Gwinna

by Barbara Helen Berger

Having grown a pair of wings and felt the longing for the freedom of the skies, twelve-year-old Gwinna goes to the Mother of the Owls, who sends her on a quest to find the songs of the wind.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Magic, Animals, Adventure

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 1990

About the author

Barbara Helen Berger grew up loving to draw and paint. She studied Art at the University of Washington in Seattle, her home town, where she earned a BFA degree in Painting. During her five years of study, she also went to Yale Summer School of Music & Art, and to Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy. In Italy she saw the art she had loved from childhood, seen in her father's art books at home.

For ten years after college, she worked as a painter with gallery shows in Seattle. Then beginning in 1980 she turned her focus to children's books. She says, “All along, I loved writing too. My secret wish was to bring art and words together in my own books.”

Her first was Animalia, inspired by illuminated manuscripts (Celestial Arts, 1982, re-issued by Tricycle Press, 1999). Then she went on to create the picture books she is known for, including Grandfather Twilight, considered a bedtime classic, The Donkey's Dream, and A Lot of Otters, (all from Philomel Books). She also wrote and illustrated Gwinna, a fairytale in chapters (Philomel, 1990). In All the Way to Lhasa: a Tale from Tibet, she blended her style with the influence of Tibetan art (Philomel, 2002). And in Thunder Bunny, her newest book, she blends her style with the medium of collage (Philomel, 2007).

Berger's books have won awards for both the art and writing: the Golden Kite Award for Picture-Illustration, Parents' Choice Foundation Award for Illustration, the Children's Book Award from Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and twice a Washington State Governor's Writers Award. Original paintings from her books have been exhibited around the country. She says, “From beginning to end, the process of creating is still my biggest joy.”

Ms. Berger lives on Bainbridge Island, in the Pacific Northwest. She received the honor of an Island Treasure Award in 2006 from the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council.

Reviews

[Lydia Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first chapter book I ever read to myself. It's also the first book I ever read more than once... It's one of those things that, should there be a natural disaster, I'm taking it with me.

[Amanda Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was young, maybe when I was seven. Years passed and I forgot its name, but the story stayed with me as a grew up. I reread it when I was 23 when I finally bought it for my collection. Gwinna pretty much helped shape the person I grew up to be.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely, strange fantasy is one of my favorites. A childless couple is given a magical child by the Mother of Owls, a girl with wings. Despite their efforts to hide her wings, the times comes when she must fly away to find her destiny.
The illustrations are hauntingly beautiful.
The sad thing is that this masterpiece is out of print, and disappearing from library shelves as copies get worn out. If you can find it, read it. If you come across it at a used bookstore, buy it!

[Émile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was ten or so. I've thought about it many times since then, but couldn't ever remember the name. I've looked for it and asked people about it, but no one ever knew what I was talking about it. Today I did some furious googling, and after nearly an hour, I finally found it and feel like crying. This is one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. I'm buying a copy right now. I can't wait to hold it and read it and see the illustrations again.

[Liaken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of a kind. Beautiful pictures and a story that is unexpected in its profundity. In books like these, I think I come to expect that when the initial tension is resolved, then everything will be happily ever after. That is the usual formula. But in this story, tension follows tension as Gwinna becomes more and more herself. And it isn't easy. The story is told with compelling simplicity.

[Clara Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful! The illustrations are exquisite and really draw you into the magical world of the story. And the main character is a lovely girl that is easy to love and root for. I enjoyed Gwinna's adventures and was very satisfied with the ending of this book. One thing I loved was that there was no real 'bad guy' or great battle to win against evil. This story seems to be more about beautiful truths presented in story and illustration. My favorite line from the book is 'nothing true is ever lost.' I love that! Highly recommended and available to read for free online.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My inner nine-year-old swooned HARD for this one. Soft illustrations and a gently allegorical story bolstered by lots of thinly veiled paganism. Frankly, I'm here for that, no matter how corny the product. This book won't win any prizes for originality or groundbreaking representation, but it now has a cozy little owl-feather-filled corner in my heart.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woodworker and his wife, unable to have children, strike a bargain with the "Mother of the Owls." They will have a child, but after 12 years must give her to the owl mother. They hide her wings and are unable to give her up. The owls come and fetch her, the owl mother reveals her wings and Gwinna is free to follow her destiny.

I am a plot driven reader and if anyone enjoys more mystical stories this will be right up their alley.

[Mir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dully allegorical

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I not have this listed already? Sometimes I think this book created me.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My whole heart in one book

[Katherine Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwinna by Barbara Helen Berger (Philomel, 1990). Children’s picture book. Folk harpists who relish fairy tales, this book is for you. Beautifully illustrated by the talented Bainbridge Island, WA author-artist who created Grandfather Twilight, this long (127 pages), somewhat dark story might appeal more to adults than to children. A childless couple makes a bargain with the Mother of the Owls. She gives them a baby on the condition that they give the child back to her in twelve years. The human daughter, Gwinna, grows wings, which her parents bind in an attempt to keep her away from the Mother of the Owls. It is, of course, the child’s desire to take flight. It’s also her desire, and her destiny, to play music. The mother of the Owls sends Gwinna on a quest to find the songs of the wind and part of that journey will involve the birth of her harp. Among other wonderful illustrations in this book, there’s a picture of the girl flying through the night sky with her harp (a Dusty Strings harp!). Warning, expect some intensity in the story. This story comes from the tradition of the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault of a bygone era, before writers and publishers thought to make fairy tales palatable. If you’d like a gift for a young child, choose another Barbara Helen Berger book instead: the luminous Grandfather Twilight (the main character makes a cameo appearance in Gwinna, by the way); or the playful A Lot of Otters; or the stunning and beautiful retelling of the Christmas story, The Donkey’s Dream; or the handsomely decorative Buddhist wisdom tale, All the Way to Lhasa. As for Gwinna, you’ll be lucky to find a copy for under $50, as sadly the book is out of print. Also look for opportunities to hear a performance of “Gwinna,” a harp, flute, and viola score by Dave Volpe. Like the book, the musical score has a magical and ethereal quality that will take you to another world.

[Rachael Abude · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book that has stayed with me ever since my 5th/6th grade teacher read it aloud to us. The story was so moving to me as a child, and after briefly forgetting about it as an adult, I suddenly had something tickle my memory and then became absolutely determined to find it to share with my then 5 year old daughter. I had a difficult time finding it to purchase as I think it may be out of print now, but I did find a used copy online, and promptly bought it for us to read together. Turns out, she ended up loving it as much as I did. Definitely a special book with some of the most incredible illustrations I've ever seen in a children's book. I will save this book and continue to treasure it as part of my collection.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really meant, I think, as a children's book, but I loved it. I read this years ago after buying a harp, given to me by a friend. I have long since put the harp aside, and had forgotten about this book. As I was selling my harp, I pulled the book out and reread it, and was drawn right back into the magical world of the book. Not your average fairy tale! And all about the power of music and love and nature. Fantastic book.

[Alicia Skojec · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book finally to read to my kid because it was such a favorite for me as a child and holy wow does it hold up. I think this book inspired both my love of fantasy and myth and my love of poetic writing. Not to mention the utterly beautiful illustrations. This book is a treasure. It's hard to find, I think it may be out of print, but it's worth the cost for such a beautiful, deeply philosophical and affirming story.

[Sarah Main · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s just like the fantastical stories I read as a kid that made me want to jump right into the shoes of the main character. It’s a beautiful little fairy tale.
I don’t often care about pictures in books, I prefer to keep my own image in my head, not someone else’s. But this is one of those books with such gorgeous illustrations I wouldn’t want to see it any other way. I’m glad I picked this gem up and that I’ll have it for my kids to read someday.

[kate j]

DISCLAIMER: i'm not adding these books as read-in-2020!! my reading goal integrity is still intact.

i remember reading this book a lot at my grandmother's house. the illustrations are beautiful, and it was the first time i realized a fairy tale could be both dark and gorgeous—girls can still fly, and magic is still real, but disney-perfect coincidences and happy endings don't have to be.

[Emily Vander Ark]

My girls love the copy of "When the Sun Rose" that was mine as a child, so I looked up the author/illustrator and discovered "Grandfather Twilight," which is now another bedtime favorite. "Gwinna" is a brief chapter book more than a picture book, full of beautiful images and stories. It's whimsical and dreamy. ❤️

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful fairytale story about following what your heart desires, letting go, self-sacrifice, transformation, the magic of music, rebirth of nature and so much more. There is so much symbolism in this that I think rereading might open up more layers according to your life's circumstances.

[Katie Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As above, so below...

Enchanting is the word to describe this book. It was exactly what I needed. It would be a wonderful book to read as a bedtime story to children and the illustrations are lovely and transporting.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a child but apparently my memory doesn't serve me right since I could swear I remember her not only binding her wings, but cutting them off...? I don't know anymore, it's been 2 decades and I'm old now. Cute short children's book for the morning.

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars; a beautiful, gentle book with gorgeous illustrations. I loved reading this out loud to my girls! I think Grandfather Twilight is still my fav, but i definitely need to check out this author's full catalogue 😊.

[Ava •°✧• · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Gwinna a lot. The pictures are beautiful!

[Mary List · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another treasure from the children's room at my local library. A very poignant tale, well told

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book, and it was more complex than I was expecting. A beautiful story with beautiful illustrations. I wish I had read this when I was little; I would have loved it.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations. This book is great.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read aloud book for kids. Good messages and gorgeous art.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful story, with beautiful illustrations. My 6 year old daughter loved this book.

[Alice Bailey]

One of my favorite books when I was a kid

[Ehryn]

A very good story that brought me back to childhood fantasy-nostalgia.