2016 Book Award Shortlist
‘How to Fly with Broken Wings’ by Jane Elson (WINNER – Book Award 2016)
About the book:
‘If Finn Maison shouts jump you jump or you are dead.’
Twelve-year-old Willem has Aspergers Syndrome and two main aims in life: to fly and to make at least two friends of his own age. But all the other boys from the Beckham Estate do is make him jump off things. First his desk – and now the wall. As his toes teeter on the edge, Sasha Bradley gives him a tiny little wink. Might she become his friend?
Bullied by Finn and his gang the Beckham Estate Boyz, Willem has no choice but to jump. As he flies through the air he flaps his arms, wishing he could fly and escape into the clouds. Instead he comes crashing down and breaks his ankle.
Sasha, angry with herself for not stopping Finn and his Boyz, is determined to put things right. And soon, while the gangs riot on their estate, Willem and Sasha form an unlikely friendship. Because they share a secret. Sasha longs to fly too.”
About the Author:
After performing as an actress and comedy improviser for many years, Jane fell into writing stories and plays. A Room Full of Chocolate was her first book for children and won Peters’ Book of the Year and the Leeds Book Award as well as being longlisted for the Branford Boase and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. When she is not writing Jane spends her time running creative writing and comedy improvisation workshops for children with special educational needs. She is also a guest practitioner at Soho Theatre’s Writer’s Lab.
Selected as a New Voice in the Guardian’s guide to The Best New Children’s Books 2014, Jane is described as ‘A new author to watch’.
5 responses to “‘How to Fly with Broken Wings’ by Jane Elson (WINNER – Book Award 2016)”
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Wow,wow,wow,what an amazing book ! This book is the best book I ‘ve ever read in my whole life. I don’t think I will ever put it down! It’s so good.
This book is very heart touching and emotional so that when I upsettingly finished the book, I cried because I have never experienced something like it before. The things that Willem goes through just makes me get tearful typing about it because I really care about things unlike some people in the world .This book has shown me what people are like and how they can change I judged this book by its cover ,(which I did not really get) and now I know I shouldn’t have . I hope from reading this report you will pick up the book and get READING and I hope you enjoy it because I did!
It’s an amazing story, I really like stories like this one were there’s riots and the police get involved. It’s extremely exciting and funny AND its epic!
think How to Fly with Broken Wings is by far the best book I have read in Bookfest. The story describes everything really well and you can imagine exactly what the characters are like. The story is really exciting, funny and sad all at the same time. I didn’t think it was very good to start with, but once you have got past the first few pages, the story comes alive. I think it is suitable for nine to twelve year olds. I would give it 10/10: it is amazing!
This was the first book i read because after hearing about it i practically begged my teacher for it. I can really relate to Willems problem (aspergers) for my cousin has a mild case. Its really quite interesting to see how fin changes throughout the book. A very exciting read!