Beatrice Gormley spins a smart tale for ages 10 and up, both boys AND girls. (I admit I still enjoy this story today, and I'm a mom), but I first discovered it when I was a young girl. The subtleties and realistic reactions made it far less one-dimensional than a lot of books aimed towards the younger set, which I know that I appreciated. (I always felt that "dumbing things down" only insults kids, who are plenty intelligent enough to "get it" and appreciate it.

Andrea and her older brother, Jim, are stuck at home-- babysat by their eccentric Aunt Bets, while their parents are on vacation. Andrea's always been a dreamer, something she often gets teased for, but her one big dream has been to fly like a bird. She finds an ad in the back of an old comic book, and sends away for mail order wings, hardly thinking they might actually work!

But, when they DO, her delight is dampened by the fact that she cannot take them OFF, and must adjust her clothing to hide them. Things take a slightly darker turn when she starts to fear she might be turning INTO a bird, but she can't very well tell her brother and Aunt... Jim would just make fun of her again... right?

But when she finds herself in an element of very real danger, she realizes she has an inner strength she did not realize-- and that there was someone there to protect her all along...

This would be a good Disney movie. :)

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