We Own the Sky
by Rodman Philbrick (Author)
A thrilling historical adventure by the master of adventure himself, Rodman Philbrick.
It's Maine, 1924, and the Ku Klux Klan is on the rise.
Davy and Jo Michaud have been recently orphaned. Taken in by a distant relative--a famous aviator--they are now working with a group of stunt pilots who spend their time wing walking, leaping from plane to plane, and flying through fireworks! But though the stunts are dangerous, the real threat is building behind the scenes.
The KKK is on the rise in Maine that summer, inspired by the racial fears promoted in Birth of a Nation. They spew hatred of immigrants, Blacks, Jews, and French Catholics--that last, a rage that will be directed at Davy and Jo.
When Davy and Jo cross paths with the Klan, they get tangled up in a terrible revenge plan, and held as hostages. Can they escape with their lives?
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Publishers Weekly
Philbrick's gripping, coastal-Maine-set historical novel opens in 1924, with 12-year-old Davy Michaud and his 17-year-old sister, Jo, burying their mother--a French Canadian emigrant whose cotton mill job led to a "lung ailment" and death not long after their father perished in a mill accident. Facing eviction from the mill-owned tenement where they live, Davy and Jo are relieved when their mom's famous aviatrix cousin Ruthie whisks them off to work at her flying circus for the summer. Both captivated and terrified by the high-flying acrobatics, Davy is soon won over by a warm welcome from the daredevil pilots and crew, and the start of his own popular act. But the growing presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Maine jeopardizes the children's life among the circus's bustling, closely bonded community, comprising immigrants to the U.S. who cue largely as white. Employing a reminiscing tone, Philbrick (Wild River) uses Davy's extrasensory first-person narration to describe the Klan's vitriolic rhetoric and violence, as well as behind-the-scenes details around airborne stunts. Chapters filled with plenty of suspense and danger also, as discussed in an author's note, convey the terror that the KKK inflicted on immigrants in northern states. Ages 8-12. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary. (Sept.)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Praise for Wild River:
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Newbery Honoree Philbrick twines a heartfelt message about teamwork and forgiveness with realistic dangers in this pageturning survival story. — Publishers Weekly
Impossible to put down. Readers will need to strap on their helmets and prepare for a wild ride. — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Wildfire:
* An intense tale of survival and action. — School Library Journal, starred review
* Short chapters, outstanding cover art, and a breathless pace make this a fine choice for reluctant readers. Outstanding suspense. — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* Action lovers will relish every word. With Wildfire—reminiscent of Hatchet and the real-life saga Lost on a Mountain in Maine—Philbrick transforms a raging inferno into an impressively plotted escape story full of heart and soul. — BookPage, starred review
JUV039120 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
JUV041010 - Juvenile Fiction | Transportation | Aviation
JUV031010 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Circus
United States
Orphans
Maine
Racism
Stunt flying
Siblings
