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Review:
The Wall and the Wing by Laura Ruby

Harper Collins, 2006

9+ Laura Ruby has written an engaging and unique fantasy. When Gurl, a 12 year old orphan at the Hope House for the Homeless and Hopeless, sneaks out one night to scavenger for food, she finds that she can make herself invisible, fading like a “Wall”. Noodle, a mysterious cat, befriends her on one of her night excursions. Meanwhile Mrs. Terwiliger, the matron of the orphanage, discovers her talent and captures her cat, blackmailing her into stealing expensive items and erasing a plastic surgery bill. A new boy, Bug, arrives at the orphanage, determined to fly and become a Wing. Gurl befriends him and they decide to seek freedom together. However the gangster, Sweetcheeks Grabowski, who also wants to use Gurl’s amazing ability, captures them and many adventures follow.

This is an action packed fantasy adventure set in a sparking city reminiscent of New York. The off beat humour will have readers laughing aloud. There are many outlandish characters like the gangster who can unzip his face and the Professor who has bought an Answer Hand from ebay to help him find information. Noodle the cat blow-dries her fur and bizarre monkeys store the memories of the orphans.

This is a delightful original fantasy with a great cover and is sure to enthral readers.

Pat Pledger

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