Wings of War

Gr 5–8—It's 1914, and airplanes are still in their infancy. Sixteen-year-old Edward longs to fly these dangerous machines and even helps his uncle build a biplane on their Canadian farm. Just as Edward earns his pilot's license, war breaks out in Europe and the young man sails to England to enlist. His love of flying and determination to serve his country sustains Edward through the loss of comrades and the grisly result of his first aerial victory: "The mark of an ace is to get close enough to get blood on your windshield from the kill." The novel climaxes on the first day of the Battle of the Somme; Wilson's in-depth research brings air and ground combat to vivid life without being gruesome. The plot moves quickly and colorful supporting characters add interest, but the ending is ambiguous and a bit of a letdown after the novel's tense dogfighting scenes. Edward simply falls asleep after the first day of the historic battle. Nevertheless, abundant historical detail and flight jargon, told in Wilson's unaffected style, will appeal to reluctant readers as well as fans of Harry Mazer and Walter Dean Myers's wartime fiction books.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY