I do not know why, but I really disliked this book. I got 20 percent through and couldn’t read any further

Boy With Wings, to me, is the quintessential Southern gothic novel, using a "freak show" to explore what it feels like to be different. The main character experiences isolation and violation as a result of his wings, and even those who say they care for him contribute to either one or the other if not both. "Difference" also manifests itself in the depictions of racism, even by members of the traveling show. Mustian uses multiple perspectives to show the reader things that protagonist Johnny doesn't see or understand (as he's a child/teenager for much of the book), which both helps round out the narrative and builds dramatic irony. Mustian artfully captures Johnny's voice (and its evolution) and the world around him - I would definitely recommend this book to others seeking a historical read.

(A YouTube review will be available closer to March.)

This book had a great concept and overall could have been amazing but it was hard to follow and the ending did not seem like it fit. There was quite a bit that was confusing or unresolved and what could have been an amazing book was just so so.

This story was absolutely incredible. I enjoyed the writing style, the multiple POVs, and the addressing of so many societal issues. I will be buying this book for my family members when it’s published!

The beginning was a bit confusing at first, Sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking or why certain characters were introduced only to not be there again. I do like the concept though and it has a great flow to it as well but sometimes grammatical errors or broken sentences really get to me.

This was a very readable and enjoyable biographical narrative that followed Johnny Cruel through several setpieces and time periods, from his adoptive home at a distillery camp to a 1930's freak show. However, it didn't really do anything new, and Johnny's relationship with and treatment of the Black people around him felt a bit white savior-y and "I don't see color"-y at times (especially knowing the author is a white cishet man). It felt like less of an exploration of how disability intersected with racism and classism in Depression-era America than an unexamined presentation of well-worn territory. Also, Johnny's love interest Winifred wasn't really a character in her own right and served as the convenient, romantically viable woman nearby followed by the reason for Johnny's character growth and eventual happy ending. How did he spend YEARS after the fire simply not exploring whether she was alive????

My favorite book of 2023 was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Why mention this? Because as I was reading this book, I was getting the same vibe I had when I read Demon Copperhead.

Set in the south during 1920s and 1930s, Johnny Cruel has a rough life. He doesn’t know who his father is, his mother passed away when he was young, and people blame him for things going wrong in their lives because of his unusual back. He eventually ends up as a “freak” in a traveling show. After several years with the show a mishap brings his world crashing down and he must make his way on his own. Struggling to keep his back a secret, trying to find a way to support himself, and all the while there is the mystery of who his father is.

This is a great book. It pulled me in with a vast array of unique characters. You can’t help but cheer Johnny on as he goes through his young life, and the book keeps giving a great story clear to the last page.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

I wanted to love this book, it had so much potential. It follows the life of Johnny Cruel, a boy born with a birth defect resembling wings. There was a lot to feel for Johnny, mostly heartache and sadness. The writing style made it difficult for me to really get into. There were also a lot of people to keep track of throughout the book. Several chapters were written from the point of view of one of these many characters, which gave valuable background and insight, but could be tricky when the reader has to dig deep to remember why the character is significant.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Mustian, and Koehler Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had such an interesting premise and I loved the first third of it, but then the writing became too slow. It took me a long time to get through the rest of the book and I also felt most information was mere filler to make the book longer.

The book captured me from the first few pages and I was actually rooting for Johnny and his mom, but then about 40% into the book things started to just fall apart.

Things jump around like crazy and you are left to infer what happened in all the spaces. This is confusing and breaks the flow of the story.

Johnny was born with a deformity and declared an abomination by the town. The town wanted him dead, so his mother does what she thinks is best to protect him. Great right? But not really because she is sick and she knows she's sick but for some reason keeps insisting she will get better.

This book is set during the time of the Great Depression on thru to about WWI. The one thing that stood out is the Religious zealotry which is why the "town" wanted Johnny dead. The superstition that he was the cause of a young girls death just shows the ignorance of the preacher, but it fits with the time.

Triggers in this book include racial slurs, ableist slurs, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, grievous bodily harm and death.

I only mention the triggers because some will want to steer clear. Especially those who do not like realism in their books. The author utilized the language of the time period and that includes all the despicable terms people used back them to dehumanize others.

Quick and easy read, I would have rated it higher but all the jumping around and skipping over what I felt were important aspects just didn't sit right with me.

***Trigger Warning: Loss of a loved one***

I found the story intriguing, but the writing was not that great. I thought this book was a little long. I think it took quite a bit for anything to happen.

A touching tale of survival while being different.

Favorite quote “I am what God made me. What a boring life otherwise it might be.”

I had spectacularly high hopes for this novel, particularly with such a strong start. I was immediately drawn in by the ‘boy with wings’, Johnny, and his story; unable to stop reading until well past my bedtime.

Born different, in a time when being different was to be feared or jeered at, Johnny Cruel faces a hard life journey. Still a young boy, scared and alone, he suffers immense loss, torment and abuse. Having lost his mother and his home, he is forced to ‘star’ in a freak show where he daily exposes his body for the paying public, doing whatever it takes to survive.

Set in the South during the Depression era, with rampant poverty, racism, freak shows, carnivals, crime and violence, Johnny’s coming-of-age story was quite emotional and difficult to read, my heart breaking for the atrocities Johnny had to endure.

There were some small victories for Johnny – friendships made and lessons learnt – but the overall tone of the novel was one of sorrow and hardship, perfectly carrying out the writer’s intent. This was never going to be a ‘fluffy’ read and neither should it have been.

A four star read with a powerful beginning and a satisfying end. There were some pacing issues, with the middle seeming to lose some of the story’s earlier punch, possibly due to the introduction of multiple POVs. The accompanying chopping and changing tended to confuse the direction of the story and with that, this reader. Not a lot seemed to happen in the middle of the novel – some conversations with others, a reunion of sorts, a dark sense of foreboding – but all of the nitty-gritty of the story happened at the start and end, the last 50 pages hooking me right back in.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

“Boy With Wings” is a very touching story of a young boy who literally grows a set of wings.

There are lots of different genres here in that the plot is set in America during the Depression. Jonny, the boy with wings, is left an orphan who life on the outside.
His mother tries to protect him, but unfortunately, she dies when he is very young and he finds himself taken in by a work camp. The difference being that they workers are black and he is white. Here he is different and finds himself looking at camp from the outside. Not just the fact that he has wings.

When his time ends in the camp he moves around – skimming over some of the narrative (we can only guess what happened), settling at a Circus. I love novels set in 1930s circuses and this one didn’t disappoint. Jonny being a side attraction and not from Circus stock is again on the outside.

This is an ongoing theme in that he never really fits in – he is always on the outside looking in.

The plot comes from multiple points of view – mostly not Jonny’s so often we have to guess what he is thinking.

I am not sure if the novel is for everyone but if you are a fan of Depression era historical fiction or of circus based historical fiction then this one might be for you.

"Boy with Wings” is a touching story that follows the life of Johnny Cruel, a boy with a unique physical characteristic that makes him special. The story explores themes such as a mother's unconditional love, resilience in the face of adversity, and the search for a place to belong. Although the plot weakens in its second half, the hopeful ending redeems it. This book offers an opportunity to empathize with those who are different and reflect on the importance of kindness, acceptance, and compassion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Koehler Books for providing this ARC.

Interesting read. Wasn’t entertaining or really thought provoking but an interesting subject matter. Well written.
Would probably be a good selection for a book club as people could have lots of differing opinions about the subject and characters.

An amazing read that is part Southern Gothic, part Carnivale and a dash of Depression-era Steinbeck. Mr Mustian paints a vivid tale of tragedy, love, heartbreak and redemption through the story of Johnny. The characters are well written and I could not put this book down!! Excellent is the only word to describe it!

I could not wait to finish this book. I hated it. At first I thought the writing style was mimicking the reflections of a child,but when it continue throughout the whole book, I really struggled. The plot jumps made little sense. There were a large number of run on sentences. The overuse of pronouns made it hard to understand who was talking about who. The ending was confusing...why murder a father you never knew? The epilogue was maybe the only redeeming factor for this book. I will not recommend it and I do not want it on my shelf.

Great story. As a teacher I would use this in my classroom because of the subtle yet slap you in the face themes that can be drawn. The characters you were supposed to like....you really did...and the ones you were not ....you did not!

This novel explored the experience of being different in America in the 1920s and 1930s. For Johnny , it was his wings that made him different and through a series of different timelines, we follow his story. There are also others who are different that he encounters along the way, including other side show characters, negroes, blind women and a man who has lost an arm through amputation. Without preaching, the various cruelties, prejudices and injustices are portrayed, with a very satisfying ending. This is a book that will stay with you as you ponder the many threads. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to review this book.