Angel Spreads Her Wings - (Angel O'Leary) by Judy Delton (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

With the excitement of her mother getting married and having a baby, Angel is ready for a nice long summer at home in Elm City, Wisconsin. But another change is brewing for poor Angel. Her stepfather is taking the family to Greece to meet their new grandparents. Angel will have to get on a plane and fly over the ocean to a foreign land - will she have to use one of those airsick bags on the plane? Will there be anything to eat in Greece besides those little fish with their heads on? How will she understand her grandparents? And, most important, will Angel ever make it back home or will her stepfather want the family to stay in Greece forever? Back by popular demand, here is another fast-paced, hilarious adventure for that much-loved character, Angel. Change isn't always easy, but even worrywart Angel just may spread her wings a little as she learns that home is where the heart is.

Review Quotes

This is the sixth book in the popular middle-grade series about Angel, who previously had to adjust to her mother's remarriage and the birth of a new baby. Even though she loves her stepdad and adores the baby, she still hates change and is looking forward to a predictable summer playing with her best friend, Edna. She soon learns that she's in for something else that is new: her new dad (who is Greek) is taking the whole family to Greece for the entire summer. They will be staying with his parents, who don't speak English and live in a small house with no electricity. As the title indicates, Angel not only adjusts but also flourishes in this new environment, and she comes to love her new grandparents dearly. Angel is a likable protagonist with a strong following, and her adventure in Greece will top the summer reading list for her many fans.

May 1, 1999 Booklist, ALA

Back after a ten-year hiatus, Angel has neither aged nor outgrown her worrywart personality and penchant for jumping to the most pessimistic (and often funniest) conclusions. School vacation has just begun and Angel is savoring the idea of spending long, lazy days reading and visiting with best friend Edna when her mom drops the bombshell: the family is going to spend the summer in Greece with stepdad Rudy's parents. Right away Angel is in her element: the airplane will fall out of the sky and, of course, she will be horribly airsick; the grandparents will hate her, or, worst of all, everyone will love everyone and they will all stay in Greece forever. Off they go, and naturally none of her worries are realized. Angel slowly discovers that she really doesn't want to be the one whom "everyone tiptoe[s] around" and who always overreacts, so she makes a stab at embracing change and starts to "spread her wings." In this new book, Angel has acquired a different illustrator, Jill Weber, and a fresh, sprightly look, but she sometimes looks younger than almost-sixth-grade. Delton's storytelling is natural; her use of dialogue, authentic. It's a lighthearted romp with only a hint of a lesson. Horn Book

World-class worrywart Angel (Angel's Mother's Baby, 1989, etc.) returns for a real emotional workout when her whole family goes off for the summer to visit her stepfather's parents in Greece.
It'll be her first trip in an airplanewill she survive? What will become of her home? What if the adults decide to stay in Greece? Having seen Angel weather one domestic crisis after another in her previous appearances, fans will not be surprised that she has a wonderful time in spite of the unfamiliar food and lack of electricity. By the end, she's shown sufficient maturity that her parents decide to start calling her by her given name, Caroline. Delton captures Angel's internal conflict between nerves and common sense with easy assurance, and Webster's occasional black-and-white illustrations reflect the story's humor. Kirkus Reviews

"This latest chapter book in the Angel series features Angel in Greece. She is quite a worrier but when the plane ride is rough, the food has eyes, and her brother gets lost, Angel is the bravest member of her family. A delightful book about a little girl with a huge imagination. A 1999 Parents' Choice(R) Recommendation." Parent's Choice (R) --