ALA Booklist (Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2000)

Eleven-year-old Linnet does not know why her shoulders itch and ache, or why there are weird bumps on them. But Linnet's mother, Sarah, does: she once grew wings, which her own mother cut off. Now that Linnet's wings are unfolding, Sarah must find another solution. Linnet winds up in Montana, abandoned by her mother, but taken in by a group whose members have wings or are cutwings. This is Winter's first novel, and there's some awkwardness in the narrative, including an ending that discloses the existence of a worldwide network of winged people, who send a helicopter, no less, to save Linnet and her roommate, Andy, who are lost in the wilderness. Growing wings is a fascinating premise, but the book is at its best when it is revealing relationships: especially the rivalry between Linnet and Andy, and the jealousy between the winged Linnet and the scarred Sarah. The title and an evocative jacket will draw readers in.

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2001)

At eleven, Linnet finds herself growing wings and learns the cruel story of how her mother lost her own wings. Afraid of being labeled a freak, Linnet flees to a winged community in Montana, tries to fly, and thinks about defying prejudice by disclosing her secret to the wingless world. Mired in pedestrian episodes, this promising premise never makes it off the ground.

Kirkus Reviews

While 11 is a time in a girl's life when her body is undergoing changes, Linnet's physical changes are highly unusual—she is growing wings. To her amazement, this bizarre fact doesn't surprise her mother Sarah, who it turns out also had wings at Linnet's age. But Linnet's grandmother had cut off Sarah's wings, not being able to imagine her navigating her way though life with them. After the school term ends, Linnet insists on going to look for, as she puts it, "anyone else like me." After several days of travel and after being abandoned by her mother, Linnet ends up at her grandmother's, who takes Linnet to an isolated house way up in the mountains, a secret place where other winged people live. Safe in the community of others like herself, Linnet and one of the others, Andy, try to teach themselves to fly but for various aeronautical reasons, they are both unable to. Linnet and Andy finally realize that they are unwilling to hide for the rest of their lives, even if it means being called freaks by intolerant people. The two kids decide to take their chances in the outside world with non-winged people. Oddly, there is not much explanation and surprisingly little discussion in the book about how and why these particular people grew wings and what the significance is. While a few theories are bandied about, none are really explored. The plot and characterizations are not skillfully crafted enough to allow a suspension of disbelief, and the book veers towards pomposity, seemingly raising weighty, philosophical themes, but never really taking flight. (Fiction. 10-14)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-When 11-year-old Linnet begins to grow wings, her single mother explains that she, too, experienced the same changes as she approached puberty, but her mother brutally cut off her wings, leading to their eventual estrangement. When Linnet's mother inexplicably abandons her, the girl finds her grandmother, the only other person she thinks might be able to give her information about her wings. The woman then takes her to a secret sanctuary of winged people and cutwings-those who have lost their wings-in the wilds of Montana. As she and the other young people who live there experiment with flying and have some scary brushes with nosy reporters, Linnet begins to understand that she is not alone in the world and learns some secrets that will help her survive and thrive. Eventually her mother finds her and the residents of the sanctuary make plans for their future. While readers will relate to a preadolescent girl on the brink of big changes questioning her place in the world, the theme often overwhelms the plot, which is driven by several unbelievable contrivances, including Linnet's mother's disappearance. Wooden and unrealistic dialogue slows down the first chapter, but after that youngsters will discover a fast-paced and suspenseful fantasy.-Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.