Paper Planes

by Steve Worland

One paper plane flies straight and fast and true. Dylan's.

Twelve-year-old Dylan Webber lives in outback Western Australia in a small country town. When he discovers he has a talent for folding and flying paper planes, Dylan begins a journey to reach the World Junior Paper Plane Championships in Japan.

Along the way he makes unlikely new friends, clashes with powerful rivals and comes to terms with his family's past before facing his greatest challenge – to create a paper plane that will compete with the best in the world.

Steve Worland brings you the exciting, heartwarming story of Paper Planes, adapted from the award-winning family film that features a cast of Australia's finest actors, including Sam Worthington, Deborah Mailman, David Wenham and Ed Oxenbould.

Genres: School, Audiobook, Young Adult, Childrens, Australia, Teen

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[*❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and inspiring. A tale of new friendships, broken families being renewed and a lesson on something beauitful and surprising in the end.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul-stirring


Paper Planes by Steve Worland centres around twelve year old Dylan Webber who has a knack for creating and flying paper planes which eventually leads him to take part in competitions.

It’s a beaut tale and grandpa is a hoot!

Dinner in front of the telly tonight watching Paper Planes on Stan with the hubby. Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait… If it’s as good as the book we’re in for a treat.


Read by David Wenham and his narration is brilliant!

Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by ABC audio
Duration: 3 hrs, 55 min. 1.25x Speed

[Montana · Rating 2 out of 5]

It gets good at the last few chapters the rest I wasn't fussed on. The movie looks way better though!

[Imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning is not so good but the ending is awesome!!!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book - good for children to read too (9-12 yr olds) I think.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larger than life secondary characters - especially Dylan's grandfather - a true Aussie larrikin. Certainty hope David Wenham has narrated other audio books as he did well on this one.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book about a boy from country Western Australia progressing through a paper plane throwing championship, with a backstory on his family coping with the loss of his mother. Very sweet story.

[Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, funny, full of heart.

[Chris Byass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it to the kids and at least they enjoyed it to say the least

[Petra Be · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is based on the film script so what you read is practically what you saw in the film. It's still a great story. The book also contains photos from the film, some tips how to make a paper plane and a few other things. Suitable for pre-teens.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed the audiobook edition of this book from our local library and listened to it with the kids in the car as we travelled to and from a camping trip over the weekend. My six year old was more engaged in the story than my four year old, but they both enjoyed it and are looking forward to watching the original movie version.

**Interview with my 6 year old**

Me: Remember when we went camping, and we listened to that book about paperplanes in the car?
Him: Yeah
Me: What did you think of that book?
Him: Aw-aw-aw-aw-some (while bouncing up and down on the couch)

Me: What was your favourite part?
Him: When he threw the plane 100 metres.

Me: Who was your favourite character?
Him: The guy who threw it 100 metres. I forgot his name. Oh yea, Dylan. Dylan was my favourite character.

How far do you think your plane will fly?
him: 2 metres.

Me: Do you want to watch the movie>
Him: Yeah.
**runs off and finds a sheet of paper**
Me: Do you want me to make you a plane?
Him: No. Can you make me an origami fortune teller?

Oh well, the fortune teller will probably fly better than my planes do anyway.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I wanted to see the movie but wanted to read the book first. Once I actually have the book, I find that the book is simply a novelization of the movie. Something that is not always done terribly well.

If the movie is anything like the book I will be a puddle of tears in the cinema. It is a really endearing story and I feel for young Dylan. It's a lovely story.

There are some times where you can tell that descriptions and actions have been pulled straight from the script but you can easily ignore these. It's also not a difficult book so great for younger readers and a great opportunity for a new generation of kids fascinated with paper planes.

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the book gets more interesting the more you get to the end. I haven't seen the movie buts that's what I want to do now that I have read the book.

[Bellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this because my all time favourite actor David Wenham narrates it. Three stars for the story, the extra stars for the narrator!

[Danielle]

Paper Planes - Steve Worland

Gerne -Young Adult Fiction

I would buy this book as a present for someone as not only is this book a fantastic read it has additional information about making and folding your own paper plane. Being able to interact with this story and create planes makes the readers think about the paper plane and its symbolic meaning. The paper plane is the ultimate symbol of this book. It represents many things including: imagination, childhood, travel, belief, design and a journey of life itself. The paper plane starts off as a piece of paper and transforms into a piece of artwork that can fly. Dylan’s friend Kimi says “Winning or losing doesn't matter… It’s really about…making something beautiful, or surprising.” Kimi makes her paper planes unique and beautiful and ends up almost winning anyway. The author is trying to show us that these planes are a symbol of our own lives. We can mold and transform them into something we want them to be. Life is not necessarily about winning, it is about the journey. Like a paper plane, our own life will have its ups and downs.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the charming children’s film with the same name, Paper Planes is a classic Aussie underdog story about 12 yo Dylan, who has lost his mother and lives with his grieving father in a West Australian outback town. Dylan enters a paper plane making competition that sends him to the World Junior Paper Plane Championships being held in Japan. Along the way he learns to deal with Jason, a well-resourced and self-entitled bully, in a David and Goliath struggle. It’s a fun story aimed at children 8 years and over, with themes about overcoming obstacles, the joy of learning, and being a decent person. That sense of fun is reflected in the audiobook, which is ably performed by veteran actor David Wenham, who really throws himself into the story and was also in the film.

[Dylan Stobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paper Planes is about a boy named Dylan who lives in Australia and wins a paper plane throwing contest and allows him to compete in a big national tournament. Fiction. He has written four other books starting in 2012. Dylan is a 12 year old boy that lives in the out back and is tired of the dust place he lives. his "mum"dies and he and his dad haven't been the same since. It is a bit slow at first and picks up later on but at the beginning it is quite "dry". The book had a lot to live up to since the main character's name is Dylan but over all Dylan was alright. it is a great story to see unfold and i would recommend this to kids all ages.

[Chantelle Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a teacher wanting to use it for a novel study - the story itself is fantastic, deep, full of wonderful themes and imagery. However the writing style was lacking - written in present tense and like spoken language, which as a teacher is exactly what I want to move kids away from. Overall, it’s a good book with lots to explore story wise but the movie is better compositionally.

[Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great story about Two fathers, a son, two bullies and a paper plane competition form a wonderful read about friendship, loss, grief and letting go. This is a film tie-in set in Western Australia, and currently screening at the cinemas.

[Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. Loved the instructions on how to make a paper plane

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried. This is quite a typical structure and pulls at the heart strings using typical tropes but I was sucked in well and good. A perfect story for a young teenager.

[Discoverylover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it a little repetitive in parts, and would have liked more emotional content but still a feel good story.

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story. I did get a bit confused sometimes when it would suddenly jump ahead in time, but overall it was a cute little story.

[Petros · Rating 4 out of 5]

my literal childhood

[Freya Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came from the movie, loved it. A great Australian creation :)

[Sevde]

I had to read this because I teach Year 7 English.

No one ask for a review lmaoooo

[Siobhan Considine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The great message of being a good person and winning isn't everything. Great book for all aged children.

[Victoria Barman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t really my type of style in books, I don’t really recommend this

[amnistra · Rating 2 out of 5]

ehh, its okay i guess, i decided to reread this after year 6 and now that ive read it again, i have to admit its not very good..

[Anthea Makings · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy, Dylan Webber, lives in rural Western Australia with his father. After the death of his mother, Dylan’s father becomes withdrawn and emotionally distant, leaving Dylan to find his own way through grief. At school, after an introduction to making paper planes, Dylan discovers a talent for creating planes that fly remarkably well. Encouraged by his teacher and friends, Dylan enters a local paper plane competition and, against the odds, qualifies for the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. Along the way Dylan makes new friends, and a competitive rival.
Through their adventures, Dylan learns valuable lessons about perseverance, friendship, creativity, and healing. Perhaps winning isn’t everything…

Chosen as a novel for my Grade 6 class during Term 3, it was a riveting story the students were able to enjoy and make connections with. An accessible story for students, and with little deviation from the movie they were able to follow along with both, identifying key moments with the story. Always nice to find an Australian story to share with a class!