The Girl with the Broken Wing (review)
2005; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 59; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2005.0350
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Cinema and Media Studies
ResumoReviewed by: Jinnie Ghost Deborah Stevenson Doherty, Berlie Jinnie Ghost; illus. by Jane Ray. Lincoln, 2005 [44p] ISBN 1-84507-292-8$16.95 Reviewed from galleys Ad 4-7 yrs James and Amanda are unsure of the protocol for response when an angel crashes into their chimney and peers into the skylight of their cozy Welsh home. Soaked through and injured, Hilary the angel falls asleep almost immediately upon being let in, leaving the twins to wonder what they should do with their visitor. This uncertainty about how to handle the inimitable Hilary continues throughout the novel as she learns how to be a good friend, handles the siblings' vexatious cousin with aplomb, and periodically performs small miracles. Discussions of heaven and the existence of heavenly creatures take interesting turns as Leonardo da Vinci's research on angels, religious interpretations of the miracle of angelic flight, and Hilary's own description of Heaven as she knows it (decorous, staid, and mostly adult) all factor into James and Amanda's ultimate conclusions about the authenticity of Hilary's claims. Oblivious but supportive adults add humor, while the siblings' affectionate relationship grounds the story in daily reality. Bailey's line drawings are reminiscent of Pauline Baynes in their studied simplicity, and they add amusing touches to the story as when Hilary, armed with a Zorro-style mask, swoops across the stage in the Christmas play while James scowls, forgotten and disgruntled, in the background. Although the book ends on a wistful note (Hilary departs in the middle of the night before the twins can offer a proper goodbye), readers will be cheered by the visit of this unusual angel, who carries impossible but desirable dreams for a peaceful and tolerant world. Copyright © 2005 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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