The Anatomy of Wings

The Anatomy of Wings
ISBN: 9780702236983
Publication Date: 2 February 2009

Winner, Commonwealth Writer's Prize for Best First Book (South-East Asia/Pacific Region)
Winner, Dobbie Literary Award for a First Published Woman Writer
Winner, Queensland Premier's Literary Award - Best Emerging Author

The Anatomy of Wings is a touching and funny novel by a fast-emerging Australian author who is catching the eye of awards judges around the country and publishers internationally. US and UK rights to this novel were snapped up for significant deals prior to Australian publication.

Ten-year-old Jennifer Day lives in a small mining town full of secrets. Trying to make sense of the sudden death of her teenage sister Beth, she looks to the adult world around her for answers.

As she recounts the final months of Beth's life, Jennifer sifts through the lies and the truth, but what she finds are mysteries, miracles and more questions. Was Beth's death an accident? Why couldn't Jennifer - or anyone else - save her?

Through Jennifer's eyes, we see one girl's failure to cross the threshold into adulthood and her family slowly falling apart. In this award-winning novel, Karen Foxlee captures perfectly the essence of growing up in a small town and the complexities and absurdities of family life.