Living on the outskirts of one of the planet's biggest cities among the ruined wharves and warehouses of the docklands many years into the future, 12-year old Yan's life is pretty dull. School, hardly any friends, his dad barely scraping a living as a rat catcher for the government, his mum worrying all the time about where the next meal is coming from - no wonder Yan longs for something exciting to happen.
Then he discovers something amazing in one of the derelict buildings near his home and his life changes for ever.
In a dystopian future wasteland, away from the city, a warehouse goes up in flames, and a boy, Yan, stumbles across an abandoned baby. He gives her the name Magic, and she brings magic into the destitute life of his family. Gradually Yan and his friend discover that the warehouse was not what it seemed, but was in fact a centre for genetic engineering by the Icarus Project, researching birds and flying humans. The fire was started by two activists on a rescue mission, but who couldn't carry the baby far enough to safety.
Perhaps that explains why the baby is a bit "funny", and then, as she grows older, why those knobbly bits on her back start to develop into wings ...
Over the following months there is a lot of investigation by scientists and police, trying to get the baby back, but Yan and his family manage to hide her, until it is no longer safe for them to keep her. Reluctantly they decide they must take her somewhere where she can be looked after openly and be free.
Then begins a long and dangerous journey by plane and train and boat, to another land with the help of an unassuming old pilot, whom they thought was a tramp. All the time there is the threat of discovery by the authorities. Magic is getting very difficult to hide, and it's hard for Yan to protect her from the clutches of those who would exploit the baby's freakish powers for their own profit.
Finally, on a remote island, they meet up with a whole community of flying humans. In an emotional farewell, Yan expresses his love for Magic by letting her fly away with her own kind. He returns home, but is strangely empowered and transformed by the magic she brought into his family, and he vows that one day they will meet again.
Genre: Children's Fiction
Then he discovers something amazing in one of the derelict buildings near his home and his life changes for ever.
In a dystopian future wasteland, away from the city, a warehouse goes up in flames, and a boy, Yan, stumbles across an abandoned baby. He gives her the name Magic, and she brings magic into the destitute life of his family. Gradually Yan and his friend discover that the warehouse was not what it seemed, but was in fact a centre for genetic engineering by the Icarus Project, researching birds and flying humans. The fire was started by two activists on a rescue mission, but who couldn't carry the baby far enough to safety.
Perhaps that explains why the baby is a bit "funny", and then, as she grows older, why those knobbly bits on her back start to develop into wings ...
Over the following months there is a lot of investigation by scientists and police, trying to get the baby back, but Yan and his family manage to hide her, until it is no longer safe for them to keep her. Reluctantly they decide they must take her somewhere where she can be looked after openly and be free.
Then begins a long and dangerous journey by plane and train and boat, to another land with the help of an unassuming old pilot, whom they thought was a tramp. All the time there is the threat of discovery by the authorities. Magic is getting very difficult to hide, and it's hard for Yan to protect her from the clutches of those who would exploit the baby's freakish powers for their own profit.
Finally, on a remote island, they meet up with a whole community of flying humans. In an emotional farewell, Yan expresses his love for Magic by letting her fly away with her own kind. He returns home, but is strangely empowered and transformed by the magic she brought into his family, and he vows that one day they will meet again.
Genre: Children's Fiction
Used availability for Sue Welford's Saving Magic