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Jump to navigationJump to searchHow to Fly with Broken Wings by Jane Elson (view source)
Revision as of 16:01, 24 February 2015
, 16:01, 24 February 2015no edit summary
|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Lovely story about bullying and gangs, set against a backdrop of rioting on a London estate and featuring a boy with AsbergerAsperger's Syndrome as a central character. There's a lot going on here but it all ties beautifully together into a realistic but uplifting story that is beautifully written.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
A ''lot'' happens and a ''lot'' is covered in ''How to Fly With Broken Wings''. One of the main characters is on the autistic spectrum. Gang culture - and the difficulty of staying out of it - is a big underlying them. There is a riot - clearly based on the London riots of 2011 - and a community clean-up. There's a selfless man who brings healing to a community. There's a teen love story. And the dangerous but intoxicating desire to fly. Phew. Even as an adult reader, I found this book so busy that it was sometimes distracting and not enough time was given to each individual aspect. I do wonder if there isn't just too much to pull together for its middle grade audience. This might be one for the keener readers.
That aside, there are a huge number of things to like about ''How to Fly With Broken Wings''. Willem has AspbergerAsperger's Syndrome - although this is never explicitly explained - and this makes him a target for bullying. The story doesn't only portray Willem in a realistic and sympathetic way, it makes him a fully-rounded, interesting character, and it's honest about how difficult it is to stand against bullies when you're not the one being bullied. But it also shows how liberating it is to do just that - it was touching to see Sasha begin to feel better about herself as soon as she decides to take Willem's side.
The writing is elegant and flowing and the observation of the teen and tween mindset is spot on. And, while there is satisfying resolution, it isn't all chocolate box pretty. There are consequences and sad things. I think the ultimate message of ''How to Fly with Broken Wings'' is that more joins us than separates us and that life isn't perfect but that doesn't mean we should stop trying to make it so.
