Review of 'Wingbearer'
A fun adventure, Wingbearer will capture the hearts of young readers with its entertaining cast, strong adventure, and colorful artwork.
A young girl must stop a threat to her magical world in this epic graphic novel from New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu and remarkable debut illustrator Teny Issakhanian.
Zuli is extraordinary—she just doesn’t realize it yet. Raised by mystical bird spirits in the branches of the Great Tree, she’s never ventured beyond this safe haven. She’s never had to. Until now.
When a sinister force threatens the life-giving magic of the tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it. So begins an adventure bigger than anything Zuli could’ve ever imagined—one that will bring her, along with some newfound friends, face-to-face with an ancient dragon, the so-called Witch-Queen, and most surprisingly of all: her true identity.
This captivating middle-grade graphic novel, the first of a series, is perfect for fans of the Amulet books and the Wings of Fire series.
Review
An incredible story with excellent artwork, Wingbearer is an imaginative middle-grade graphic novel where one young girl must stop the threat to her magical world.
Story
Wingbearer follows Zuli, a young girl raised by bird spirits at what looks like a version of the tree of life. In a way, it is. The tree is a haven for the souls of birds until they are reborn. But when leaves start to bloom, dead and lifeless, Zuli and the bird spirits know that there is something wrong—determined to find a way to save and protect those who raised her.
It is a beautiful story following a POC character. Zuli has such a bright personality, and some sadness lingers there. Being the only human, she often wonders if there are others like herself if she is the only one like herself.
It Is a good story about finding your own family and making your own. Zuli’s family are the bird spirits, but when she leaves them to save them, the feeling of loneliness overwhelms her again. But on her journey, she meets such a cast of characters, from Goblins, a dragon, to warriors on the backs of snakes; Zuli’s personality, her hope, allows her to form her family.
Wingbearer is a lighthearted story, but some scenes challenge deforestation and the concept of taking just enough to survive versus stripping the land more than necessary. I like that there is an undertone of living in harmony with the land and the creatures that make it their home.
Artwork
And while Wingbearer is a great story, the artwork is beautiful. The color and shading, especially the bird spirits, are exceptional. The artistry here is fantastic and captures the heart of the story perfectly. When the story is light, the artwork is vibrant eye-catching. And when the story hits those somber tones, the artwork reflects that as well. However, there are still points where the artwork has a spark of hope in those somber moments.
It is beautiful how the frames flow into one another; how they mirror the story’s momentum makes it very engaging for young readers. Again, it is vibrant eye-catching, and the high gloss and shine of the pages hold the reader’s attention.
Final Thoughts
An incredible story, Wingbearer has much history to it. The worldbuilding happens in pieces, giving the reader just enough history to build the world; the story flows at an engaging pace. Moreover, with the fun cast of characters and beautiful artwork, this story is sure to engage young readers everywhere.
- Writing Quality : 9/10
- Character Development : 9/10
- "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 7/10
- Intellectual Depth: 10/10
- Originality: 9/10
- Overall Rating: 4 out of 5.
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About the Author
Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, son and daughter and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.
About the Creator
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