Wingbearer

Wingbearer
Marjorie Liu

Teny Issakhanian, Illustrator
Quill Tree, March, 2022
208 pages
Grades 3-8
Graphic Fantasy

Zuli is a young girl who resides in a mystical tree where bird's souls come to roost in between lives. When new birds stop arriving, the elder bird spirits send her to find out what is wrong. Accompanied by her nervous guardian owl, Frowly, Zuli sets off on her adventure. She meets Orien, a young goblin, who joins her in the quest and they pick up more supernatural folks along the way. The Witch Queen is out to stop the adventurers and they must fight her minions at various points in the story. As the journey continues Zuli learns more about who she is and the history of her people. She posses abilities and an identity previously unknown to her and now she must learn to tap into her powers to save the souls of the birds, as well as other creatures. The truth behind the missing souls of the unborn creatures becomes clear by book's end, though the details have yet to be revealed, leading readers to the next installment in the series yet to be released.

As seen with other teen/adult authors, Liu has switched to to the exploding market of middle grade with exciting results. This is a very readable and action-packed series opener that will appeal to a variety of readers. A bit more "cartoony" than Amulet it will catch the eye of both fantasy lovers and general graphic novel readers alike. The story is easy to follow and compelling. I enjoyed the characters and found them to be a likable lot. Frowly the owl steals the show, reminding me of Zazu from The Lion King and provided balance between the intensity of Zuli and some comic relief. The illustrations are in full-color and are perfect for the intended audience and the mood of the story. This is an original concept that will be an easy sell-both in the attractive packaging and well-crafted and interesting story. The plot ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger after a big reveal, encouraging readers to reach for the sequel. A fresh series opener that is sure to be a hit with young readers.