Stories are the best way to shape our children’s view of the world. A young boy reading a good story will find himself drawn in, engaging his mind in an imaginative, immersive experience that he has never had before. He will encounter dangers that need to be overcome, he will walk alongside brave-hearted characters and selfish brutes, and his mind will learn what it is to be challenged and come through the other side.
The best stories are immersive, and, if the reports from my children are anything to go by, singer-songwriter and author, Andrew Peterson, has achieved that in The Wingfeather Saga.
What Is The Wingfeather Saga About?
In a similar vein to CS Lewis’ Narnia, The Wingfeather Saga is situated in a world inhabited by humans, and many new creatures as well. From the Fangs of Dang to toothy cows to sea dragons, Peterson has imagined a world full of incredible characters. But, like Narnia (think of the white witch slaying Aslan!), the world of Aerwiar in Wingfeather is not for the faint-hearted.
Lewis once wrote: “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker... Let there be wicked kings and beheadings, battles and dungeons, giants and dragons, and let villains be soundly killed at the end of the book.”
Peterson has followed Lewis’ advice in crafting a world with wicked beasts, genuine challenges and brave souls that find a way through to victory.
Is The Wingfeather Saga Christian?
This is a self-conscious choice by Peterson and he is aware that he has crafted a world that contains goodness and evil. But, like the True Story of the gospel and like all good stories, The Wingfeather Saga finds a resolution.
“When a child reads the last sentence of my stories, I hope he or she drifts to sleep with a glow in their hearts and a warmth in their bones, believing that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” – Andrew Peterson
Though this series is not explicitly Christian, it is written from a sound, Christian worldview. There is a Maker but he is not an active participant in the story and the heroes of the story are filled with faith, courage, repentance, redemption, self-sacrifice and love. Peterson has given us, and our children, models to follow and hope to press on.
What Age Group Is The Wingfeather Saga For?
The main character is 12-year-old Janner, so these books will speak to children ranging from 8-16 years-old. But, as with any good fairy tale, adults will love taking a stroll in Aerwiar as well, making this an ideal read-aloud as a family.
What Order Should You Read The Wingfeather Saga?
I always recommend that books should be read before movies are watched, and so once you and your children have journeyed alongside Janner and his siblings through the four volumes of Wingfeather (and perhaps taken a stroll through the seven spin-off tales in Wingfeather Tales), you can check out the animated series of the Wingfeather Saga produced by Angel Studios.
But that is not where you should start.
First, let Andrew Peterson capture your imagination and fill your children’s souls with a good, true and beautiful tale by getting your family (and yourself) a copy of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness – the first in the Saga.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Wingfeather Saga about? It's situated in a world inhabited by humans and many new creatures as well - from the Fangs of Dang to toothy cows to sea dragons - in a similar vein to CS Lewis' Narnia. It’s a rich tale full of real-life complexities like family tensions, as well as a compelling challenge that must be overcome. It is a story of internal battles with characters fighting to overcome their own failings and it is a story of victory over external evils that exist in the world of Aerwiar.
Is The Wingfeather Saga a Dark Series? Peterson has woven a tale that shows children a small glimpse of the darkness in the world (something children already know). He writes as one who knows that the world is a messy place. “I know that the world is a mess, and I know that I am a mess, and so what I need is to see the triumph of beauty over darkness”
And so, Peterson says: “My goal was for a kid to finish the last page of The Wingfeather Saga, and to know in a way that they didn’t know before that there is something stronger than the darkness.” (Interview with Jake Meador)
Is The Wingfeather Saga Christian? Though the series is not explicitly Christian, it is written from a sound, Christian worldview, and the heroes are filled with faith, courage, repentance, redemption, self-sacrifice and love.
What age group is The Wingfeather Saga for? The main character is 12-year-old Janner, so the books will speak to children ranging from 8-16 years-old - and, as with any good fairy tale, adults will love it too, making it an ideal family read-aloud.
What order should you read The Wingfeather Saga? Start with On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the first in the Saga, before moving through the rest of the four volumes and the seven spin-off tales in Wingfeather Tales - and read the books before watching the Angel Studios animated series.
Wingfeather Reading Order
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North! Or Be Eaten (#2)
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Wingfeather Tales (spin-off short stories)
Or get all four in one hit with the Wingfeather Saga Boxed Set (all four novels).
