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Table of Contents
About The Book
In the fight with the truck barreling toward them, Wenny and Will lost big. Wenny lost her life. Will lost a sister -- and lost faith in himself.
But then Will starts writing letters to Wenny. He tells her all about the secret of his near-death experience, and the troubles he's having at home. Some letters are funny. Some letters are harsh. And when read together, they tell the story of a boy who finds a way to move past death and learns how to live again....
But then Will starts writing letters to Wenny. He tells her all about the secret of his near-death experience, and the troubles he's having at home. Some letters are funny. Some letters are harsh. And when read together, they tell the story of a boy who finds a way to move past death and learns how to live again....
Reading Group Guide
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Having had a near-death experience in the accident that killed his younger sister Wenny, eleven-year-old Will tries to cope with the situation by writing her letters that are in turn humorous, informative, angry, and finally an honest realization of life's twists and turns.
THEMES
Family; Death; Letter writing; Afterlife; Brothers and sisters
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• From what Will writes to Wenny, what kind of person do you think she was? How do her parents remember her? Are these memories changed because Wenny is dead? Why do Will's parents become so upset when he wants to make Wenny a birthday cake or when he is in her room?
• When Will tries to tell the adults about the light and tunnel, how do they react? Why do you think they did and said the things they did to Will? If you had a friend who had a near-death experience, what do you think you would say to them?
• Do you believe that near-death experiences really happen? If a situation similar to this were to happen to you, would you tell anyone? Why or why not?
ACTIVITIES
• Visit the author's website (www.janetleecarey.com), click on "Teachers/Librarians," and read Carey's description of the Child Hero. Use the website questions to explore Will's situation.
• Choose either a book character that has died or even a real person and keep a journal of letters to this character or person.
• Have a tarantula as a class pet or bring in an expert to show and discuss its care.
This reading group guide is for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
Prepared by Lesa Dierking
© William Allen White Children's Book Award
Please visit http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/ for more information about the awards and to see curriculum guides for other master list titles.
Having had a near-death experience in the accident that killed his younger sister Wenny, eleven-year-old Will tries to cope with the situation by writing her letters that are in turn humorous, informative, angry, and finally an honest realization of life's twists and turns.
THEMES
Family; Death; Letter writing; Afterlife; Brothers and sisters
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• From what Will writes to Wenny, what kind of person do you think she was? How do her parents remember her? Are these memories changed because Wenny is dead? Why do Will's parents become so upset when he wants to make Wenny a birthday cake or when he is in her room?
• When Will tries to tell the adults about the light and tunnel, how do they react? Why do you think they did and said the things they did to Will? If you had a friend who had a near-death experience, what do you think you would say to them?
• Do you believe that near-death experiences really happen? If a situation similar to this were to happen to you, would you tell anyone? Why or why not?
ACTIVITIES
• Visit the author's website (www.janetleecarey.com), click on "Teachers/Librarians," and read Carey's description of the Child Hero. Use the website questions to explore Will's situation.
• Choose either a book character that has died or even a real person and keep a journal of letters to this character or person.
• Have a tarantula as a class pet or bring in an expert to show and discuss its care.
This reading group guide is for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.
Prepared by Lesa Dierking
© William Allen White Children's Book Award
Please visit http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/ for more information about the awards and to see curriculum guides for other master list titles.
About The Author
Photograph by Heidi Pettit
JANET LEE CAREY grew up in Marin County California surrounded by whispering redwoods. Sunlight cut through ocean mist and fingered through the branches. It was in this magical place that she first dreamed of writing books. Her award-winning teen fantasy novels are translated into many languages. Some include: The Dragons of Noor, which won a Teens Read Too Gold Star Award for Excellence, Stealing Death, which received a School Library Journal starred review, Dragon’s Keep, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults, and Wenny Has Wings, a Mark Twain Award recipient and a Sony Feature Film Japan, 2008. Janet lives with her family, dusty book stacks, and imperious cat near Phantom Lake in Washington. Visit Janet online at www.janetleecarey.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (June 1, 2004)
- Length: 240 pages
- ISBN13: 9780689867590
- Ages: 8 - 12
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
Kirkus Reviews A heartrending glimpse into what happens in a family when a child dies.
Philadelphia Inquirer Affecting.
Publishers Weekly Poignant.
Children's Bookwatch Highly recommended.
Awards and Honors
- South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee
- Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee
- William Allen White Children's Book Award (KS)
- Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee (WY)
- Mark Twain Award (MO)
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Wenny Has Wings Trade Paperback 9780689867590(0.6 MB)
- Author Photo (jpg): Janet Lee Carey Photograph by Heidi Pettit(0.9 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
