Book Review: On the Wings of Heroes

On the Wings of Heroes has two fabulous aspects to commend it: one, it is written by Richard Peck, author of two of my favorite middle grade books - A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago; and two, the audio version is read by Lincoln Hoppe. I love books narrated by Lincoln Hoppe (he narrated other favorites, like Okay for Now and Do Hard Things). Both Peck and Hoppe have a talent for making historical fiction come to life for young readers.

In this book, we meet Davy Bowman, a small-town boy dealing with the throes of World War II. He looks up to two heroes: his dad and his brother. War, from the eyes of a child, includes air raids, rations, and scrap drives. It also includes fear. Davy bides his time wondering if his brother, Bill, will return safely from the war.

This was another quick audio experience. While not quite as colorful and fun as the two aforementioned Peck books, it was still an entertaining read. If you have never encountered a Richard Peck book, start with the other two. These are middle grade books that will greatly appeal to adults, who will readily relate to the time he re-creates. If you live west of Indianapolis, you might enjoy Peck's Here Lies the Librarian, as it takes place in our environs.