Wingo Fly brings us into the world of Christy Wingo, a 10 year old Black girl on the cusp of womanhood in a tightly-knit African American community in 1965 on the South-side of Minneapolis. Christy tells us her story as she struggles to understand the current events in the world and in her small community-- just as she wrestles to manage her gift of second sight.
A young Black man is killed in her community and chooses Christy to communicate the needed clues to finding his missing body. The young man becomes a metaphor for all the things that are wrong Minneapolis as tensions begin to heat up in the community. Assisted by two women from her neighborhood, Christy tries to find the young man's body to help quell those tensions in the neighborhood.
Woven deftly with winning detail, humor, mystery, suspense, and memorable characters, Christy's story captures the footings of Black people's struggle against tragedy and racism. You won't be able to put it down, once you start.
About the Author :
KIM HINES, all-around Theater Artist-actor, director and playwright, She was the first (& only one for a good many years) African-American female playwright to receive a core-membership at the Playwrights' Center, in Minneapolis. Kim has been produced locally & across the nation including 4 productions and 2 national tours at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Professional, amateur and educational theaters will be familiar with one of her most popular plays for YA audiences, "Home on the Mornin' Train." Over time, Kim has been awarded 30 commissions; 6 grants; proclaimed Artist of the Year in Minneapolis and received 5 other awards given by non-profit organizations for using her art and work to address various social issues. Among her grants, she is the recipient of the Bush Fellowship for playwrighting, McKnight Career Advancement Grant, Film the Cities Fellowship and the MN States Arts Board Grant for Playwrighting. Kim is a coach for artists & arts organizations. This is her first novel. KIM HINES, all-around Theater Artist-actor, director and playwright, She was the first (& only one for a good many years) African-American female playwright to receive a core-membership at the Playwrights' Center, in Minneapolis. Kim has been produced locally & across the nation including 4 productions and 2 national tours at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Professional, amateur and educational theaters will be familiar with one of her most popular plays for YA audiences, "Home on the Mornin' Train." Over time, Kim has been awarded 30 commissions; 6 grants; proclaimed Artist of the Year in Minneapolis and received 5 other awards given by non-profit organizations for using her art and work to address various social issues. Among her grants, she is the recipient of the Bush Fellowship for playwrighting, McKnight Career Advancement Grant, Film the Cities Fellowship and the MN States Arts Board Grant for Playwrighting. Kim is a coach for artists & arts organizations. This is her first novel.
Review :
"Woven deftly with winning detail, humor and suspense, the story captures us early and creates a window into Christy Wingo's relationship with the unseen through second sight. If you want to understand the underpinnings of one people's struggle against tragedy and racism, read this book. You won't be able to put it down anyway, once you start."
"Wingo Fly brings us into the world of a girl on the cusp of womanhood in a tightly-knit African American community at a time when community meant people really saw and talked to each other."
"Full of great characters, humor, the reality of being an African American family in Mpls in the 60's and a murder mystery this book captured me from the first sentence."
"There is a delicate line between childhood and adolescence where we balance for just a moment. The world becomes richer more colorful and so bittersweet. This is where we meet Christy and her story."
"I did not want to put it down and I felt a loss when it ended. I rarely find a story that makes me think, learn and cry...this did it all."
"Kim, Kim, Kim, get this published ASAP and get it into the hands of young readers!!"
"Kim Hines is a phenomenal writer. Having lived in Minneapolis at the time of Wingo Fly -- (1965), she brought me back home. It was real. I laughed and cried with enthusiasm being very familiar with many of the characters' real-life counterparts. I can't wait for others to read this work, and experience what I did - a phenomenon."
