Wings

The fast-paced first book in the Mysterious Mr. Spines series opens at the sinister boarding school Edward has attended since his mother’s death (classes include “Care and Maintenance of Sewer Pipes” and “Bottle Cap Production”). When a pair of feathered wings suddenly erupts from the teenager’s back, Mr. Spines, a “gnarled creature” with prickly quills and a stovepipe hat, springs the boy from the school. He reveals Edward’s true identity: he’s a Guardian, one of the winged protectors of the Woodbine, where humans go after they die and where a nefarious fallen Guardian, the Jackal, has a fortress. Mr. Spines is determined to transport Edward to the Woodbine to reunite him with his mother. Lethcoe (The Misadventures of Benjamin Piff ) introduces a cadre of inventive mixed-species characters and offers several gripping, split-second escapes from villains. Clearly a setup for future installments, little is resolved by the end of this volume. Some readers will readily embrace Lethcoe’s fantasy world (an included glossary helps somewhat), but others may not find enough to keep their attention. Ages 10–up. (Mar.)