Flying Circus Takes to
the Skies by Leona Cobham is a well-crafted, action-packed story that will
entice children — adults will find delight in the richly imagined characters as
well. Four airplanes, four friends, each of them unique and vested with
singular skills! F-14 Tomcat has the extraordinary ability to break sound
barrier. F-15 Eagle tricks him and he forgets to refuel, hence ruining his
dream of winning the race to Australia. Tom gets help from the most unlikely
airplane, Woody. Woody suffers from low self-esteem and believes every other
airplane is better than he is, but a courageous act from makes a huge
difference and reveals more about his personality. Vul the Vulcan, Spif the
Spitfire, Woody the Tiger Moth and Tom the F14 are a team that are tasked with
transporting endangered species. How will they do it? Meeting Antonov, the
heaviest, longest, and widest airplane ever built, who is now in need of
repairs ushers the four friends into another difficult mission.
Leona Cobham has written a mesmerizing tale, bringing to
life intelligently imagined and perfectly accomplished characters for young
readers. Each of the characters feels lacking in something. Although they are
different, they have to learn to complement each other. It is in this
perspective that the author defines friendship for the reader. The characters
are genuinely flawed and believable. Vul, the Avro Vulcan is an easy-going,
confident airplane with a troubled past. Woody will need more encouragement to
uncover his hidden strengths. A conversation between Vul and Woody shows
Woody's simplicity and Vul's strong sense of loneliness: “There aren’t any Vulcans left apart from me.” The only thing that
drives Tom is his need for speed, but as he undertakes a mission with others,
he begins to re-evaluate his values, putting teamwork above other things. Flying Circus Takes to the Skies features
excellent prose and language that is suitable for young readers. The glossary
at the end of the book provides more understanding of terms related to aeronautics.
I enjoyed the adventure, the fascinating characters, and the gorgeous writing.
The exceptional use of anthropomorphism renders the story relatable and the
characters lovable.
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