Butterfly Girl by Sarah Floyd

What worked:

The opening sounds like a normal, realistic fiction book, with Meghan wishing she could fly. It quickly changes when Meghan learns her ancestors used to be born with wings. Her mother ran away to join a circus six years ago, and Meghan doesn’t understand how she could abandon her daughter. Meghan hasn’t spoken to her mom since she left, which creates a family conflict. Many young readers can identify with missing a divorced or separated parent, although running away is an uncommon reason. Her mother eventually returns and explains why she left. Middle-grade readers will likely identify with Meghan's experience of being bullied by a former friend and her crush on a cute boy.

Living with differences is a major issue, and Meghan’s grandfather tries to warn her about revealing her wings. She wants to show off her wings immediately, but her grandfather wants her to wait until he comes up with a plan and a story to explain them. She may be ready to tell the world, but her grandfather is not. He knows newspeople and scientists will swarm their home, but Meghan doesn’t foresee problems at school. She’s still the same seventh-grader she’s always been, but people think of wings when they see her. A media feeding frenzy ensues after Meghan reveals her wings. This conflict takes over the plot, as Meghan’s family can’t go anywhere without being mobbed by reporters.

What didn’t work as well:

The grandfather is a kind, supportive man, but his tolerance for Meghan’s lack of foresight feels unrealistic. He’s not overly upset when she goes against his wishes, and he shares more family secrets even after she breaks his trust. Aside from the media attention, which eventually subsides, society accepts the family’s wings much too easily.

The final verdict:

So many things happen (wings, mother’s issues, grandfather, bully/former friend, boys, media) that the plot becomes muddled. Other readers may have a different reaction, because it’s an interesting story. Overall, it’s an entertaining twist on a middle-grade novel, and I suggest readers try it for themselves.