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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Consulting, 2007