Wabi

tima - The best book ever written! This wonderful story by Joseph Bruchac is about love, friendship, loyalty,and trust. The story starts off with a young owl that faces a big challenge of falling out of his home tree, but before an other wild animal gets a grasp on the young owl, his grandmother saves him! This young owl's name is Wabi. From then forth Wabi gets taken care of by his grandmother. Wabi his not your average owl though, not at all. As Wabi grows up he falls in love with a human girl! Now Wabi must find a way to win this girls heart. In the book he later finds out that he could change into a human! Wabi must fight monsters, a witch, and must face face many more dangers, just for one goal. The heart of a girl he would do anything for. XD

May 1, 2006
Bruchac's (Skeleton Man
) storytelling skills are on full display in this tale introducing an owlet narrator. Wabi's adventure begins almost immediately, when his brother pushes him out of the nest and into the path of a hungry fox. Wabi's great-grandmother, whom he's never met, comes to his rescue and takes him under her wing. She patiently answers the insatiably curious owl's questions, at times with stories. She tells him that the two of them share a "special gift": they communicate with each other in human language and are able to understand the speech of not only owls and people, but "other creatures toooo." Wabi becomes fascinated by the Native American residents of a nearby village, especially the children, whom he safeguards. Eventually, Wabi realizes that he is smitten with one of the teenagers, the sharp-tongued, headstrong Dojihla, yet recognizes the futility of his love. Guided by his great-grandmother, who confides a family secret, the love-struck owl attempts to win Dojihla's affection. The action continues when Wabi—accompanied by his trusty wolf companion, adopted while he was a cub—begins a harrowing quest to rescue the enslaved members of the wolf's pack and to save Dojihla's people from a deranged bear. Bruchac's tale agilely balances suspense, humor and romance. Ages 12-16.