Summer 2005 Review:

        Wing Nut is a story about a family who are trying to find their “home”. Grady and his mother, Lila, have been traveling to find a stable place to live. Ever since Grady’s dad died in a mechanic accident, the pair has been on the road. They tend to not live in one place for to long. Grady and Lila have lived in many different towns, states, and communes. After leaving the latest commune, the pair hit the roads again. The two end up in a quaint town in Pennsylvania. In order to support Grady and herself, Lila applies for a job. A diner owner informs Lila of this job. They tell her that she will not have the easiest time if she takes the job. The job that the dinner owners tell her about is to take care of an elderly man named Charlie Fernwald. Lila ultimately gets the job, so Grady and herself move into a cottage on Fernwald’s farm. The time with Charlie starts out rocky, but the relationship is tight in the end. Charlie teaches Grady about the Purple Martin bird flocks that visit his farm every year. Charlie even teaches Grady a little bit about mechanics. After many arguments, highlights, and surprises, the three people learn to care deeply for each other. Grady and Lila finally found their home with Charlie Fernwald.

            This book would suit readers from the age of 11-15 years of age. The book is very heartfelt and uplifting. The reader gets engrossed into the story about saving the birds. I believe the characters are phenomenal in this story. Each character has a different personality that appeals to many. Readers younger than eleven might not get the powerful theme of the story. Grady and his mother go trough many hardships to find happiness. Wing Nut is a great book in which a family ends up with a place to call home in the end.

~ Kiley Thompson, Boardman Center Middle School, Grade 8

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