Reviews
The Fledgling is a fairy tale for modern children. The story is fairly simple - an outcast little girl meets a magical goose who teaches her how to fly. It manages to be cute, but not cutesy. Jane Langton did not try to dumb down this story for younger readers, either. There are some very mature themes woven in here, like the sadness of growing up and the reality of feeling disconnected from friends and family. The writing is very well-done and beautiful at times. The characters were introduced in previous books I had not read, but this book stands on it's own very easily. The villains of the book did seem a bit ridiculous in the lengths they were willing to go to, but their actions were based on character flaws that were introduced at the beginning of the book. Their wackiness contrasted heavily with the mythical serenity of the rest of the book, but it was nothing too problematic. The setting of Walden Pond will probably resonate a little better if the reader understands the story of Henry David Thoreau, but it's not totally necessary. The relationship of the girl, Georgie, and the goose is sweet, almost Disney-like in nature. The ending showcases how Georgie has grown as a person and is probably a good setup for the rest of this series. All in all, this is one of those books that transcends it's category. It's really a great little story for anyone. Kids will appreciate the flying and relate to the young main character, while adults can recognize the cultural significance of Thoreau's legacy and be enchanted by a magical little tale that manages to balance it's sweetness with a good dose of reality.
