My first thought while reading this was that its written in such a 'now' way that it didn't feel as if it was the early 1980's. Other then some topical news mentions, this book could have been set today (2009) instead of nearly 30 years ago. Robin Friedman mentions in a blurb in the back of the book that she purposely set the novel in the 80's for several reasons--1) because she grew up in the 80's, 2) to avoid the whole 'technology' evolution with new tech always being introduced and 3) the post 9/11 world makes any story set about Israel or the Middle East complex, so she wanted to show that at one time the complex was a little more simple.

I've never had to worry about not fitting in because of a difference in race or religious creed, it's just always been a matter of course for me to want to be different. The other girls didn't want to read, I did, so well guess I'll be different then. The need that Roxanne feels to be as American as possible--going as far as to change her name so it sounds more anglicized and devoting most of her free time to watching The Brady Bunch, Little House on the Prairie and shows like that depicting what a 'true American' family or girl was supposed to be like...I've never felt that. But reading about her insecurities, her all-encompassing fear of being left behind and considered uncool, I could relate with those feelings. Who hasn't felt like that at one time or another? Even the most confident person has doubts--they might not show them, or admit them, but they do.

I wanted so much for Roxanne to be accepted, but like her, once I met Liat I began to see a different way for her to belong. She could be Israeli and American at the same time, melding the two cultures together to make a more complete version of who she was. I did question her common sense though, especially her taste in crushes. But that could easily be blamed upon her obsession with being 'All American'. I don't think her crush reflected badly on who she was, but rather who she wanted to be.

The book feels slow in some passages and in others too quick (such as Roxanne's change of heart), so that led to some uneven reading at times. Since this is told from Roxanne's first person POV in the present tense, we don't get a real sense of what others are thinking. I would have liked to know what Liat was thinking at times, because sometimes it felt like she was just putting up with Roxanne and other times as if she really cared. I think she was exasperated with her often, especially whenever Roxanne would make a silly or insensitive comment about their own customs.

The title itself refers to a certain hairstyle from that era, but also to Roxanne's change in attitude. 'Wings' was the quintessential meaning of being an All-American girl to Roxanne and she felt that having the hairstyle was the most important thing in the world to her. With one remark Liat gives her such a hard metaphorical slap in the face that I could feel the sting. I didn't blame Liat for that though--Roxanne's remark was careless and ill-timed given the events before.

All in all I enjoyed reading The Importance of Wings--it was a different style for me, a different author in fact, but I'm glad that I had this chance. Roxanne reminded me of myself more often then not when I was her age--so desperate to be anything but what and who I was, just to escape the uncomfortable realities of the world around me.
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Robin Friedman's "The importance of wings" won the Sydney Taylor Book Awards for younger teens. As such, I, being couple of decades over my teen years wasn't part of the target audience. Therefore my initial reactions, when I was reading the book may not be entirely counted upon when judging the book. Nevertheless I was wondering whether it was a good idea to set a book for 14 year olds in the 1980s. It is full of cultural references, mostly TV show reruns, that are not on the daily/weekly rotation any more, thus today's teens have little connections to them. Wonder women and the Brady Bunch as cultural reference points are nearly not as universal any more as they were 20-30 years ago. The author was aware of these possible objections as on the very last pages she explains her reasoning for the setting the book in this era. That includes personal (she grew up then) and two kinds of nostalgia for simplicity: technical, the simpler times before internet and texting and political, the pre 9/11 era, when the Middle East situation seemed simpler. These are valid reasons, but I still wonder whether the setting will be an obstacle for the book becoming wildly successful.

I ask this, because otherwise it has the potential to be a hit. It is an inspirational story from going a couch potato with low self-esteem and worrying about unimportant things, to being an active person who stands up for herself and focuses on more important things, while having fun too. In the center of the story is an Isreali girl, who lives with his sister and overworking father in the US, while the mom is back in Israel taking care of her sister. The girls' life is filled with eating junk food, watching TV and trying to look cool in other people's eyes. All this changes when a girl moves with her colorful family to the neighboring house. She is a very different kind of Israeli, who instead of trying to fit in, does what she wants, while staying respectful and strong. She becomes the role model that makes our heroines reevaluate what's important: wings of hair or being honest to themselves and others.

That's the story's essence, but of course many more activities are happening on the book's 170 pages. One of the funniest and most funny aspect of the book is the short lists the protagonist reverts to every time she has to make a decision or take stock of her own feelings. These lists are set in a different typography than the rest of the book and pop out from the rest of the text as testaments of the heroine's thoughts.

Despite the reservation I mentioned above I like this book and can recommend it. I think it can be of great help for young girls and can teach a few things about themselves and Israel too.

This refers to an advanced reading copy.
Roxanne wants to be normal, but with her Mother back in Israel and her
father always at work driving his cab it makes it hard. When a new Israeli family moves into the "cursed" house down the street, Roxanne has to take a close look at herself and her family. This was a good middle school story about an immigrant girl and her struggle to fit in. The plot is somewhat predictable, but moves along at a pace that will keep readers reading. This book would be great for middle schoolers who are trying to figure out how to fit in. ( )