[Book Recommendation] The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

Hey, my friend. Welcome back to Let’s Encourage One Another.  

I don’t know about you, but I love me a good book. There’s just something about sitting down and getting lost in another world for a while—and often gleaning a lesson or two along the way.  

That’s why I’ve enjoyed recommending some books to you this year. And today is no different.  

I have a book—well, actually a series of books—that I really couldn’t recommend more. A series that is good for you and any students you might have in your life.  

You already know the series if you’ve seen the title to this episode, but allow me to ease my way into mentioning it to you here.  

A Fantasy Series  

First, I’ll tell you that it is a fantasy action series.  

Are you surprised?  

I did not grow up so much on fantasy books. I’m more of a historical fiction girl, myself. Love diving into a specific time period in history, like the Civil War or the Great Depression, and reading about characters who lived then, exploring what it might have been like and what life looked like.  

Of course, I read the Chronicles of Narnia series, by CS Lewis, and enjoyed those. And I think this book series is reminiscent of those.  

But mostly, I stuck to historical fiction. Ann Rinaldi was one of my favorite authors.  

Now, in addition to my work here at Love Does That, I serve as an editor for men and women who are self-publishing their books. And through that, I get to read all sorts of books: memoirs, biographies, fiction, and what you might call Christian living books.  

And it was a few years ago that I was really introduced more thoroughly to the fantasy genre. There were two main authors I worked with who created these amazing worlds, with characters and places and made-up items.  

And I found that I… quite enjoyed them!  

Part of the appeal was that it was so different from regular life.  It offered a fresh take, removing some of the ordinariness to really help you see the relationships or the problem the character was dealing with.  

But part of the appeal is also the creativeness. I mean, imagine creating this entire new world. You get to decide place names and invent gadgets or write up a history of the place or decide what physical laws play a role. And it was just so fun to see what these authors came up with.  

The series I’m recommending to you today came at a time when this type of genre really resonated with me. And as I said, it is reminiscent of CS Lewis, like, it’s really of that caliber of writing, and I found myself getting lost in this imaginative world.  

Author: Andrew Peterson  

So who is this author who compares to CS Lewis?  

His name is Andrew Peterson. And I actually didn’t meet him first as an author. I met him first as a singer/songwriter.  

You might know him from the song, “Is He Worthy.” It’s an absolutely beautiful song, and I’ll link to it in the show notes below. They have one video of the song that is done in all one camera shot, and it’s just really neat.  

But I met him through songs like, “The Chasing Song” and “Faith to Be Strong” back in 2000.  

But here’s another fun fact: Andrew Peterson is also the founder of a place called the Rabbit Room, which “fosters Christ-centered community and spiritual formation through music, story, and art.”  

And it is the Rabbit Room that published one of my favorite prayer books, Every Moment Holy, by Douglas McKelvey, which was another recommended book of mine.  

So Andrew Peterson has obviously had a big influence on me, not just in this book series, but also through his music and other books that he has helped published.  

Books: The Wingfeather Saga  

So what is this book series I’m recommending to you that Andrew Peterson wrote?  

It’s called The Wingfeather Saga. And instead of trying to put the storyline into my own words, I’m going to read the description from Andrew Peterson’s website:

It’s a series of four fantasy-adventure novels about the three Igiby children, Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli. At the beginning of the story Janner is twelve, Kalmar (whose nickname is Tink) is eleven, and their little sister Leeli is nine. They’re accompanied by Leeli’s dog Nugget, their mother Nia, and their ex-pirate grandfather Podo Helmer.

They live in a world called Aerwiar, which is exactly like our world–except they don’t have electricity or gunpowder, and there are all sorts of creepy animals, like sea dragons and toothy cows. Janner, the eldest, is about to discover that the ordinary little town where they live is anything but ordinary. In fact, he and his family are at the center of a great mystery that will change their lives forever.

I hope you’ll get your hands on a copy of the books and join the adventure. But beware of the toothy cows. They’re horrifying.  

Doesn’t it sound so good?  

Though this is a juvenile fiction series, I read it as an adult and absolutely loved it. It truly is a tale for all ages.  

The characters are both quirky and relatable. They have to make some really difficult decisions throughout the story and face some really hard situations. Plus, there are some illustrations and hand-drawn maps throughout the books, which, as a bit of a creative myself, I really enjoy.  

You could find The Wingfeather Saga in your favorite bookstore, I’m sure, or borrow them from your library or as an ebook, or even as an audio book. I know during the pandemic, Andrew Peterson actually read through these aloud online, and it was really fun to hear him bring the characters to life.  

A Prayer as You Begin to Read a Book  

Oh, and you remember that prayer book I mentioned, by Douglas McKelvey? He has a liturgy for beginning a book, as well as a lament for finished a beloved book.  

Would you allow me to read you a few lines from the one to begin a book?  

Author of Life and Author of My Life, 

As I begin the reading of this book,
give me a sensitivity to listen,
not just to the story told,
but to the responses of my own heart
to what I encounter in these pages. 
What does it draw out of me?
What joy?
What longing?
What fears?
What temptation?
What hope?
What mirth?
What love of beauty?
What awe?
What wonder?
What doubt?
What faith?
What resolve?
What unfinished grief?
What untended wound? 

Give me ears to hear, O Spirit of God,
what notes the reading of this story would strike
and what melody it would draw forth
from the tuned strings of my own soul.  

Amen.  

What Book Would You Recommend?  

So there you have it: my book recommendation for this month is a fantasy series called The Wingfeather Saga, written by Andrew Peterson—great for you and much of your family to read together or on your own.  

What would you recommend? I love hearing what books you are enjoying right now. Would you message me and let me know? You can email me at kari@lovedoesthat.org, or send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram.  

Okay, my friend, that is all for today. Until next time, let’s encourage one another.

RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES:

• Book Series: The Wingfeather Saga
• Song: Is He Worthy, by Andrew Peterson
• Episode 124: [Book Recommendation] Visit the Sick by Brian Croft
• Episode 120: [Book Recommendation] Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton
• Episode 114: [Book Recommendation] The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth
• Episode 110: [Book Recommendation] The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
• Episode 105: [Book Recommendation] Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
• Episode 100: [Book Recommendation] Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon Garlough Brown

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