempted to help him after Finn told him to jump. Finn Maison was the resident bad boy/bully /gang leader who always taunted Willem. And because Willem took everything literally, he would do every single thing that Finn required him to. Oh poor boy!
Sasha felt something else for Finn, so she tried her best to let him see his wrong ways and correct it. But Finn was a hard-headed boy who wouldn’t listen to reason. One day, a riot ensued and to everyone’s surprise, Willem was the one who saved Finn’s ass from the police. Then they met Magic Man Archie who had awoken their desires to fly! Archie flew a Spitfire, the kind of aircraft used in wars, and told them tales about her mother Rachel who flew up in the sky when she was younger. Because of Archie, The Spitfire Club was born; friends were made, gangs were united, Beckham Estate residents cheered.
Though it was not really introduced or mentioned in the entirety of the book that Willem has Asperger’s Syndrome, it was mentioned in the synopsis / blurb that he has the an autism spectrum disorder. The readers are given the chance to see how Willem sees the world in his own eyes; how he perceive things and literally translates the words spoken to him. We get a glimpse of their complex world, mannerisms, state of fear, shock, happiness and intelligence. I really appreciate this book because it lets me understand how people with ASDs cope with themselves and other people and be aware of their special/specific needs.
Jane Elson wrote a powerful and inspiring novel. I salute her for that. I salute her for letting the children’s voices be heard. I salute her for the kind of friendship Willem, Sasha, Finn & Buster shared. I salute her for teaching us how to dream and hold on to it and fly.
Willem was a special child who lived with her grandmother on Beckham Estate. One of his teachers told him to make two new friends instead of doing math formulas. He found a friend in Sasha Barton, when she attempted to help him after Finn told him to jump. Finn Maison was the resident bad boy/bully /gang leader who always taunted Willem. And because Willem took everything literally, he would do every single thing that Finn required him to. Oh poor boy!
Sasha felt something else for Finn, so she tried her best to let him see his wrong ways and correct it. But Finn was a hard-headed boy who wouldn’t listen to reason. One day, a riot ensued and to everyone’s surprise, Willem was the one who saved Finn’s ass from the police. Then they met Magic Man Archie who had awoken their desires to fly! Archie flew a Spitfire, the kind of aircraft used in wars, and told them tales about her mother Rachel who flew up in the sky when she was younger. Because of Archie, The Spitfire Club was born; friends were made, gangs were united, Beckham Estate residents cheered.
Though it was not really introduced or mentioned in the entirety of the book that Willem has Asperger’s Syndrome, it was mentioned in the synopsis / blurb that he has the an autism spectrum disorder. The readers are given the chance to see how Willem sees the world in his own eyes; how he perceive things and literally translates the words spoken to him. We get a glimpse of their complex world, mannerisms, state of fear, shock, happiness and intelligence. I really appreciate this book because it lets me understand how people with ASDs cope with themselves and other people and be aware of their special/specific needs.
Jane Elson wrote a powerful and inspiring novel. I salute her for that. I salute her for letting the children’s voices be heard. I salute her for the kind of friendship Willem, Sasha, Finn & Buster shared. I salute her for teaching us how to dream and hold on to it and fly.
January 19, 2015
Tender but toneless!
The Best part of this young person's book is the first 10 or 15 minutes of your reading time, the adorable book-cover- and the description of the story in the 'blurb' itself. The reader feels the warmth immediately -- but that's all we get.
Basically, Willem just wants to make friends --and Sasha shows him how!
Their friendship develops from a shared secret. They both wish to fly.
Finn is the class bully. (leader of the kids). Everyone does what 'Finn' says to do....
Several themes are 'not' fully developed --(Aspergers syndrome, bullying, socialization, fitting in, seeking approval, blame, shame, worthiness, vulnerability, and the human desire to belong).
What we get instead is character Old Man,--'Magic Man Archie' --He tells stories to of war flying spitfires. I didn't 'feel' the magic!
Most of the time, I just wanted Willem to get back home to his grandmother's house, drink tea and eat digestive biscuits. I was ready to join in!
There are many wonderful books to choose from these days for young people. This is not one of them. (GREAT BOOK COVER, though)!
The Best part of this young person's book is the first 10 or 15 minutes of your reading time, the adorable book-cover- and the description of the story in the 'blurb' itself. The reader feels the warmth immediately -- but that's all we get.
Basically, Willem just wants to make friends --and Sasha shows him how!
Their friendship develops from a shared secret. They both wish to fly.
Finn is the class bully. (leader of the kids). Everyone does what 'Finn' says to do....
Several themes are 'not' fully developed --(Aspergers syndrome, bullying, socialization, fitting in, seeking approval, blame, shame, worthiness, vulnerability, and the human desire to belong).
What we get instead is character Old Man,--'Magic Man Archie' --He tells stories to of war flying spitfires. I didn't 'feel' the magic!
Most of the time, I just wanted Willem to get back home to his grandmother's house, drink tea and eat digestive biscuits. I was ready to join in!
There are many wonderful books to choose from these days for young people. This is not one of them. (GREAT BOOK COVER, though)!
April 25, 2017
I haven't read any middle grade in quite a while, so I am actually having a hard time deciding if this is a good book or not. I did really enjoy the story, and I thought it was quite interesting. It deals with Aspergers/autism, making unlikely friendships, and even gangs?! Really, there are gangs and rioting in this book. Heavy topics for a middle grade, I think, but I thought it was handled well. Where I'm not sure if this is good is the writing. Like I said, I haven't read any middle grade in a while, so I'm not sure if the writing was too simplistic or not. But I thought this was a really unique story and the characters were all really good, so for that part I really enjoyed it.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.
October 19, 2015
When Alexia Casale (YA author, organiser of YA Shot and all round “good egg,”) asked me if I would like to interview Jane Elson as part of a blog tour for YA Shot, I jumped at the chance. Not only did I completely fall in love with Jane’s debut novel A Room Full Of Chocolate last year but I have had her second novel on my Kindle for a while now wondering when I was going to get round to reading it! I’m so glad I made time for it now as it was a heart-breaking and terrific read that cemented me as a definite fan of Jane Elson.
The author focuses on a few different characters in this novel but the pivotal character is a twelve year old boy called Willem who has a form of autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome. This leads to him having problems interacting and communicating with others, strange rituals and behaviours that he must complete otherwise he gets very anxious and he also tends to see the world in a very literal way which can be quite confusing for him if someone is being sarcastic for instance, or making a joke that he cannot understand.
At the beginning of the novel, poor Willem is at the mercy of school bully Finn and his horrible gang. They exploit both Willem’s fear of the bullies and his passion for flying in the worst way – by making him jump off a fairly high wall. He breaks an ankle in the incident but is still determined to complete his homework set by his maths teacher, to make two new friends. Like a little guardian angel, in flies Sasha Barton. She is the girlfriend of gang leader Finn but has become increasingly fed-up with his antics and feels terribly sorry for Willem after he breaks his ankle, visiting him and vowing to be his friend.
When the pair find out that they both share a passion for flying they are overjoyed but even more so when a kindly new neighbour to the estate shows them his beautiful secret, a Spitfire plane flown in the war which is now lovingly taken care of and flown by Archie himself. The Spitfire has a wonderful history to go along with it and Sasha especially is entranced by the love story between a man and a woman in Great Britain at war, the woman Rachel being one of the very first and little known about women pilots who flew Spitfires for the war effort in the 1940’s. Then when riots break out on the estate between Finn’s gang and a rival gang, it pulls together all the characters in ways they never imagined and additionally creates a heart stopping and dangerous moment that reveals how terrifying peer pressure and bullying can really be. As a result, it might even be possible for Sasha and Willem to discover how to fly but not initially in the way they dreamed of.
This book tugged at every single one of my heart strings. Once again, Jane Elson has pulled off a truly mesmerising read that will have you shouting at the page (not this one hopefully…no spoilers here don’t worry!) and re-evaluating how you look at/treat people you come across in your daily life. I know a couple of people with either autism or Asperger’s Syndrome myself and I think Jane has done a stellar job, writing the character of Willem sensitively and accurately. I loved Willem as a character – he has that sort of pure innocence and honesty that we often lose early on in our lives when we become grumpy, cynical old adults. It was quite refreshing for me reading a point of view like this but in another way quite bitter sweet as it can often make that child an easy target for bullies, which is what Willem goes through. I also enjoyed the extra characters and what they brought to the story, in particular Willem’s fiesty Gran (who gives the rioters a run for their money!) the lovely neighbour Archie and even Buster the Staffie who I definitely developed a soft spot for! As with her debut novel, Jane Elson does not hold back, hide away or attempt to side-step difficult or traumatic situations. Bad things happen, the world sometimes is not fair and telling children the truth I think is so incredibly important and is one of the very many reasons why I think Jane Elson is a brilliant author for the little people (and even the big people) in your life.
For my full review please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
The author focuses on a few different characters in this novel but the pivotal character is a twelve year old boy called Willem who has a form of autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome. This leads to him having problems interacting and communicating with others, strange rituals and behaviours that he must complete otherwise he gets very anxious and he also tends to see the world in a very literal way which can be quite confusing for him if someone is being sarcastic for instance, or making a joke that he cannot understand.
At the beginning of the novel, poor Willem is at the mercy of school bully Finn and his horrible gang. They exploit both Willem’s fear of the bullies and his passion for flying in the worst way – by making him jump off a fairly high wall. He breaks an ankle in the incident but is still determined to complete his homework set by his maths teacher, to make two new friends. Like a little guardian angel, in flies Sasha Barton. She is the girlfriend of gang leader Finn but has become increasingly fed-up with his antics and feels terribly sorry for Willem after he breaks his ankle, visiting him and vowing to be his friend.
When the pair find out that they both share a passion for flying they are overjoyed but even more so when a kindly new neighbour to the estate shows them his beautiful secret, a Spitfire plane flown in the war which is now lovingly taken care of and flown by Archie himself. The Spitfire has a wonderful history to go along with it and Sasha especially is entranced by the love story between a man and a woman in Great Britain at war, the woman Rachel being one of the very first and little known about women pilots who flew Spitfires for the war effort in the 1940’s. Then when riots break out on the estate between Finn’s gang and a rival gang, it pulls together all the characters in ways they never imagined and additionally creates a heart stopping and dangerous moment that reveals how terrifying peer pressure and bullying can really be. As a result, it might even be possible for Sasha and Willem to discover how to fly but not initially in the way they dreamed of.
This book tugged at every single one of my heart strings. Once again, Jane Elson has pulled off a truly mesmerising read that will have you shouting at the page (not this one hopefully…no spoilers here don’t worry!) and re-evaluating how you look at/treat people you come across in your daily life. I know a couple of people with either autism or Asperger’s Syndrome myself and I think Jane has done a stellar job, writing the character of Willem sensitively and accurately. I loved Willem as a character – he has that sort of pure innocence and honesty that we often lose early on in our lives when we become grumpy, cynical old adults. It was quite refreshing for me reading a point of view like this but in another way quite bitter sweet as it can often make that child an easy target for bullies, which is what Willem goes through. I also enjoyed the extra characters and what they brought to the story, in particular Willem’s fiesty Gran (who gives the rioters a run for their money!) the lovely neighbour Archie and even Buster the Staffie who I definitely developed a soft spot for! As with her debut novel, Jane Elson does not hold back, hide away or attempt to side-step difficult or traumatic situations. Bad things happen, the world sometimes is not fair and telling children the truth I think is so incredibly important and is one of the very many reasons why I think Jane Elson is a brilliant author for the little people (and even the big people) in your life.
For my full review please see my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
October 19, 2017
Read this review at Brilliant Bookshelf
Netgalley provided me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. The book cover and synopsis drew me in, but the story did not live up to it. I think it will be enjoyable for children, just not great.
I really liked that the main character had Aspergers Syndrome. I know quite a few people in real life with autism, yet I rarely come across book characters with the disorder, so this was refreshing in a way. Unfortunately, the topic wasn't addressed that much, but some things, such as Willem's issues with social interaction and his desire for structure felt really accurate. At times it did feel like he was portrayed too much like a dimwit, but every Aspergers case is different after all.
Apart from the autism, the book addressed a lot of other themes and issues like friendship, bullying, abuse, love, civil disorder etc. All these themes connected through the common interest of planes and flying. I liked that it was the idea of flying that fixed all the problems in the end. Furthermore, I suspect that children who love planes (or the war) will like the story in particular because it will be right up their ally!
The one big thing that I disliked about How To Fly with Broken Wings was that it was dreadfully chaotic. Not only did a lot of themes get explored, a LOT also happened. Too much in fact. Problems were appearing left and right without ways to solve them and most of the story described the characters running around in a panic. The result was that many themes or events could not be explored in depth and that everything felt rushed. Moreover, some events were unrealistic, even for a children's book.
Though the execution of the story could have been better, How To Fly With Broken Wings will nevertheless teach children a few things, which I find valuable in a children's book. This was entertaining, but not brilliant, so I'm giving it three stars.
February 9, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It says a lot that only a few weeks after reading How to Fly With Broken Wings, I am having a hard time remembering a lot of details about this book. Actually, I had to look up two of the main character's names because I just couldn't remember them. Yep, it was one of those books.
The writing style was the first thing that caught my attention in a negative way. It's very flat, with simple sentences and little variation of sentence structure that made it hard to become engrossed in the book.
Secondly, the characters; yeah...once again, I couldn't even remember Willem and Sasha's names right away. Finn, for some reason, I remembered. I just really didn't care about them at all. I've seen characters like them before; a bullied boy who has issues making friends, a bully who has a bad home life, the girl who befriends the bullied kid. Honestly, there are plenty of books that deal with these dynamics between characters, and deal with it better.
The plot began to get a bit convoluted. I think it should have just focused on the relationship between Sasha, Finn, and Willem; that would have been enough. Instead, we also were treated to rioting gangs, and stories of dead pilots and their long lost loves, and a kindly old man who is Willem's neighbor. They were all nice plots, but they could be a distraction. Sometimes, less is more.
This book had a lot of potential, but that potential was totally wasted. How to Fly With Broken Wings had absolutely no emotional effect on me whatsoever, and I have a suspicion that in a few months I'll have practically forgotten it.
It says a lot that only a few weeks after reading How to Fly With Broken Wings, I am having a hard time remembering a lot of details about this book. Actually, I had to look up two of the main character's names because I just couldn't remember them. Yep, it was one of those books.
The writing style was the first thing that caught my attention in a negative way. It's very flat, with simple sentences and little variation of sentence structure that made it hard to become engrossed in the book.
Secondly, the characters; yeah...once again, I couldn't even remember Willem and Sasha's names right away. Finn, for some reason, I remembered. I just really didn't care about them at all. I've seen characters like them before; a bullied boy who has issues making friends, a bully who has a bad home life, the girl who befriends the bullied kid. Honestly, there are plenty of books that deal with these dynamics between characters, and deal with it better.
The plot began to get a bit convoluted. I think it should have just focused on the relationship between Sasha, Finn, and Willem; that would have been enough. Instead, we also were treated to rioting gangs, and stories of dead pilots and their long lost loves, and a kindly old man who is Willem's neighbor. They were all nice plots, but they could be a distraction. Sometimes, less is more.
This book had a lot of potential, but that potential was totally wasted. How to Fly With Broken Wings had absolutely no emotional effect on me whatsoever, and I have a suspicion that in a few months I'll have practically forgotten it.
February 19, 2015
21 stars. This book something special. The voice of Willem who is set the rather simple yet complex homework of finding two friends is totally engaging, page turning and heartstopping. Sadly the adults, Staffie and Spitfire he encounters don't count as friends so he has to engage with his peers with humorous and heart wrenching consequences. The literal way Willem engages with the world is dealt with beautifully. I had to pause for breath halfway through after the riots in his home estate thinking this was a 5 star book in itself but it kept going, improving and I couldn't stop reading.
Willem's new found friend Sasha begins to find her own strength early on although there is the difficult issue of her gang member friend Finn to complicate matters ...
There is a wonderful backstory of Spitfires and women who flew them which I must admit I thought was completely made up when reading it but it's explained in the end notes.
In How to Fly there are ecstatic moments, shocking events and tear jerking ones. Highly recommended for 10+.
I find it difficult to find books to recommend to my 12 year old son but this is perfect for boys and girls. If your child enjoys this book then I would recommend books by Jenny Valentine. Older teens might want to read the Keren David series beginning with 'When I Was Joe'.
I received a free pre release copy to review because I pestered the publishers after loving 'A Room Full of Chocolate'.
Willem's new found friend Sasha begins to find her own strength early on although there is the difficult issue of her gang member friend Finn to complicate matters ...
There is a wonderful backstory of Spitfires and women who flew them which I must admit I thought was completely made up when reading it but it's explained in the end notes.
In How to Fly there are ecstatic moments, shocking events and tear jerking ones. Highly recommended for 10+.
I find it difficult to find books to recommend to my 12 year old son but this is perfect for boys and girls. If your child enjoys this book then I would recommend books by Jenny Valentine. Older teens might want to read the Keren David series beginning with 'When I Was Joe'.
I received a free pre release copy to review because I pestered the publishers after loving 'A Room Full of Chocolate'.
October 12, 2015
Following on from A Room Full of Chocolate I was excited to read Jane Elson’s next book.
Willem is set extra homework by his teacher, to make 2 friends. His grandmother doesn’t count the teacher says. So after he breaks his leg at school (being forced to jump from a wall by a school bully) and Sasha comes to see him, he thinks there might be potential for the first friend there.
I have mixed feelings about this book, I liked the idea of the story as I did the idea of the characters but I never connected to any of them. Willem, Sasha, ‘Magic Man Archie’, Willem’s grandmother… I wanted to care about these people but I didn’t and I’m not sure why that is.
How To Fly with Broken Wings was enjoyable but I would always recommend A Room Full of Chocolate first.
Willem is set extra homework by his teacher, to make 2 friends. His grandmother doesn’t count the teacher says. So after he breaks his leg at school (being forced to jump from a wall by a school bully) and Sasha comes to see him, he thinks there might be potential for the first friend there.
I have mixed feelings about this book, I liked the idea of the story as I did the idea of the characters but I never connected to any of them. Willem, Sasha, ‘Magic Man Archie’, Willem’s grandmother… I wanted to care about these people but I didn’t and I’m not sure why that is.
How To Fly with Broken Wings was enjoyable but I would always recommend A Room Full of Chocolate first.
August 12, 2017
3.5
How to Fly with Broken Wings is a heartwarming middle-grade novel about a boy with Asperger's on a mission to find two friends and a girl who wants to fly. It's about love, friendship and forgiveness; it's about the strength of a community, the magic of kindness and the beauty of friendship.
At first, I wasn't sure about this novel but I can safely say that the more I read, the more it stole a piece of my heart. However, like I said, I didn't fall in love with this book from the start and I wasn't fully invested in it for a large portion of the novel. This was partially because of the language used and partially because of the characters.
The story is narrated by twelve-year-old Willem and Sasha and although I LOVED Willem's voice and he completely captured my heart, I took quite a while to warm up to Sasha. At first she was one of those characters that I don't like because she hangs out with the wrong crowd and she knows she's hanging out with the wrong crowd, she was disrespectful during her lessons and she wasn't someone I particularly liked and, as she was narrating the story frequently, it was imperative for me to like her and connect with her. The second reason I struggled to get into the book and what decreased my overall enjoyment is the repetitive language used in Sasha's chapters. There was one word repeated so much that I rolled my eyes every time she said it and that word was “proper”. For example (this isn't a quote taken directly from the book, by the way), “Finn was giving me that look that made my knees go proper weak. But this was Finn, I couldn't be feeling this way about him. Could I? The boy was proper annoying a lot of the time so how could I feel this way?”. It was used excessively and multiple times on certain pages. It got proper frustrating proper quick.
Another thing I didn't particularly like about the book was the gangs that were mentioned heavily throughout. How to Fly with Broken Wings takes place in an estate in London and there were two gangs that were at war on the estate. I don't like reading about gangs, just a personal preference, but it is something that I wasn't so keen on whilst reading this.
However, after I got past those three things, I found myself thoroughly enjoying myself and I was getting quite invested in the story. I loved that there was Asperger's representation as it's not something I've read about before. As I don't have the condition, I can't say if it was represented in an accurate, sensitive manner but I appreciated that it was mentioned at all.
There was a host of lovable characters in this book! Like I said, I absolutely adored Willem. The way he took things literally, his intelligence, his kindness, his love and his determination to make two friends. I absolutely adored him!
I didn't like Sasha for several chapters but by the end of the book, I loved her! Her character growth throughout the novel was incredibly well written. I saw her transform from a scared, disrespectful girl into a sensitive, brave, determined character. I loved the way she looked out for Willem and how she was such an incredible friend to him. YAY FOR FRIENDSHIP.
I absolutely ADORED Buster, Finn's Staffie. Dog's are just too precious.
Then there was Finn who I'm still not sure about. He was a complete jerk, very disrespectful and so unnecessarily cruel to Willem that I was convinced I was going to spend the entirety of the book disliking him. However, he redeemed himself several times throughout and I can kind of understand why he had turned into the bully he was because of the domestic abuse he was exposed to. By the end of the book, I still didn't trust him and I still think Sasha was silly for staying friends with him for so long, especially in light of what he did to Willem.
One great thing about this book is that there are active parents and guardians! I know, it's hard to believe but it's true. There's Willem's grandmother, Gracie, who takes care of him after his mom moved away because she couldn't cope with him anymore. I LOVED Gracie. She was actively involved in Willem's life and her love and care for him shone through the pages. There was “Magic Man Archie”, the elderly man who moved onto the estate, slowly transforming the lives of the troubled teen residents by allowing them to work on old cars he had bought and ignited an interest in mechanics in several of them. Another active parental figure was Sasha's dad who was initially disinterested and didn't feature heavily in his daughter's life but who became more of a present figure as the novel wore on. There were some great character arcs in this book!
I adored Archie. He was an excellent grandfatherly figure to Willem and Sasha and I admired all he did for the children on the estate. His stories of the Spitfires in World War 2, his mother and her tragic romance with another pilot made him such an intriguing character and I was as rapt as Willem and Sasha as he told the tales of his family's history.
One thing I love about middle-grade novels is how they deal with important topics in such a sensitive, light-hearted manner. There were important things discussed throughout the book such as Asperger syndrome, bullying, death and so forth, but it was done in a wonderfully sensitive and enlightening manner!
I enjoyed the plot, too. It was equal parts sad and heart-warming watching Willem traverse the rocky plains of friendship. I loved watching the slow recovery of the estate as it morphed from one of hate and violence into one of mutual respect and civility. There were several subplots woven throughout this novel such as the tales of the Spitfires Archie's mother used to fly. The stories of the Spitfires, Archie's mother's bravery and her short-lived romance with the love of her life coated the story with a unique, somewhat magical atmosphere!
An important thing to add is that I wasn't ever bored reading this. With the gang violence, Finn and Sasha's tumultuous relationship and the danger of Willem's naivety in such a toxic place provided for tension and suspense throughout. There were some incredibly intense parts in How to Fly with Broken Wings, moments where I wanted to cover my ears (I listened to the audiobook) because I didn't want to hear what happened next! I was also surprised that this book nearly made me cry, especially towards the end. I had become incredibly invested in the story and I genuinely cared for the characters, truly.
How to Fly with Broken Wings is a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking tale about a boy and a girl who want to spread their wings and fly. It's about finding friends that feel like family. It's about character growth and redemption, loyalty and acceptance. Charming and real, How to Fly with Broken Wings will steal your heart piece by piece and leave a feeling of warmth and contentment in its place!
I give it: 3.5/5 cupcakes
How to Fly with Broken Wings is a heartwarming middle-grade novel about a boy with Asperger's on a mission to find two friends and a girl who wants to fly. It's about love, friendship and forgiveness; it's about the strength of a community, the magic of kindness and the beauty of friendship.
At first, I wasn't sure about this novel but I can safely say that the more I read, the more it stole a piece of my heart. However, like I said, I didn't fall in love with this book from the start and I wasn't fully invested in it for a large portion of the novel. This was partially because of the language used and partially because of the characters.
The story is narrated by twelve-year-old Willem and Sasha and although I LOVED Willem's voice and he completely captured my heart, I took quite a while to warm up to Sasha. At first she was one of those characters that I don't like because she hangs out with the wrong crowd and she knows she's hanging out with the wrong crowd, she was disrespectful during her lessons and she wasn't someone I particularly liked and, as she was narrating the story frequently, it was imperative for me to like her and connect with her. The second reason I struggled to get into the book and what decreased my overall enjoyment is the repetitive language used in Sasha's chapters. There was one word repeated so much that I rolled my eyes every time she said it and that word was “proper”. For example (this isn't a quote taken directly from the book, by the way), “Finn was giving me that look that made my knees go proper weak. But this was Finn, I couldn't be feeling this way about him. Could I? The boy was proper annoying a lot of the time so how could I feel this way?”. It was used excessively and multiple times on certain pages. It got proper frustrating proper quick.
Another thing I didn't particularly like about the book was the gangs that were mentioned heavily throughout. How to Fly with Broken Wings takes place in an estate in London and there were two gangs that were at war on the estate. I don't like reading about gangs, just a personal preference, but it is something that I wasn't so keen on whilst reading this.
However, after I got past those three things, I found myself thoroughly enjoying myself and I was getting quite invested in the story. I loved that there was Asperger's representation as it's not something I've read about before. As I don't have the condition, I can't say if it was represented in an accurate, sensitive manner but I appreciated that it was mentioned at all.
There was a host of lovable characters in this book! Like I said, I absolutely adored Willem. The way he took things literally, his intelligence, his kindness, his love and his determination to make two friends. I absolutely adored him!
I didn't like Sasha for several chapters but by the end of the book, I loved her! Her character growth throughout the novel was incredibly well written. I saw her transform from a scared, disrespectful girl into a sensitive, brave, determined character. I loved the way she looked out for Willem and how she was such an incredible friend to him. YAY FOR FRIENDSHIP.
I absolutely ADORED Buster, Finn's Staffie. Dog's are just too precious.
Then there was Finn who I'm still not sure about. He was a complete jerk, very disrespectful and so unnecessarily cruel to Willem that I was convinced I was going to spend the entirety of the book disliking him. However, he redeemed himself several times throughout and I can kind of understand why he had turned into the bully he was because of the domestic abuse he was exposed to. By the end of the book, I still didn't trust him and I still think Sasha was silly for staying friends with him for so long, especially in light of what he did to Willem.
One great thing about this book is that there are active parents and guardians! I know, it's hard to believe but it's true. There's Willem's grandmother, Gracie, who takes care of him after his mom moved away because she couldn't cope with him anymore. I LOVED Gracie. She was actively involved in Willem's life and her love and care for him shone through the pages. There was “Magic Man Archie”, the elderly man who moved onto the estate, slowly transforming the lives of the troubled teen residents by allowing them to work on old cars he had bought and ignited an interest in mechanics in several of them. Another active parental figure was Sasha's dad who was initially disinterested and didn't feature heavily in his daughter's life but who became more of a present figure as the novel wore on. There were some great character arcs in this book!
I adored Archie. He was an excellent grandfatherly figure to Willem and Sasha and I admired all he did for the children on the estate. His stories of the Spitfires in World War 2, his mother and her tragic romance with another pilot made him such an intriguing character and I was as rapt as Willem and Sasha as he told the tales of his family's history.
One thing I love about middle-grade novels is how they deal with important topics in such a sensitive, light-hearted manner. There were important things discussed throughout the book such as Asperger syndrome, bullying, death and so forth, but it was done in a wonderfully sensitive and enlightening manner!
I enjoyed the plot, too. It was equal parts sad and heart-warming watching Willem traverse the rocky plains of friendship. I loved watching the slow recovery of the estate as it morphed from one of hate and violence into one of mutual respect and civility. There were several subplots woven throughout this novel such as the tales of the Spitfires Archie's mother used to fly. The stories of the Spitfires, Archie's mother's bravery and her short-lived romance with the love of her life coated the story with a unique, somewhat magical atmosphere!
An important thing to add is that I wasn't ever bored reading this. With the gang violence, Finn and Sasha's tumultuous relationship and the danger of Willem's naivety in such a toxic place provided for tension and suspense throughout. There were some incredibly intense parts in How to Fly with Broken Wings, moments where I wanted to cover my ears (I listened to the audiobook) because I didn't want to hear what happened next! I was also surprised that this book nearly made me cry, especially towards the end. I had become incredibly invested in the story and I genuinely cared for the characters, truly.
How to Fly with Broken Wings is a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking tale about a boy and a girl who want to spread their wings and fly. It's about finding friends that feel like family. It's about character growth and redemption, loyalty and acceptance. Charming and real, How to Fly with Broken Wings will steal your heart piece by piece and leave a feeling of warmth and contentment in its place!
I give it: 3.5/5 cupcakes
November 9, 2020
Yeah, overall this book did absolutely nothing for me. For someone who has Asperger's themselves I rushed to pick this book up but was thoroughly disappointed. Whilst I was glad of the representation this gave people like me I didn't like the writing style and it just felt a bit plain.
July 17, 2015
This is one of the most emotional books I have ever read. To be honest I am very picky on what I read. I was at the library today and I saw this book in their 'new' rack, I thought it sounded interesting. I borrowed it and read half of it in the library and the rest at home in the same day. Beautiful story, shows what true friendship is really like.
October 24, 2015
The start I didn't like but the ending was really amazing
February 21, 2021
Điều tuyệt vời nhất của mỗi đứa trẻ là gì?
Mình nghĩ đó chính là trải qua những năm tháng tuổi thơ với những người bạn thân thiết, thật tuyệt khi được chia sẻ thế giới mơ mộng, muôn màu với ai đó khi ta còn bé nhỏ.
Thế nhưng, thực tế, những đứa trẻ thì lại ít hiểu rõ được những giá trị đích thực của tình bạn, một số còn chưa biết phân biệt đâu là điều đúng đắn nên làm, một số thì chỉ thích chứng tỏ bản thân, muốn người khác làm theo ý mình và sẽ đi bắt nạt những đứa yếu hơn, một số yếu thế chỉ biết im lặng đứng nhìn đứa kia bị bắt nạt trong bất lực, một số còn lại thậm chí còn không có mỗi một người bạn. Đó chính là thế giới trẻ thơ, không có nhiều màu hồng mà tác phẩm “BAY BẰNG ĐÔI CÁNH GÃY” mà Jane Elson miêu tả, một câu chuyện ngắn, nhưng cũng đủ gợi lên cho ta nhiều cảm xúc & suy nghĩ.
Bằng cách kể chuyện thông qua hình thức là các đoạn độc thoại nội tâm của nhân vật Willem & Shasa, tác giả đã lồng ghép khéo léo trong đó nhiều thông điệp nhân văn. Đó chính là sự đặc biệt, đơn thuần và rất đáng yêu trong suy nghĩ của Willem, người mà luôn bị bắt nạt trong trường, mình nghĩ là những đoạn đối thoại của Willem có lẽ sẽ mang lại một sự đồng cảm lớn cho một đứa trẻ nào đó cũng bị bắt nạt như thế. Hình ảnh Willem cố chế tạo ra đôi cánh bằng gỗ cũng chính là biểu tượng, khuyến khích mọi đứa trẻ hãy nỗ lực và luôn giữ trong mình niềm hy vọng sẽ có ngày sẽ đạt đến ước mơ của mình.
Một thông điệp khác mà quyển sách mang tới thông qua suy nghĩ của Shasa & câu chuyện về nữ phi công Rachel đó là nguồn cảm hứng cho các bé gái hãy mạnh mẽ, dũng cảm vượt qua những suy nghĩ của đám đông để có thể tự do làm được những điều mình muốn.
Và một điều nữa, một chi tiết mà mình thấy rất hay đó chính là chi tiết Willem nhìn thấy Finn bị chính cha của mình bắt nhảy từ trên nóc tủ xuống, chính chi tiết đó lý giải tại sao Finn có những tính cách cá biệt và hay bắt nạt người khác, tạo cho người đọc sự thương cảm hơn về Finn, bởi lẽ cậu cũng có một hoàn cảnh gia đình không hạnh phúc. Nó cũng khiến người đọc trăn trở nhiều về những đứa trẻ cá biệt ngoài xã hội, chúng không có lỗi, ta cần phải tìm nguyên do để thấu hiểu hoàn cảnh và phải làm gì đó để có thể định hướng cho cuộc đời của chúng đi theo một hướng tốt đẹp hơn. Đừng bỏ rơi chúng.
Khi đọc quyển sách này thì mình cảm thấy các diễn biến câu chuyện hơi nhanh, do có lẽ tác giả không muốn câu chuyện bị kéo dài, các đoạn độc thoại nội tâm tác giả dùng cách miêu tả khá đơn giản mình nghĩ có lẽ vì đó chính là cách suy nghĩ & ngôn từ của những đứa trẻ 12 tuổi như Shasa & Willem, nhưng với mình, nếu câu từ diễn đạt trong sách phong phú hơn thì có thể nó sẽ mang đến nhiều cảm xúc hơn cho mình, chắc do mình bị quá tuổi đọc quyển này rồi 😜.
Dù sao mình nghĩ cũng là một quyển sách hay dành cho các bạn trẻ độ tuổi 12-15t nhé. Khuyến khích mua tặng cho em hoặc cháu của mình nha.
Mình nghĩ đó chính là trải qua những năm tháng tuổi thơ với những người bạn thân thiết, thật tuyệt khi được chia sẻ thế giới mơ mộng, muôn màu với ai đó khi ta còn bé nhỏ.
Thế nhưng, thực tế, những đứa trẻ thì lại ít hiểu rõ được những giá trị đích thực của tình bạn, một số còn chưa biết phân biệt đâu là điều đúng đắn nên làm, một số thì chỉ thích chứng tỏ bản thân, muốn người khác làm theo ý mình và sẽ đi bắt nạt những đứa yếu hơn, một số yếu thế chỉ biết im lặng đứng nhìn đứa kia bị bắt nạt trong bất lực, một số còn lại thậm chí còn không có mỗi một người bạn. Đó chính là thế giới trẻ thơ, không có nhiều màu hồng mà tác phẩm “BAY BẰNG ĐÔI CÁNH GÃY” mà Jane Elson miêu tả, một câu chuyện ngắn, nhưng cũng đủ gợi lên cho ta nhiều cảm xúc & suy nghĩ.
Bằng cách kể chuyện thông qua hình thức là các đoạn độc thoại nội tâm của nhân vật Willem & Shasa, tác giả đã lồng ghép khéo léo trong đó nhiều thông điệp nhân văn. Đó chính là sự đặc biệt, đơn thuần và rất đáng yêu trong suy nghĩ của Willem, người mà luôn bị bắt nạt trong trường, mình nghĩ là những đoạn đối thoại của Willem có lẽ sẽ mang lại một sự đồng cảm lớn cho một đứa trẻ nào đó cũng bị bắt nạt như thế. Hình ảnh Willem cố chế tạo ra đôi cánh bằng gỗ cũng chính là biểu tượng, khuyến khích mọi đứa trẻ hãy nỗ lực và luôn giữ trong mình niềm hy vọng sẽ có ngày sẽ đạt đến ước mơ của mình.
Một thông điệp khác mà quyển sách mang tới thông qua suy nghĩ của Shasa & câu chuyện về nữ phi công Rachel đó là nguồn cảm hứng cho các bé gái hãy mạnh mẽ, dũng cảm vượt qua những suy nghĩ của đám đông để có thể tự do làm được những điều mình muốn.
Và một điều nữa, một chi tiết mà mình thấy rất hay đó chính là chi tiết Willem nhìn thấy Finn bị chính cha của mình bắt nhảy từ trên nóc tủ xuống, chính chi tiết đó lý giải tại sao Finn có những tính cách cá biệt và hay bắt nạt người khác, tạo cho người đọc sự thương cảm hơn về Finn, bởi lẽ cậu cũng có một hoàn cảnh gia đình không hạnh phúc. Nó cũng khiến người đọc trăn trở nhiều về những đứa trẻ cá biệt ngoài xã hội, chúng không có lỗi, ta cần phải tìm nguyên do để thấu hiểu hoàn cảnh và phải làm gì đó để có thể định hướng cho cuộc đời của chúng đi theo một hướng tốt đẹp hơn. Đừng bỏ rơi chúng.
Khi đọc quyển sách này thì mình cảm thấy các diễn biến câu chuyện hơi nhanh, do có lẽ tác giả không muốn câu chuyện bị kéo dài, các đoạn độc thoại nội tâm tác giả dùng cách miêu tả khá đơn giản mình nghĩ có lẽ vì đó chính là cách suy nghĩ & ngôn từ của những đứa trẻ 12 tuổi như Shasa & Willem, nhưng với mình, nếu câu từ diễn đạt trong sách phong phú hơn thì có thể nó sẽ mang đến nhiều cảm xúc hơn cho mình, chắc do mình bị quá tuổi đọc quyển này rồi 😜.
Dù sao mình nghĩ cũng là một quyển sách hay dành cho các bạn trẻ độ tuổi 12-15t nhé. Khuyến khích mua tặng cho em hoặc cháu của mình nha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2024
How To Fly With Broken Wings by Jane Elson is a beautiful, contemporary children’s novel that is about friendship, remembrance and celebrating differences.
We meet twelve year old Willem who has autism. Jane Elson challenges us to realise that people with autism think differently and find navigating life hard. I worked as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) in the local high school for many years. I worked with numerous pupils who had autism, and Jane Elson has perfectly captured Willem – his dislike of change and social situations, his need for a comfort object and his literal interpretations. Willem is also highly intelligent.
Willem has a desperate search for friends which means the bullies take advantage of him. He does, however, have a friend in Sasha who looks out for him and who understands Willem’s needs.
The book is written in the first person, alternating between the voices of Willem and Sasha. We become intimately acquainted with them both.
An estate in London is the setting, as it is for many of Jane Elson’s novels. As such, this is familiar to the reader. We ‘know’ about the rival gangs and we meet up with familiar faces. A kind soul spots an opportunity to make the estate a more pleasant place to live as he gives the youth, in both gangs, the opportunity to become better.
School is a minefield for Willem. He believes what the bullies tell him and is manipulated by them.
Willem’s teacher lets him down too.
The community, though divided at first, will be united by the love of a character with a huge heart.
This is my sixth, and final, book by Jane Elson. I have read everything she has written now – but I am greedy! Please, Jane Elson, write more, more, more because I want to read more, more, more by you.
We meet twelve year old Willem who has autism. Jane Elson challenges us to realise that people with autism think differently and find navigating life hard. I worked as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) in the local high school for many years. I worked with numerous pupils who had autism, and Jane Elson has perfectly captured Willem – his dislike of change and social situations, his need for a comfort object and his literal interpretations. Willem is also highly intelligent.
Willem has a desperate search for friends which means the bullies take advantage of him. He does, however, have a friend in Sasha who looks out for him and who understands Willem’s needs.
The book is written in the first person, alternating between the voices of Willem and Sasha. We become intimately acquainted with them both.
An estate in London is the setting, as it is for many of Jane Elson’s novels. As such, this is familiar to the reader. We ‘know’ about the rival gangs and we meet up with familiar faces. A kind soul spots an opportunity to make the estate a more pleasant place to live as he gives the youth, in both gangs, the opportunity to become better.
School is a minefield for Willem. He believes what the bullies tell him and is manipulated by them.
Willem’s teacher lets him down too.
The community, though divided at first, will be united by the love of a character with a huge heart.
This is my sixth, and final, book by Jane Elson. I have read everything she has written now – but I am greedy! Please, Jane Elson, write more, more, more because I want to read more, more, more by you.
September 10, 2017
A Young Adult novel in the voices of two schoolkids living in a tower block in London during the 2011 riots, this story gives a convincing account of some of the horrors of contemporary urban adolescence, including the search for identity and belonging, gang culture, bullying, and deprivation of one kind and another. The principal interest for me, however, lies in the perceptions of one of the narrators, Willem, a boy with Asperger Syndrome, many of whose tics, interests, and ways of seeing remind me closely of myself at his age. I suspect this is why my wife recommended the book... It's a well-structured tale, alternating Willem and his classmate Sasha's telling of the 24 hours in their lives when they first impinge upon each other and begin to form an unlikely friendship. It may be a little too neatly resolved, but it's a worthwhile read for all that, and gives a good insight into the difficulties, interests, and humour of Asperger's.
May 27, 2025
Review ngắn gọn:
Có rất nhiều truyện được viết bởi học sinh cấp 3 hay hơn cuốn này.
Review dài dòng:
Có rất nhiều thứ dở về truyện này.
1. Dàn nhân vật được xây dựng rất hời hợt. Chưa kịp quen với tính cách từng người thì vụ bạo động đã diễn ra, và cứ thế mọi thứ cứ bị kéo theo.
2. Cách viết rất tồi. Còn tồi hơn văn trẻ em viết.
3. Đọc xong y vẫn không biết bối cảnh được lấy ở đâu. Không biết chung cư nayd là da đen hay da trắng, năm nào tháng nào. Có một dữ kiện là Finn sử dụng Galaxy S4 sản xuất năm 2014, tức là sớm nhất truyện lấy bối cảnh từ 2014 trở đi. Nếu vậy thì cách hành xử của mấy đứa nhóc trong truyện vô lý hết sức. Chẳng có teenager nào hành động như vậy cả.
4. Hành vi của đám nhân vật chẳng phải là thứ vô lý duy nhất. Trời ơi tình tiết nó nhảm mà nó rơi từ trên trời xuống hết sức.
5. Cốt truyện bị loãng do cố tình ép thêm tuyến truyện máy bay của bà Rachel vô.
Có rất nhiều truyện được viết bởi học sinh cấp 3 hay hơn cuốn này.
Review dài dòng:
Có rất nhiều thứ dở về truyện này.
1. Dàn nhân vật được xây dựng rất hời hợt. Chưa kịp quen với tính cách từng người thì vụ bạo động đã diễn ra, và cứ thế mọi thứ cứ bị kéo theo.
2. Cách viết rất tồi. Còn tồi hơn văn trẻ em viết.
3. Đọc xong y vẫn không biết bối cảnh được lấy ở đâu. Không biết chung cư nayd là da đen hay da trắng, năm nào tháng nào. Có một dữ kiện là Finn sử dụng Galaxy S4 sản xuất năm 2014, tức là sớm nhất truyện lấy bối cảnh từ 2014 trở đi. Nếu vậy thì cách hành xử của mấy đứa nhóc trong truyện vô lý hết sức. Chẳng có teenager nào hành động như vậy cả.
4. Hành vi của đám nhân vật chẳng phải là thứ vô lý duy nhất. Trời ơi tình tiết nó nhảm mà nó rơi từ trên trời xuống hết sức.
5. Cốt truyện bị loãng do cố tình ép thêm tuyến truyện máy bay của bà Rachel vô.
February 13, 2017
How to fly with broken wings covers lots of important issues for young readers - friendship, loyalty, consequences of choices, anti-social behaviour, family, fitting in and romance to name just a few.
It is also a quick/easy read, partly because the plot and characters are interesting; I was hooked right from the start and really wanted to know how it turned out.
However, there is a strange disconnect between the gritty portrayal of life on an inner city estate and some of the highly unrealistic plot twists. Also, while some of writing was fantastic, some of the narrative jarred a little in terms of narrative voice and pace.
Overall, an enjoyable read which I would probably recommend.
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It is also a quick/easy read, partly because the plot and characters are interesting; I was hooked right from the start and really wanted to know how it turned out.
However, there is a strange disconnect between the gritty portrayal of life on an inner city estate and some of the highly unrealistic plot twists. Also, while some of writing was fantastic, some of the narrative jarred a little in terms of narrative voice and pace.
Overall, an enjoyable read which I would probably recommend.
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2024
Willem lives with his gran, has autism, has no friends and is constantly bullied and laughed at. He dreams of being able to fly.
Sasha lives with her dad, a former famous singer, who is depressed and uncommunicative since his band disbanded and Sasha’s mum left them.
Finn is in the local gang, has an alcoholic dad and is on the path to a youth facility.
When an old man called Archie, starts a garage project to help troubled youth at the estate where they all live, big changes start to happen, and despite setbacks there is hope for Willem, Sasha and Finn.
A heartwarming story of friendship, overcoming challenges and changing your life for the better. And flying.
Sasha lives with her dad, a former famous singer, who is depressed and uncommunicative since his band disbanded and Sasha’s mum left them.
Finn is in the local gang, has an alcoholic dad and is on the path to a youth facility.
When an old man called Archie, starts a garage project to help troubled youth at the estate where they all live, big changes start to happen, and despite setbacks there is hope for Willem, Sasha and Finn.
A heartwarming story of friendship, overcoming challenges and changing your life for the better. And flying.
May 28, 2022
Đây là một câu chuyện khá độc đáo, tính nhân văn cao thể hiện trong câu chuyện về cậu nhóc tìm cách kết bạn, cách giữ lấy ước mơ được bay và đã bay. Các nhân vật có sự nhạy cảm riêng, hồn nhiên và trung thực - điều mà chúng ta đâu đó có những lần đã đánh rơi trên đường trải nghiệm đời.
Cuốn sách có nhiều thế mạnh để thành công nhưng đáng tiếc khi đã lãng phí cơ hội, chưa khai thác được hết tiềm năng. Phong cách viết còn đơn giản, kết truyện gấp gáp, ngôn từ lặp lại nhiều dẫn đến sự thích thú bị gảm dần.
Độc giả nhỏ tuổi phù hợp hơn và khá thú vị với chủ đề về học đường.
Cuốn sách có nhiều thế mạnh để thành công nhưng đáng tiếc khi đã lãng phí cơ hội, chưa khai thác được hết tiềm năng. Phong cách viết còn đơn giản, kết truyện gấp gáp, ngôn từ lặp lại nhiều dẫn đến sự thích thú bị gảm dần.
Độc giả nhỏ tuổi phù hợp hơn và khá thú vị với chủ đề về học đường.
March 21, 2017
A magical story
This is a story told by someone who knows what having aspergas syndrome is like. It is told with real sympathy and understanding. It makes you laugh and cry. The author also understands the consequences of bullying and the need for sympathetic adults in the lives of children. It is a delightful story for adults and young people. Everyone should read it.
This is a story told by someone who knows what having aspergas syndrome is like. It is told with real sympathy and understanding. It makes you laugh and cry. The author also understands the consequences of bullying and the need for sympathetic adults in the lives of children. It is a delightful story for adults and young people. Everyone should read it.
May 24, 2017
This is a refreshing, unconventionally told, wildly imaginative and intriguing story. I liked the characters, the growth of their friendship and self belief. I was delighted that they achieved what I did not see how they could achieve, and the confidence of the storyteller that made that magic. But most of all I liked the voice of the narration. Deceptively simple, but so clever that the characters come flying off the page.
January 19, 2019
I did not find this particularly impressive. It was all over the place. One minute gangs are united by rioting together, the next minute they’re fighting, the next minute they’re happily cleaning up together, next minute they’re fighting again, next minute they’re crying and hugging (and cleaning again), I mean what? Not to mention the fact that the main character spends the entire book trying to befriend a bully that caused him broken bones, and happily succeeds because deep down everyone is a good person, and oh, it’s not his fault he attempted to kill you because he’s being bullied himself. ??!!
June 2, 2020
Willam, a wonderful boy full of quirks and kinks. Sasha, an extrodinary girl willing to help others in risk of losing herself.
Finn, what could have been something that stuck for life, he stopped bullying and became a wonderful human.
And to all the other incredible characters, thankyou Jane Elson for bringing this wonderful story to everybody who has enjoyed it. The magical words and powerful sayings, what everyone needs in a good book.
Finn, what could have been something that stuck for life, he stopped bullying and became a wonderful human.
And to all the other incredible characters, thankyou Jane Elson for bringing this wonderful story to everybody who has enjoyed it. The magical words and powerful sayings, what everyone needs in a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2021
I've read this book in one night. It had something special about it. With every page I felt more like a time traveler. While reading I found some old memories of mine, not necessarily good ones but plenty of those too. How to fly with broken wings perfectly shows the twisted and not always straight forward ways friendship forms and how we decide what's good for us because what's good for us doesn't necessarily have to be what others think it is.
July 2, 2019
This is my daughters book (she’s 10). I like to read my kids books to be able to discuss with them.
This book covered bullying, SEND, gang culture and child abuse. It was a good book, athlete at times a little to convenient, how things just worked out fine. I felt that the end seemed a little rushed. Still a good book for the age it’s targeted at.
This book covered bullying, SEND, gang culture and child abuse. It was a good book, athlete at times a little to convenient, how things just worked out fine. I felt that the end seemed a little rushed. Still a good book for the age it’s targeted at.
January 16, 2023
It was really interseting to see how each main character of the story had changed to a better person in their own ways. If it wasn't for Archie's help, they all would have been stuck in the the same position.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2017
2,5 stjerne
November 21, 2018
great realist book for teens
June 3, 2019
Great book :) Would highly recommend. It is so caring and adventurous a beautiful story .
February 3, 2021
I read it along time ago but I remember it being really good and one of the first books I read where each chapter is a different characters point of view.
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