Rating: 
Summary: A magical book with strong characters
Review: The Wind Singer takes you into a world where anything can happen. It's about Kestrel and Bowman, twins, that can secretly somehow talk to eachother through their heads. It is also about Mumpo, who is a drooly geek with a big secret. They live in Amarath and it is not how they want it to be. They set out on a seemingly endless journey to fix their community. They meet friendly foes and evil villains along the way. Will they conquer their goal while still conquering their fears? Will they stay together and find knew friends and meet somepeople that they thought they would never see again? Will a legendary story turn out to become true? Read The Wind Singer and find out the misteries and excitment of this thrilling book that you won't be able to put down.
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Summary: SPECTRUM Children's Book Club Recommendation
Review: Reading Level: Ages (Young Adult)Kestral Hath is a square peg in a round hole. She lives in a society that neatly tests, evaluates and classifies all of its people. The Wind Singer is a solid, fast-paced adventure for young readers with interesting characters and a theme to which most students and educators can relate: standardized testing. What if your whole life was measured by a series of tests, standardized and thus seemingly fair to all who took them? What if your family's status within the community depended on the accumulated scores of parents and children? What if you just don't fit into this system? At the heart of this book is an examination of social structure. Like Swift's Gulliver, Kestral and her brother, Bowman, journey beyond the confines of their society and encounter two cultures-the peaceful, agrarian Mud People and the mobile, warring cities of Ombaraka and Omchaka. These societies seem strange even though they are logically based on the philosophical and physical dispositions of their people. But Kestral is no more an alien in these societies than she is in her own. That is not to say The Wind Singer is a heavy-handed lecture on the ills of society. First and foremost, this is a tale of adventure. The author, a screenwriter (Tomb Raider) and director, draws vivid action scenes and moves the plot along at a motion-picture pace. There is not a lot of depth to the characters in this first volume of a trilogy because, like J. K. Rowling, the author lets us learn about the characters through their actions rather than long passages describing who they are and justifying their personalities. As the trilogy continues to grow, so will its characters. In the end, the entire cast of characters are interesting and immensely enjoyable. I am particularly fond of Hanno Hath, the patriarch of the Hath family and a most unlikely revolutionary. The Wind Singer is a very good entertainment that should have a broad appeal to boys and girls alike. - KB Shaw, Publisher
SPECTRUM Children's Book Club
www.incwell.com
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: The Wind Singer is an awesome novel about two young twins who must save their land from the evil beings called the Morah. This book is very well written and moving, as well as fun. From the moment I picked it up, I could not put it down; it is a very enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it to anyone grades 4-9.
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Summary: Similar to Lois Lowry but different
Review: This is an interesting book in several ways. It starts in a world which is entirly run by tests. At the beginning you see how this affects the people in this city and how one girl rebels. The story then centers around her, her twin brother, and their "friend", who they really didn't like at first. There is an interesting sub-plot with him. The three go on a journey to recover the voice of the wind singer, and release the town from the mysterious force which brought about the tests. As the adventure continues you see other exagerrated aspects of soceities flaws in the different places the characters go. One of the problems I see with this novel, is it is never explained WHY the solution worked. However I haven't read the sequel yet, so don't judge based on this fact. The book is very well written. The descriptions are intense and the writing leaves nothing to complain about. In fact William Nicholson's style is slightly different form the norm, but very enjoyable. I highly recommend reading this book. It's a fantasy, but not written the way you expect a fantasy to be.
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Summary: Enchanting
Review: Aspiring authors of the U.K have a lot to live up to - especially in the footsteps of Pullman's fantastic "The Goldon Compass" and the hilarious works of Douglas Adams (i.e Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). William Nicholson's first children's publication, "The Wind Singer", is certianly a book not to be casually looked over; by children and adults alike. Are you worried about the math test tomorrow? What about that huge Social Studies exam you neglected to study for? Simply imagine if you were constantly tested and evaluated; keep in mind that your grade will determine where you live, whom you work with, and what you are. Nicholson has certianly captured the 'utopia' of a world where everyone has a 'fair' shot at life. Rebellious Kestral has had enough of the tests and points...and gets herself into a considerable amount of trouble for breaking nearly every rule in the book. She's quite fascinated with a mysterious town-relic - the Wind Singer. Brother Bowman and she embark on a fantastical quest of good and evil to return the voice of the Wind Singer to its rightful place...but will they make it in time? Will their strict and test-driven home ever become a more forgiving society? I, personally, was quite pleased with this novel. The characters of twins Bowman and Kestrel were exceptional and their actions true to their personalities. The plot was original and worthy of fantasy, with a strong backbone and fast-paced action and adventure. Many might also relate to the negetive approach to such an acedemically-based society, and the constant stress of test upon test. Poetic, charming, and childlike, this light-read is a heart warming tale fit for the young and the old.
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Summary: A gripping story!
Review: This was an amazing book! a lot of books take a while to get started, but this 1 didn't. It grabbed you in in the first couple of pages. this is a story about 2 twins and a tag-along classmate who set off to find the voice of the wind singer, which will protect their city from the zars and make it a better place. along the way they encounter a lot of strange things, so the excitement never stops! Once you pick this book up, you wont be able to put it down!
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Summary: A great book for everyone!
Review: Imagine living in a society where your house, your clothes, your friends, and your social status are all determined by one test. That society is Aramanth, where living conditions range fron the packed rooms of the Grey district to the two-storied homes of the Orange district, to the mansions of the White district. But, one day, the Hath family, from the Orange district, decides to disobey the law and the plot is set into motion.
Kestrel and Bowman, twins, run away from school and Kestrel finds an old man living in a tower in the town. He gives her the map to find the key to the wind singer, a mysterious device in the middle of town. The key, which makes the wind singer work, was given to the Morah in exchange for calling off the Zars army. The man in the tower says that when the wind singer works again the happiness will be back in Aramanth. Kestrel, Bowman, and their tag-a-long classmate Mumpo leave on a journey to recover the key. While they are away though, their parents each formulate plans to cause unrest in the society of Aramanth.
William Nicholson, the author, writes in a very similar style to The Giver. But, he writes it differently enough to separate it from other books of its kind. This book does a great job of teaching tolerance for other types of people, even if they aren't as good at something as you are, which is the exact opposite of how the people of Aramanth act. It also teaches that people have a good side, even if they are disgusting, like Mumpo who always has snot on his upper lip.
I would recommend this book to young adults ages 12-16, since it does take on some older concepts, but usually puts them in a way that kids can understand it like people living in less fortunate conditions. I really liked this book and I can't wait to read the second and third parts of the trilogy.
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Summary: The Wind Singer is Wicked Awesome!
Review: Oh man where do I begin. I love The Wind Singer. I have read it two times already and plan to read it again this summer! Jack Nicholson is awesome. He inspires me(along with other writers) to become a writer myself one day. Kestrel, Bowman, Mumpo, Pin Pin, the Zars, the wind singer, everything about this book is so brilliantly thought out and is a great fantasy. I compare myself to Kestrel in alot of ways and I can't wait to read it again! I own all three books and they are awesome. I have to say that I probably liked the second one(Slaves of the Mastery) the best of all though. If you read the first one and loved it, you will certainly enjoy the next two.
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Summary: Disappointing!
Review: The Wind Singer by William Nicholson was an unexecptional fantasy, parts of which were downright banal. As the author is an experienced screen writer, one would expect more freshness in plot and dialog. Instead, parts of it read as if it were written by the 7-10 age group, instead of written for them. The book started with promise, but became mired in cliches, well-known plot devices and too many unbelievable things--too many even for a fantasy. It is the first of a trilogy, but I have no intention of reading the rest. If you are looking for fresh, interesting children's fantasy, stick to Harry Potter or give The Thief Lord a try.
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Summary: A very great, mysterious yet enthalling book
Review: In this book, a rebellious schoolgirl named Kestral and her twin brother Bowman, along with their classmate Mumpo, must save the people of Aramanth from the evil Morah. They must trek through an underground city, across a desert and 'Into the Fire' to find the Wind Singer's voice. Along the way, they are captured by a warrior tribe, stalked by 'old children', and confronted by the evil army of the Zars.How can they save Aramanth after all of that?
I recomend this book to any avid fantasy readers or anyone who is interested in fantasy even a little bit. It's a must have!
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