With over 800,000 copies sold worldwide, Silverwing (Editora José Olympio), by Canadian writer Kenneth Oppel, is a modern and innovative fable that has captivated readers from Iceland to Japan. It has also been published in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, and China—as well as in the United States and Canada, where it is a major bestseller. The book tells the story of Sombra, a curious and clever young bat who becomes separated from his group on the way to his hibernation site. Before he does, however, he alienates his "tribe," the Silverwings, by breaking a legendary prohibition: flying during the day to see the sun. Breaking the rule results in his home, Treeport, an ancient oak tree with thick bark, being attacked by owls, the guardians of the day. The event divides the group: Sombra becomes admired by the young bats who previously despised him. The elders want to hand him over to his enemies, while his mother tries to protect him. The Council of Elders also grows uneasy. But the oldest, wisest, and most powerful of the Silver Wings leaders, Frieda, recognizes many qualities in the young man, despite his inexperience; and, despite the other leaders' disapproval, keeps the bat among her own.
