Wild Wings

Gill Lewis's "Wild Wings" is a poignant and adventurous chapter book about friendship, nature conservation, and perseverance. It follows Iona and Callum, two Scottish classmates who bond over their shared mission to protect an endangered osprey from poachers. When Iona falls ill, Callum promises to track the bird, Isis, on its migration to Africa after its tracking signal is lost. His journey of determination leads him to connect with a girl in Gambia via email, highlighting global connections and the power of collaboration. This heartwarming story, set against the beautiful backdrops of Scotland and West Africa, explores themes of courage, empathy, and the importance of protecting wildlife, while also gently touching on childhood illness. Ideal for readers aged 8-12.

The majestic Osprey is an endangered bird that hasn’t been seen in Scotland for years, so when Iona McNair locates an Osprey nest, she’s desperate to keep the bird safe from poachers. She shares her secret with her classmate Callum, and the two become friends as they work to save the Osprey they’ve named Isis. They’re able to get the bird tagged by a preservationist, but after Isis flies to Africa for the winter, her signal becomes stagnant, then lost. Spurred by a promise to Iona, who has fallen ill, Callum is determined to track and save Isis, and a leap of faith and the magic of e-mail connects him with a girl in Gambia who can help him make good—in more ways than one.