Product Description
Before Wings Beth Goobie CLA Book of the Year for Young Adults Mr. Christie's Book Award Silver Seal Winner Saskatchewan Book Award for Children's Literature PSLA YA Best Books List 2004 ALA Michael Printz Award Nominee Governor General's Literary Award nominee 2001 YALSA Teens' Top Ten Books nominee 2001 Sunburst Award nominee 2001 Teen Top Ten YA Galley project nominee ALA Best Books nominee 2002 Resource Links' Year's Best 2000 CCBC Our Choice Starred selection Snow Willow Award nominee 2002-2003 ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults 2005 By confronting the past, Adrien learns to understand and accept the present. The spirits were moaning, a low sound that seemed to be calling the storm toward the beach where Adrien came to a halt, pushing to stay erect in the wind. She was sure the spirits were calling something specific— short phrase, several words, repeated like the lightning that snaked in the sky. Another sheer burst of white and Adrien stepped forward into the wild lake, the call of the spirit girls, the energy of their brains dying across the sky. Into some understood sameness. Having barely survived a brain aneurysm two years earlier, fifteen-year-old Adrien, working at her Aunt Erin's summer camp, is caught between the land of the living and the spirit world, unsure where she belongs. As she struggles to understand the message delivered by the spirits of the five young women that only she sees, she learns of the tragic consequences of their connection to her aunt. Faced with the knowledge that another aneurysm could strike her at any time and mostly shunned by the other staff because she is the boss's niece, Adrien finds a soulmate in Paul, the camp handyman, who is convinced that he has seen his own death foretold. Before Wings is an ambitious, beautifully written novel that dares to explore territory seldom tackled in teen fiction. In Adrien, author Beth Goobie has created a memorable character - intelligent, strong, irreverent, stubborn, funny, independent, fragile - who learns to confront the reality of her own death and to "believe in life." Beth Goobie is the award-winning author of fourteen books of fiction, poetry and drama.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 3 reviews)

Amazing Book... Definetely Worth It!

This book was really hard to get in to at first... but hang on, because the end is really worth it! If you like romance or mystery books this book is for you. It is an amazing story, and is written exceptionally well... I would definetely reccommend it to anybody over the age of 11 years old (some parts may be inappropriate). Enjoy!!
September 19, 2006

Incredible

Before Wings was one of the best books I've ever read in my entire life. It's very powerful and had me thinking about it for days after I was done with it. It's definitely a book that will make you think about life and why you're here. It sends an important messege which is why it will always be one of my favorite books.
May 12, 2002

Magical, mystery tour

Adrien is a wonderful heroine. She is both loyal and willing to stand up for herself even when those trying to lead her down a dangerous path are older. At the same time, her near-death experience with a brain aneurysm makes her cynical and antisocial. She deserves the nickname "Grouch". Adrien meets Paul, another camp staffer whose intensity keeps others away. The relationship that developes between these two "outcasts" is intense. In addition to romance, this book has several mysteries about things both past and future which keep the pages turning. This book was recommended by a librarian friend and her fifteen year old daughter. It should win some kind of award.
July 25, 2001

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