Welcome to Day 1 in our Wings Read Along! If you haven't already, please be sure to download your FREE ebook of Wings from one of these sites here-Today we'll be discussing chapters 1-3.
1) Chapter 1 we met Laurel. Laurel has been home schooled and now she's attending a new school. Was it easy for your to relate to Laurel's feelings of starting a new school? Can you relate to Laurel being in a new environment not knowing any one?
2) Chapter 2 we meet David and Chelsea, Laurel's new friends. What were your first thoughts about them? They become Laurel's closest friends through out the series. Are you still close with friends you had in high school?
3) Chapter 3 David and Laurel. David and Laurel spend some time together and go for a walk in the woods. They both open up more to each other. What are your thoughts about David?
Tomorrow we're looking forward to talking about chapters 5-7.
Posts
Chapter 1: First thing that I must annotate that I liked about her new school experience: NO MEAN GIRL! The whole mean girl things can get old so I was happy that it was not there. I went to 4 schools my sophomore year of high school so I can relate to the overwhelming feelings that come with starting a new school. Laurel; however, seems more upset about being inside the school than meeting new friends.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2: David comes on a little strong from the start, but in a good way. He seems genuinely nice and caring. I can easily see him stepping into the 'protector' role to Laurel who comes off a bit flighty at times and very introverted.
Chapter 3: So far I like David's character. He is self assured without being arrogant and seems like a nice guy. It is obvious he likes Laurel.
Happy with this read so far...the chapters so quite fast...
KristyZ
1.) I can relate, but in a completely opposite way. I went to public school for 11 years, through my sophomore year. During my sophomore year, we moved out of that city but remained in the same school. Once the school year ended, I went directly to homeschooling, starting my junior year just one month after the previous year had ended. I'm now a senior graduating in two months in a town where I know no one because I never attended school here. So, yeah, complete opposites, but, one in the same.
ReplyDeleteWhile IN public school, I attended seven different school in four different districts, one of those schools on two separate occasions! I've never spent more than three years in one school, and that was my very first school (Kindergarten through second grade)! Ha!
I'm now about to go off to college, so I'll once again be in completely unknown territory and I'm terrified! But, excited!
2.) I don't like Chelsea so far. I am one in the same with the whole I'd rather tell the truth thing, but, sometimes it's easy to go too far. And when you don't know someone's personal circumstances, it's easy to go too far. And she did.
David I'm not so sure about. He seems awkward and... weird. Not in a no-one-wants-to-hang-out-with-him kind of way, but, I don't know. Like something is off.
As mentioned above, I've been to a ton of schools. Three different high schools of four separate occasions, included. The majority of the friends I still have from school come from my first high school. I don't get to hang out with them a lot, but, we constantly keep in contact. One of them is my best friend, however, and I see her all the time.
3.) First of all, I hated this scene. It didn't last nearly long enough. It seems like, in real life time, they would have only been there for, like, five minutes. It really P'ed me O, in all honesty.
The time they did get to spend together, however, was sweet and romantic, in a way. You know, with the tree and all. Two completely different trees came together as one, even though they have completely different histories and backgrounds, they made it work.
I love the tree part, if you can't tell!
So far, I'm really enjoying this book. I have a ton of stuff to do today, but, I can't wait to get home and dive into the next four chapters.
Chapter 1: I think it was easy to relate to that feeling of not belonging. It is a feeling everyone experiences at one time or another--entering a new situation where you don't know the people. Insecurity is a part of life and it made Laurel a much more realistic character.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2: I really liked Laurel's new friends. I kept waiting for the bad kid or the "mean girl" as the poster above me mentioned to appear, but it was refreshing to not see that happen. Most of my high school friends and I have for the most part parted ways. The closest ones stay in contact through FB. Although the huge glaring exception to that is my husband--yes, I married my high school sweetheart. We met freshman year and started dating our junior year.
Chapter 3: I really like David so far, but we don't know him all that well yet. He seems to be a genuinely nice guy, and I love to see nice guys in YA lit. We have so many bad boys out there right now that the nice guys are refreshing.
Thanks for doing this! Off to read chapters 5-7!
Thank you so much you guys! This is a lot of fun and I'm enjoying each of your comments.
ReplyDeleteI've read Wings before but it doesn't hurt to enjoy a book twice, especially this book :)
ReplyDeleteChapter One: I can totally relate to her about feeling uneasy in a new environment. If I was her and was able to have school outside and stuff, I wouldn't want to be stuck in a school either.
Chapter Two: I'm only in 8th grade so I guess I can't answer about still being friends with my high school friends. My first thought about Chelsea was she seemed like an enthusiastic person but not someone that would be my favorite.
Chapter Three:David so far seems like a really nice guy that's not pushy but someone I'd want as a friend :)
1) Ditto on having felt the insecurity of being in a new environment without knowing anyone. Though I can't really remember having that experience in school since I lived in the same small town from ages 9-24! I have absolutely NO experience with homeschooling, though the idea has always intrigued me. I especially don't think I've ever heard of anyone doing it like Jennifer did, moving OUT of the public system for the high school years?! Interesting! I couldn't help wondering if Aprilynne was homeschooled? Or (while on the subject of how she relates to her own protagonist), if she had/has strange eating habits? Loves Sprite?
ReplyDelete2) This is my second time through the series as well, so I'm trying to think back to initial reactions to better answer these questions (and to be careful about not giving anything away!) I think my initial reaction to this little taste of Chelsea in Chapter 2 was uncertainty. I wasn't sure yet if I liked her or not and wondered what kind of role she would play in the forthcoming plot (if any.) My high school crowd consisted mostly of a cousin my same age and my one best friend (both of whom I'm still close with), and a bunch of boys (we lost touch as we all went off and got married!) But I will say that I was ALL ABOUT high school, involved in everything and loving every minute of it!! By way of discussing doing things in reverse, I'd say my high school and college experiences were the opposites of most.
3) I love how well Aprilynne describes those awkward little moments between a young boy and girl as they're starting to discover an interest in each other. The woodsy scene is so sweet. As much as I LOVE (and actually married, unlike so many claim) the cool and snarky guy, I also can't help but love David just as much for his lack of "cool".
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ReplyDelete1) I relate extraordinarily well. I have started over ten schools from age 3 to the end of high school, which came early at the advantage of self-schooling through home school. Now I am starting college, the first of two. I really, really appreciate where Laurel comes from and think Aprilynne did a great job of accurately portraying first day freak outs. Which brings me to point two
ReplyDelete2) I never met any one that interested in me off the bat and am a bit jealous of Laurel, so much so I keep thinking, "These two are too good to be true, are they really bad people in disguise?" Trust issues? Who, me?
3) It's very sweet, tender, a bit innocent and true. I can already tell I am going to love this series!
I should clarify, starting new schools came from moving due to being an Airforce brat. My dad is an officer, so that's kept me up to my neck in cardboard boxes. ; )
ReplyDelete1. Yes I can relate to the new school / environment issue. I transfered to a new school for my 7th and 8th grade. It was fine I made new friends, still close to one of them to this day. Now I've transferred my children to a new school and feel it again but as an adult. I knew all the parents in my kids grades for 5 years now back to square one. The author did a perfect job with describing the way you feel everyone is watching you, catching glances at you all the time.
ReplyDelete2. I was glad to see David make the move right away. There are a lot of books out there where the witty fun guy waits too long to make a move and the girl goes after the dark and brooding hot guy. Then we're yelling at the book "why did you wait". They say first impressions are the ones that last. Chelsea wasnt rude and it didn't seem like Laurel was put off by her bluntness. It bothered David. It does help if all your friends get along. Yes, I am friends with a few from high school.
3. It was a sweet chapter. I like the way he called her house to make sure she got home ok. It's showing he's genuinely interested and concerned about her. I can see him becoming her protector/boyfriend in the series. He's not being too pushy.
1) I didn't really relate. I went to the same school for 14 years so I never had that experience of going to some new place and meeting people for the first time. I mean it happened when I started college, but somehow I was already used to people and I didn't have much trouble adapting, thankfully. But it was really interesting reading about Laurel's experiencing and how different it was from mine.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, what is it with YA authors and their love for their characters meeting for the first time in Biology classes ? I find it funny.
2) I liked her friend, sure I thought Chelsea came out a bit strong at first, but then she seemed okay. I really like David, he seems very sweet and a simple guy. But I can't shake the feeling there might be something going on with him besides the fact that he likes Laurel, for some reason I keep thinking of Puck (The Iron Fey) and how he had so many faerie secrets Meghan never knew about *shrug*.
I'm still friends with people I met in high school, in fact the closest friends I had there, the ones I always hung out with are my best friends, I'm so glad I have them in my life.
3) Like I said, I like David. Now more that I know he takes after a nerdy side, and he seems like he's really cute. But when he called Laurel right away I thought it was a bit too fast, maybe he just likes her a lot ? I want to know what will be his role in the story.
So far I'm really enjoying Wings, it's a very pleasant read.
ok I'm way late but have enjoyed what I've read so far!
ReplyDelete1. I moved in 2nd grade and had a bad time of it so I imagine in high school it would be worse but I could certainly relate to awkwardnes of it all.
2. My inital reaction to David was that he seems sweet and a good friend to have. Chelsea came on a little strong initially but since David thought she was ok I'm staying open to her. Thanks to FB and such I've managed to keep in touch with some friends but it seems as I've moved (physically) and on to different aspects of my life my friends have changed.
3. I still think David seems to be a good guy. I'm sure he is trying to move things along BF/GF w/ her but mostly just sweet and kind.
This is as far as I am now but I'll back comment as I go along!! Sorry I'm so far behind!!