by Sir Lenny Henry (Author) Mark Buckingham (Illustrator)
It's Tunde's twelfth birthday and he's in for a surprise . . . he sprouts wings! Along with his friends, Tunde must save the world. Readers will adore Lenny Henry's first middle grade book, The Boy with Wings, that's packed with captivating illustrations by Keenon Ferrell. Plus, it includes an exclusive comic book adventure illustrated by Mark Buckingham!
An ordinary kid is about to become an extraordinary hero! Wings? Check. A super-cool, super-secret past? Check. An impossible mission to save the world from a fur-ocious enemy? Check. When Tunde sprouts wings and learns he's all that stands between Earth and total destruction, suddenly school is the least of his problems.
Luckily, his rag-tag group of pals have got his back, and with his new powers, Tunde is ready to fly in the face of danger. So what if he can't even stand up to the school bully? He's the boy with wings - this is his destiny. No pressure then . . .
WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
British actor and comedian Henry (Black British Lives Matter, for adults) touches on issues of inclusivity, prejudice, and personal pride in this lively fantasy adventure. While Tunde, an adopted British-born Caribbean 12-year-old, publicly claims that he doesn’t mind not knowing anything about his birth family, his private feelings are "bendier and twistier than a rubber band in a microwave." Still, he’s happy with his parents, who share and help him connect with his heritage, and who support him through relentless school bullying surrounding his "beaky" nose. When birds of all kinds begin defending Tunde from bullies, Tunde is grateful for their help, if a little weirded out. But nothing about the events could have prepared him for his suddenly sprouting wings. Tunde is soon summoned by a bird-like people called the Aavians to help combat their enemies, the mammalian Furleenians. Animated illustrations by Ferrell (Looking for Happy) depict Tunde’s school struggles alongside his high-flying adventures. Though Tunde’s unearthing of his paranormal past evokes standard superhero fare, Henry’s effusive first-person prose and solid grasp on heartwarming familial and friendship dynamics make for a high-spirited origin tale. A classic-feeling superhero comic by Buckingham (Dead Boy Detectives) concludes, depicting further adventures. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.