| Booktalk
#1
Eleven year old Will North
and his seven year old sister Wenny die in a horrible accident, but Will
comes back. He remembers seeing his sister floating happily and freely
toward the light, but he backs away from the light when he hears his parents’
grief. He must deal with the guilt and pain he feels over his sister’s
death. To make this task even worse, he believes he caused her death,
and his parents focus on the death of Wenny and seem to forget Will.
When Mr. James a youth group leader gives Will a notebook to write his
feelings and thoughts to God, he writes to Wenny instead. Will he
ever be able to forgive himself for Wenny’s death? Read Wenny Has
Wings. (Kelley Fraser, ksfraser@megalink.net)
Booktalk #2
My dear Wenny, Do you remember
I died too? I died when they brought us to the hospital. I
was on the table, and my heart stopped. Wow, Wenny, it was so great
racing through that tunnel of light after you. I felt so free and
so wonderful. You were having fun doing summersaults and floating around.
I wanted to go with you, but then I remembered Mom and Dad. Instead of
following you, I turned back to be with them. Here I am stuck on
earth with Mom and Dad. Some days I wonder if I made the right decision.
Things are miserable here! Mom and Dad are so sad they hardly speak.
They don’t even seem to want to bother with me much these days. I
am afraid to tell them that I died. I’m afraid they will think I
am crazy and put me on the third floor of the hospital with all of the
crazy children. I have decided to keep quiet and not tell them anything.
I will just keep everything inside. Mom and Dad had a counselor come
over, and he gave me a blank book to write in. I am going write to you,
Wenny. Maybe you will listen. I know you won’t think I’m crazy.
(Barbara Satkowski, South
Carolina Book Awards, 2006) |
