Flexible Wings

Flexible Wings

  • by Veda Stamps
  • Narrated by Natalie Hoyt
  • 4 hrs and 29 mins
  • Unabridged Audiobook
4.71 (7
Ratings.
)

Publisher's Summary

Summer Stevenson is an 11-year-old military kid who dreams of having a permanent home and swimming in the Olympics one day, just like her idol, Olympian Lia Neal. But those things seem out of reach as her parents, "the heroes", continually move the family from house to house like boxed-up toys.
After their last move, she thought her life would never change, but now the moving truck is idling in front of her house again, this time taking the family to Valencia, a small town in Southern California known for its bike trails, roller coasters, and great schools. But things aren't so great for Summer. She worries constantly that her fighter-pilot mom could be redeployed at any moment, and she struggles to make new friends, finding herself in humiliating circumstances with her neighbors.
Summer sees a glimmer of hope when her parents sign her up for competitive swimming, but she turns out to be the worst swimmer on the team. Inspired by nature and drawing support from friendships both old and new, including those with Grandma "Bachaan", her coaches, and other kids on the swim team, Summer seeks the courage she'll need to tackle life's challenges. It isn't until her little sister is in an accident that Summer truly finds the source of her inner strength and uses it to face her greatest fears head on.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful

Must Read

If you could sum up Flexible Wings in three words, what would they be?

Heart warming, heart wrenching and dynamic!


Which character – as performed by Natalie Hoyt – was your favorite?

Summer's sister


Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when her sister got hurt and for the first time Summer reacted with maturity.


Any additional comments?


Summer just seemed to be a little self-centered girl. As the book progresses, we see her mature and become independent and responsible. Great story? Super ending! Definitely a must read.

Good book! hope there will be more coming from this author.

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- CL

Truly Beautiful Story

Flexible Wings was an amazing tale of what a child goes through when her parents are in the military. In our generation a lot of kids, know all too well what it’s like to have their parents oversees fighting for this country. A lot kids have experienced losing their parents because of war, and it’s hard on the kids that go through these situations.

Summer battles all these emotions that any middle schooler shouldn’t have to go through. And we watch and feel her hurt as she goes through the motions of trying to cope without her mom. Not only does her mom leave on military business, but she also moves to a new place and has to make new friends, which is never easy for any child to have to do. And if you’ve ever moved to a new school, you know just how tough making new friends can actually be.

Summer’s life is an emotional roller coaster in Flexible Wings. Things finally start looking up for her when she joins the swim team. She makes friends and finally feels like she belongs somewhere. But like life things take a turn and don’t end up happily, or so she thinks. And for a pre-teen she feels like her life is falling apart at times. Abandoned by her mother and friends, with only her little sister by her side.

The characters are well-rounded and make the story all the more heart-tugging. Because they go through the motions like an average person would, and the emotions aren’t glorified or written out as if they don’t’ exist, which I feel is often done in some situations. And the story is told in such a way that it feels like it really happened and that Summer and her family aren’t fictional characters.

Veda Stamps has a way with words and paints a vivid picture of everything happening in her story and leaves you with a different perspective. We don’t necessarily see the hurting child when we make decisions of moving to another town, but in Flexible Wings, she definitely shows you what happens when you uproot your family and how one tiny decision affects everyone in big ways.
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- Chasity Dougherty

Book Details

  • Release Date: 12-04-2015
  • Publisher: IMO Books
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