The Wall & the Wing

Laura Ruby (author)

Harper Collins, UK: 2006; 335pp

ISBN: 0007210078

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Issues: differences, giftedness, identity

Surrounded by a vast, exciting city is the Hope House for the Hopeless and Homeless, run by the manipulative and selfish Mrs Dimwiddie. Of the many orphans who live there, Gurl is unique. She, unlike most of the human race, cannot fly.

 Although she seems incredibly ordinary, it soon becomes evident that Gurl in fact has a remarkable gift - she can disappear. Literally.

Gurl doesn't have much chance to refine her talents before she finds that it has made her a target for every unscrupulous person in the city who wants to ‘persuade' her to become their pet thief. Pursued by giant rat man, abused by the horrible matron, and haunted by faint memories of another life altogether, Gurl teams up with Bug, an aggressive orphan who can pick almost any lock. Together they search for their past - and the strange old man with grass hair who has pockets full of kittens.

This is a delightful story where adventure is only lightly touched by fantasy. The fantasy elements are so integral to the story that they seem a logical extension of characters and narrative events. Fantasies usually have set elements - dragons, swords, crowns, rings etc - and settings in which the narrative takes place. In The Wall and the Wing, however, the setting is much more that of a modern adventure - a city of haves and have-nots, street people and gangs. The touches of fantasy are more in the nature whimsical additions to eccentric characters.

A highly enjoyable read.