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    Wings
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    Wings
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    Wings
    Audiobook6 hours

    Wings

    Written by Aprilynne Pike

    Narrated by Mandy Siegfried

    4/5

    ()

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    About this audiobook

    An extraordinary faerie tale of magic and mystery, romance and danger, described by Stephenie Meyer as ‘a remarkable debut’.

    Laurel is an ordinary fifteen-year-old high school girl. But something incredible is happening to her. She is changing.

    Now Laurel is about to discover that a deep and powerful magic holds the key to her destiny.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 29, 2010
    ISBN9780007367122
    Author

    Aprilynne Pike

    Aprilynne Pike has been spinning stories since she was a child with a hyperactive imagination. She completed her BA in creative writing at the age of twenty at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Aprilynne currently lives with her husband and children in Arizona.

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    Reviews for Wings

    4/5

    435 ratings82 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This was a very entertaining quick read that should definitely appeal to young adult readers. I loved the descriptiveness of Aprilynne Pike’s world building and was quite impressed at her creativity!She presented a tale of the Faerie that was quite unlike any I’ve ever heard and yet seemed completely believable and in fact…made the most sense to me of almost anything I’ve heard. I absolutely loved the idea of the Fae being plants and thus tied inextricably to the earth. Magical.The book was a bit slow at the onset but then quickly picked up pace and was quite an enjoyable read! I would not say that I loved it…maybe I’ve been reading too much YA lately and am looking for a bit more depth…but it was very entertaining and “paranormal” in a wonderfully earthy and believable way!
    • 4/5
      Wings was the first fairy book I've ever read and now im like addicted to them all! I can't wait until may 4th when Spells (the sequel to wings) comes out! I read the first like 8 chapters online of it and its amazing i love how she is going to her home world in the next book to learn about what fall fairies do! I CANT WAIT! lol idk but I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
    • 4/5
      Laurel is just your average teenage girl; ok, so she has the looks of a model, the grace of a bird, is up with the sun and has weird (healthy) eating habits, but she is still normal. Right?One morning Laurel wakes to find a zit, her first zit, right in the middle of her back. Although a bit disgusted she also a little relieved, it was normal for teenagers to get zits. But as the days go buy the zit does not disappear, instead it is growing bigger. At some stage Laurel has to admit that this is no normal zit, its something else. At first Laurel is convinced it is a tumour, she has cancer. But as the thing gets bigger and finally reveals itself, Laurel now knows it is not a tumour. But she is not so sure that this is any better.With the help of her friend David, Laurel is about to learn a lot more about herself then she ever knew before. Laurel is not human, she is a fairy. And she is not the only one. There is a whole other world that Laurel is about to learn about, a world of magic and beauty, but also of danger and old enemies.Laurel has to learn to live between two worlds, the world of humans and the world of fairies. This is highlighted between her feeling of being torn between her two friends, a human David and a fairy Tamani; the two boys for whom Laurel has feelings for.It is a story of fairies as you've never seen them before, full of charm, mystery, adventure and excitement. A highly entertaining book that stirs the imagination and leaves you with a sense of wonder.I loved this story and not just because it is about fairies. It is a beautiful and warm story that manages to remain innocent despite its violence. A highly recommended read and a stunning debut novel.
    • 3/5
      This book started out pretty good, and I enjoyed it. However, the more I got into it, the more middle-grade it seemed. If you're looking for a solid, good YA fantasy then I wouldn't recommend Wings. If you want a blatantly conservative (Mormon) middle-grade, then sure this would be a good choice.
    • 4/5
      Wings by Aprilynne Pike. This book was good to read. I enjoyed reading this because it was about a girl who's world gets turned upside down. She thinks that she is just like any other kid in the world with a few twists. She was home-schooled but now in public school. She doesn't eat anything except like fruit and veggies. She's a vegan. But that's because she is only half human and the other half is fairy. She begins to find this out when she meets Tamani, who is a guard to the fairy realm. There is so much going on in this book, that I couldn't put it done. The love she has for David. The curiosity she has about what is happening with her body, and the life that she doesn't know about. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about fairies, and wants to be taken away into a different world. I believe Aprilynne Pike did an excellent job writing this book, and I can't wait to read the sequel titled "Spells."
    • 4/5
      n The BegingingAt first I was having a little difficulties with this book. I was very confused on who and what Laurel was (I had only read the book summary on the flap and it doesn't give you much information), but I assumed very early on that she was a changeling. I also felt things were going too fast and I didn't feel like I was getting to know Laurel very well, it took me half way through the book to feel connected with Laurel. For some reason I had issues with picturing her "wings", I just couldn't picture them, I think I just skimmed over the description too fast. By The EndI was definitely more into the book by the last half of the book. The pieces of the puzzle were finally started to fit and make since.CharactersThis book has boy teams for sure, but I'm not sure yet who I like more.Team David: Human, friendly, cute, science nerd who helps Laurel accept what she is, her confidant. Doesn't pressure Laurel into anything and is willing to be whatever she needs, be it friend or boyfriend. Got to love the good boy type. Team Tamani: Faerie, green hair, mischievous, alluring, pushy and a little demanding. He has more of the bad boy type, which is wonderful. By the end he earns brownie points for showing her more of his nature and softer side.FaerieThese aren't your typical wing flying faeries. I am one of those readers who loves a different version of well known myths. Once I understood what these types of faeries were I thoroughly enjoyed the different concepts of their body type. I also liked how Avalon was tied into their history.RecommendationI read for faerie lovers who like completely different version
    • 4/5
      I absolutely loved this book - didn't want it to end!
    • 4/5
      After reading countless reviews about this book several months back I have to say I was a bit leery of Wings. I’d read, what seems to me now, a lot of disappointed or downright negative reviews of this book. And after whipping through it in just a couple of days and thoroughly enjoying the ride, I can’t really fathom what people didn’t like about it.Laurel is 15 and a half, and starting public school for the first time. She’s led a secluded life being home schooled on a beautiful property roughly in the middle of nowhere. But now her dad has fulfilled his dream of owning a book store, which means upgrading to a bigger town and an entirely different lifestyle than they’ve had to date. She’s expecting change, but not the magnitude that’s winging its way towards her (I heard you groan! I thought it was funny!). After a large and intricate flower explodes out of her back, Laurel will have to come to terms with a lot more than just public school.Although the high school girl suddenly discovers she’s a….fill in the blank here, fantasy story is starting to be a well worn (bordering on worn out) story set up, I have to say, I still enjoy it. Even though when I tell the hubby what it's about he laughs and says "haven't you read that already?". I liked that Aprilynne Pike injected novel aspects to the whole thing to keep it fresh. I won't go into what exactly, don't want to spoil it for you! But lets just say she has an unusual spin on the Fairy twist.The story was enjoyable enough that I'm jonesing for Spells, book two in the series (it's my birthday end of this week, hint, hint), where Laurel travels to Avalon for Fairy boot camp about her background and heritage. It's a fun read people, I recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Laurel is starting school for the first time and in high school no less. Everything about it seems wrong. Her years of homeschooling fit so well with her lifestyle. Being able to go outside to complete her studies and having meaningful conversations with her mother were perfect. Now, being cooped up in a building without windows and natural light just feels wrong. But, no matter how much begging she does, her mother says it’s time. Starting a new school would be bad enough, but she is also having to learn a new town. The family moved in order for her father to live his dream of owning a book shop which means gone are the days when she can go out back and wander the woods behind their home.Laurel meets David and they become fast friends. He is extremely helpful when Laurel is faced with a frightening change to her body. A bump begins to grow on her back. At first, she tries to ignore it, but it becomes so large that eventually she knows she has to tell someone.What they discover changes both their lives forever. WINGS is such a great story. It is unique, touching, and funny. It will definitely become one of your favorites. The characters are so well developed that you’ll feel like you know them personally. The way WINGS ends, it seems possible that there could be a sequel, but if there isn’t, it will be okay too. There is a sense of closure and satisfaction when you get to the last page.
    • 4/5
      Wings caught my eye because it is a fantasy love story. Well, there is a love story intertwined with good vs. evil in a fantasy world, so that was the essential draw. I was not sure what I was expecting, since I have been reading a string of fantasy love stories with a similar theme. However, what I got was surprising. Wings quickly captivated me and plunked me right down into the book as an invisible observer.Laurel is the main character. A sixteen year old girl that finds herself going to a public school after being home schooled her whole life. On the first day, the attractive David notices her and quickly pursues her in the guise of making the new girl feel comfortable. He does, however, successfully implants himself into Laurel's life and becomes her best friend, with flirting and kissing along the way. I will admit that I myself was drawn to David and pleased with the progress of their relationship. I caught myself reading the moments of an almost kiss, and disappointed when something interrupted it. I also was impressed by David's ability to accept "odd" things and his scientific look at the world. As more"odd" unfolded for Laurel, discovering there was much more that meets the eye with her, David's steadfast commitment to help her I found noble. I liked that she was not alone in her fear. Little did I know, she wasn't alone, not really.As Laurel begins to see the changes in her, which later we find out she is a faerie, she freaks out in the right places, while still keeping a grip on life. I liked this about her. Of course, as a typical teenager, she is nervous to confide in her parents, but luckily her new best friend is more than willing to listen to her and keep the 'freaking outs' at bay. I liked that Laurel was hesitant in getting into a relationship with David. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders and wanted to make sure she liked David as a boyfriend, not just because he was a solid rock for her, and not leading him on.As Laurel wonders what is going on with herself, she returns to her family home by the woods, a place she moved from just a few months earlier. She loves the woods and decides to take some time to think in the outdoors where she feels the most alive. This is where things begin to change. In the woods, she meets Tamani. He is a beautiful faerie and has the answers to the questions Laurel has been seeking. Although Laurel is skeptical to believe him, Tamani soon becomes her guide and confidant in all that is faerie. She is drawn to Tamani, but feels guilty about this because of her feelings for David. As we learn in the book, there is much more to Laurel and Tamani's relationship. Much more than Laurel even knows. This is where the agony of the love triangle began for me.The fantasy side of Wings begins as Laurel learns she is a Fall faerie, a very rare type of faerie. I like that Pike made her unique, it makes the need for her in the faerie world more important, I think. Laurel learns she has a past in Avalon, yes THE mystical Avalon! She has been on an assignment in the human world her whole life, but does not remember her life from before. The ins and outs of this part of the story are intriguing and no way to fully explain it here. Just know, it is unique, oddly believable, and takes the story in a whole new direction for how you feel about Laurel, David, and Tamani. At least it did for me.Pike does a wonderful job of bringing her audience into a world that is pure fantasy, buy you really wish it were true. I attached to the characters and could not wait to get my hands on the sequel, Spells. Throughout the book, getting to know the characters, their background, their emotions and motives...pure attraction as a reader. Then add the element of the faerie world and their feud with the trolls (oh yes, I forgot to mention them didn't I!), makes for a very fun, easy, and an intriguing read. There is more to this book than the love triangle. There are near death experiences and secrets abound! I highly recommend this book to young adult and adult fans of fantasy who want to lose themselves in a faerie story.
    • 3/5
      Well, I really am tired of reading books in series. And this book is so obviously waiting for a sequel by the end that it sort of annoyed me. And the fact that it spent a lot of time building up the world around Laurel, and the themes and setting, and then the action was condensed into a very short amount of pages. But with all that being said, I did really like this and found it surprisingly easy to read. Laurel has never been normal, but suddenly she begins to grow an enormous blossom on her back that looks like wings, and she knows she can never turn back. Then she is told she is a faerie with a very important destiny (don't they all?) to help protect one of the gateways to Avalon. But this is a pretty smooth book with a lot of interesting characters, like the mortal boy Laurel is attracted to, who accepts everything she is calmly and without a lot of doubt. Because, really, she is a plant. Hmmm... all part of the fantasy trend happening lately, but it will be interesting to see other books by this author.
    • 4/5
      Beginnings are hard. While I don't think that Pike mastered it in Wings, I did enjoy the book and the beautiful, detailed world that she created.
    • 3/5
      Wings is by far the weirdest book. I've heard of Faeries commanding the nature. But Laurel's predicament was unheard of (maybe just to me since I rarely read anything with faeries in them) on my fictional imagination. There were clues since the beginning that Laurel is different. She does not eat dairy products. She is vegan to the extreme since she ate like a giraffe. Canned fruits and syrup is her preference, water or soda only and veggies and not even a lot. She hates enclosed spaces and no she is not claustrophobic she is just not comfy being indoors. She needs the air and the sun and the open nature. But I was shock when the whole petal incident came. That was a shock to me, I know that she is a fairy, I think that was pretty obvious but I could have never imagined that she is a .... can't say you have to find out. LOL. Our protag's first main boy, David is just the sweetest. He is not only uber nice and intelligent but he proved himself worthy of being trusted with Laurel's enormous secret. Romance wise Laurel is confused. She can't really choose between Tamani and David. Understandable. David is just perfect, for a human. But Tamani, they're of the same species and he is awesome too.Negative: Laurel is obviously close to her parents, so I thought that it was vital that she tell them when her petals were merely just a bump. I just find it irritating when she found out that her powers entails her of making potions to cure illness but she never tried it on her father. Why?!!! But those are just two scenes, the book was still written well.I've read several reviews saying that Wings was written to attract the Twilight fans well then... I don't think that"s going to happen. Haven't they noticed that the book is completely different? Jeez the only similarity is the love triangle and the keeping of the secret part. This is also to be adapted on the big screen by Miley Cyrus. I love the kid really but when she made that statement that she won't see any Twilight movies because she does not believe in them... NO DUH! That's a really dumb statement to make since she's going to play the part of Laurel? oh well...
    • 3/5
      This book was good... good enough for me to enjoy reading it but not scrambling to read the sequel. Laurel has a pretty normal teen life until she notices a bump on her back which worries her. It all unravels from there. It has the typical ya love triangle but not an overly done tale. The story is a little choppy between scenes but not so pronounced that it's annoying. Overall I would recommend it but it's not something I'd read twice.
    • 3/5
      This book started off with a quirky girl moving to a new town, new school, and she meets a boy in Biology class. A very overused formula lately, but it did have some significance as the book went on so I was able to overlook it. The story is about a young girl, Laurel, who discovers she is a faerie. The faeries in this book aren't the ones in general folklore, so it was interesting to read. I found Laurel irritating at parts- mostly because she was stringing David along from start to finish. It was a quick, easy read but not amazing.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. The mythical part of the story line was a great break from reality. The characters were very interesting and keep me interested throughout the whole book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
    • 3/5
      So, was Stephenie Meyer Aprilynne Pike's mentor? This felt very much like a fairy version of Twilight. Not that that's a bad thing—I got hooked on Twilight just like everyone else. The slow, careful details getting to know the main girl, who is amazingly beautiful but she doesn't realize it. The two guys who are wonderful for different reasons—how can she decide between them?!? I liked Pike's twist on the fairy tale, and I'm interested to see where she goes with the series. Fluffy, fun summer read.
    • 3/5
      My two friends have been raving about this book for days. They lent me a rather battered copy, at least by my tastes (I don't even like dog-earing). The premise sounds interesting, the reviews are mixed, and the title and cover looks like something out of a Kotex add. Here we go....... .................All right. This book is about 15 year old Laurel, who discovers she's a faerie after a flower blooms out of her back (faeries are apparently plant people). Anyway, her old house is on some special land that trolls (aka the bad guys) want a hold of. So she has to stop them. But she is not alone in her adventures. She has her super-nice human friend David(who is in love with her) and her attractive faerie friend Tamani(who is also in love with her) to help her out. Hey, it was okay. I thought the whole faerie mythology thing original. But that was probably the best part. The characters were a little cookie-cutterish, and Laurel was the perfect girl that everybody found likable. I guess one faerie power is to have insta-friends, because on the first day of school she already has a guy pining after her. (Guess what class they have together. That's right! Biology!) There is also a love triangle folks, between the sexy dangerous guy, and the cute dependable friend. I'm rooting for you, David! I thought Tamani was too big of a creep, and I never found Laurel's and his connection too palpable. Plus David deserves it, him being whipped and all. The writing was pretty simple. It was a little too easy to read. More like middle-grade. Content-wise, the book is pretty clean. No swearing other than one s***, I believe. Some kissing, no real sex. Menstruation is mentioned, which might make guy-readers a little uncomfortable. But honestly, what guy would read this book? Overall, the whole pick seemed like a set-up for a series. Just an introduction of the chracters and plot. Not all the loose ends are tied up either. I'll probably read the rest of the series, but I won't pay for the books. On a side note, Miley Cyrus as Laurel? Yuck. I was thinking more like Anna Sophia Robb. Same look as Laurel and she can act. If Disney wants Miley in it so bad, she can be Chelsea and they can create a bigger part for her or something.
    • 4/5
      I was pleasantly surprised by this book and look forward to the next (Spells). Nice change from all of the vampire books for YAs. A quick, light read.
    • 4/5
      A wonderful faerie book that paints them in a different light than most of those on the market that paint them as evil, Wings is gorgeously crafted. I loved the main character and the romance felt real. It was an enthralling story that unfolds before your eyes and is perfectly lovely. The writing was extraordinary and the plot was marvelous. Loved it.
    • 5/5
      A totally different Faerie Story! I like how Pike managed to find a totally new angle to the whole faerie world. There are a lot of books on this subject and I've read a lot. This is one of the best I read lately. Pike actually surprised me :)
    • 3/5
      I liked it well enough. It was an interesting take on the biology and history of faeries. I will admit that I almost did not read it because it's recommended by Stephanie Meyers, and that I still have a bit of a sour taste in the back of my mind knowing she recommends it. Guilt by association type thing or something. I don't know.

      However, the writing was well done. Light and lyrical, not shabby and overwritten like Meyers. The characters were interesting and I wanted to know more about them. My main complaint is that it felt a little as though the adventure portion of the book was rushed -- as though she spent a lot of time developing the characters and the discovery of the protagonists heritage, and then bunched in the mystery/adventure/what-have-you at the very end.

      I mean, she hinted at it here and there in the first couple chapters, but it really felt like the book took a left turn from coming-of-age self-discovery to fantasy action-adventure, and while not entirely unexpected, the shift in tone was a little irritating.

      I'm noticing this trend more and more in YA -- it was present in Twilight and it's popping up in other books. I don't mind mixing coming of age and fantasy-action adventure, I just wish authors did it more smoothly -- it seems as though a lot of them are writing a coming of age and then tacking an adventure on at the end because they feel they have to, and it feels awkward and messy.
    • 3/5
      "Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful--too beautiful for words. Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings."The book follows a teen named Laurel, as she comes to find out that her average life isn't so average. When she wakes up one morning to find that she's sprouted an interesting and non-human item from her back, she begins an adventure that defies all she formerly knew to be true about her life. Add her new best friend David,who wishes he were more than just a friend, plus the mysterious and handsome Tamani, from Laurel's childhood, and you've got the perfect setup for a great book.To be straight, I liked the book a lot. It was humorous, sweet, imaginative, and so far-stretched that it was believable. My favorite thing about the book is that when I finished reading it, I really wanted everything in it to be true. I wanted to wake up one morning with a "pimple" on my back and watch it grow into something spectacular. Aprilynne Pike's world of fairies is so very different from all others...but it works!Although the story was great, I must say that the book is good, not amazing. There were parts where I felt as if time had skipped forward, or where it seemd as if a chunk of the book was missing. The book longed for those missing pages.But, I would still recommend the book to those who love magical things, and anyone who wants to be taken on a different and new adventure. The story is so enchanting, even with the "time skips," that I look forward to reading the next one.
    • 5/5
      This book was cute, romantic, and had an interesting take on the fairy world. I enjoyed it very much!
    • 3/5
      I liked this book, but then I didn’t. The more I read further into this book, I almost wanted to drop it, but I didn’t because curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know what was going on. You have to wonder about Laurel’s parents. Laurel doesn’t eat like normal teens, and drinks up on the sodas. Yet her mom is okay with that? her parents are pretty much oblivious to everything regarding Laurel and this is where it gets unrealistic. It got a teensy bit worse when her good pal David seems to be VERY accepting of who Laurel really is. He doesn’t think it’s strange? he had no hesitations? he just shrugs and gets along with it? if David had been skeptical at first, it would have made this whole situation a little bit real. BUT! What bothered me the most was how in the end, once Laurel explains everything to her parents...they were just ok with it. Um..what? really? they just suddenly thought: ‘okay honey that’s nice. Run along, play with your new friends and hope your new outlook on life is great’ WTF?! At this point because it was at the end, I resorted to eye rolling. It was just too late into the book to throw it against the wall.So, despite all of this silliness, there was a couple of things I liked. The world building was pretty good. The fantasy aspect and the magical places are interesting. The plot itself was an all right read and the pace made it for a quick read through. Character-wise, I thought David was the best one of all of them. Just because I thought he really was such a sweet guy after all. (He’d have to be sweet, to be so easily accepting to Laurel). Tamani on the other hand resembled a very jealous possessive guy who has severe issues and overall I found him downright annoying. His little comments here and there annoyed me and I wanted either David or Laurel to kick him in the face somehow. I’m not sure if I would recommend this. A lot of readers seemed to have liked this book a lot. I’d say there’s better books featuring magical fae out there. I’d say try out Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston instead. For this one, take it or leave it.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. Something different, no werewolves, no vampires, no angels, so if you wanted to read something different, I recommended this book. Love some of the characters, especially Tamani. I loved the world Aprilynne Pike created in this book. Its a great book, I loved and recommended, so if you haven't read go read it now.
    • 4/5
      Wings is a fairy story about a girl who blossoms and becomes part of the mythical world of fairies.Although the writing was simplistic, I really enjoyed the way that Mrs. Pike doesn't re- cap events and describe every detail of each activity. If she could sophisticate her writing, I believe that her books would be amazing.Another thing I thought interested was how the book is publicized as a novel but is actually part of a series. The end certainly hints at that but we as readers expect a finished novel. So I would expect that some readers will be disappointed that once again a novel just can't ever be completed in one book.One comparison I will make, both because I thought it necessary to analyze the book and because Meyer approved of the book. Pike's simplistic writing is shown again by the lack of overwhelming detail concerning the characters and their emotions. Unlike Meyer, we do not know the minute details... things are left to the imagination, which allows the reader to create his/ her own world. Very lovely!
    • 4/5
      Enchanting. That is the first word that comes to mind to describe this book! Aprilynne Pike weaves a magical story that makes you question what you truly believe in. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was able to incorporate the world of the faeries without seeming too juvenile. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a child's story as much as the next person. However it was refreshing to read a true "faerie tale" from the perspective of a young adult protagonist. Laurel is fun to follow through the story, she has a believable personality, and although she was flitting through a imaginative world you never lost track of her in the real world. Deep at the heart of the book is a love triangle that shines. It reminded me much of the Twilight Series love triangle, only it was written so much better! Although Laurel is torn, she is an adult enough character that she never seems whiny or obnoxious. That was my biggest issue with Bella in the other series. The only reason I wasn't able to give this book a full five star rating is because the beginning is rather slow. Not so badly that you want to put the book down, but to deter a reader who picked this book up on a whim. Overall I am wholly impressed by Pike's debut novel! I cannot wait to pick up the next one in the series when it comes out!
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best YA books I have had the pleasure to read this year. "Wings" is about a young girl whose world is totally turned around and she finds out she might not be what she has believed herself to be. I usually give a brief synopsis of the book but I struggle to do that for "Wings" because I don't want to give any of its secrets away. The cast of characters was a delight and teenage Laurel comes across as beautiful and real. Amid loyal friends and loving parents, Laural is loyal, smart and true to herself. I almost read clear through this book in one setting but sleep won out and I had to finish the book the next morning. Some of the reviews say this book started slow, but I didn't feel that was the case. I enjoyed learning about Laural from the start. This book brims with imagination and I really hope the books meets the success it deserves. This is truly a magical tale and I highly recommend it to adults and teens alike.
    • 4/5
      Readers Annotation:Laurel has always known that she was different than other people, she only eats fruits and veggies and drinks the occasional Sprite. When she eats “regular” food she doesn’t feel good. When her parents move her to a new town and she starts public school her differences really stand out, especially when she wakes up one morning to find that she has sprouted a large flower out of her back that looks like wings. Plot Summary:Laurel was adopted when her parents discovered her in a basket on their porch at age 3. Laurel has been homeschooled for all of her life in her parent’s small cabin in the woods. Her parents decide to sell the land and they move to a town where Laurel goes to public school. Just when Laurel starts to feel like she is fitting in she has a bump appear on her back that keeps getting bigger. At first she thought it was just her first pimple, then one morning after it has grown to the size of a golf ball, she wakes up to discover that she has large petals growing out of her back that look like wings. Her parents take her back to the cabin to do some maintenance on the cabin while they are waiting for the sale to be finalized. While they are there Laurel meets Tamani, a fairie, who tells her that she is a changeling and she was given to her family to protect the fairy land that has the portal to their world on it. She turns to her best friend David, a science geek, and he examines a clipping of one of her petals under his microscope. He confirms that she is made up of plant cells and not animal cells. Laurel and David must stop the evil trolls from getting the families land before it is too late. Evaluation:The characters in this book were funny and felt very real. It deals with the issues of a teen moving and changing schools , friends and feeling excepted. There is the start of an interesting love triangle between Laurel, David and Tamani. I liked the fact that the author developed friendships between the characters first instead of jumping straight into the typical “love at first sight” that a lot of teen novels seem to have. Both of the boys have admirable qualities; Tamani is protective and was a childhood friend before Laurel’s memory was taken away and David is scholarly and understanding. Because this is not a dark fairie tale it is suitable to younger teens and because of the action and the strong characters it would also appeal to older teens as well.