Gr 4-6 Twelve-year-old Vero, who has always known deep down that he could fly, discovers that he is a guardian angel. He begins his training with others his age in The Ether, a mystical world in which preteen angels face physical trials, harsh landscapes, vividly realized monsters, and challenges to their faith. The author's roots as a television writer show through in the episodic, cinematic scenes. Narrated in the third person, chapters switch locations and time periods, often to the detriment of the overall flow. Character motivations are lacking, aside from the sympathetic Vero. The portrayal of Judiasm, as embodied by a young Jewish girl who explains various Christian ideas (she is regarded as an expert as a result of training for her Bat Mitzvah), seems included primarily to bolster Evangelical beliefs. The underlying themes place this title and its probable sequels with fans of "Left Behind Kids" (Tyndale House). Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC

Vero Leland wants to fly, and not just that, he feels like he should fly, like it's a natural state for him. An adopted child of a nurse and an analyst, Vero at 12 is smarter, stronger, faster, and better than most of the kids he goes to school with, and it shows. He understands college-level writing assignments and can leap multiple hurdles in a single bound. Truly, Vero is different. But it's only when he's trapped by evil creatures that he realizes how different: he is destined to become a guardian angel. He can escape into the mystical Ether to learn how to fly and defend his future charges, along with other fledgling angels, and more adventure is surely on its way. His family and friends are mostly unaware, but Vero believes in his future and has faith. This book has definite Christian and spiritual themes, though they are carefully measured and not totally overpowering. It may not appeal to all adventure and fantasy readers, but despite the potentially heavy-handed good-versus-evil plot, it's an easygoing read.

Twelve-year-old Vero Leland has never been a normal boy, but the discovery that he is a guardian-angel-in-training only makes him feel more like an outcast. He must begin angel school while trying to balance his one earthly life. Molinari injects a hero quest into a fresh setting in this fast-paced but sometimes didactic tale, book one in a series.