Wings to Fly

Curlew #2

by Celia Barker Lottridge, Mary Jane Gerber

In Celia Barker Lottridge's acclaimed Ticket to Curlew, the Ferrier family moved from the United States to Curlew, Alberta, and built a homestead in the middle of the vast prairie. Now 11-year-old Josie has settled into her new home and she dreams about the future. Will Josie be a teacher like Miss Barnett? Will she be like her new friend Margaret's sad mother, who can't bear to unpack her fine English china in the crude sod house that is her prairie home? Or could she learn to fly airplanes like her heroine, Katherine Stinson? As Josie searches for answers, she learns, all too frighteningly, how brutal a prairie winter can be. Those who loved the Little House on the Prairie series will be captivated by this poignant story of a young girl growing up in the Canadian wilderness.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1991

Reviews

[Lisa]

This is a sequel but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this look at a small Canadian town in 1918. It included the flu epidemic, referenced WWI, the beginnings of aviation, and the difficulties faced by settlers unused to wide open prairies.

I appreciated the wholesome families, the strong sibling relationships, and the community mindset. Josie is 11 and would dearly like a friend her age. When Margaret moves with her parents from England to nearby Josie's farm she hopes they can be friends. Yet it is more nuanced and rich than just that. There is a lot going on and the characters had depth and I cared about them.

This is also the story of a house, built with love and care but never lived in. A mystery, the rights of women to think and be treated fairly, dreaming of what you want to become, and a lot more. I recommend it.

[Heidi Tolle]

A gem! I really, really enjoyed this book. It made me happy in the same way Littlle House on the Prairie did. But the story has more exploration of female empowerment and a tiny mystery about an abandoned house on a hill. What’s not to love?

[Annie Kate]

Very good, but without the universal appeal of the first book, Ticket to Curlew. I will be posting a review on my blog very soon.

[Jenny]

I LOVED this book. I recommend this book to everyone! But first, read the first book.