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The Boy Who Could Fly without a Motor: A Funny and Outrageous Magical Adventure About a Ghost, a Wish, and Trouble for Kids
Jon Jeffers is the loneliest nine-year-old on earth. It's 1935, and he's stuck on a tiny rocky island off the coast of San Francisco with his mother and his lighthouse-keeper father. Jon longs for something more. If only he had a way to escape this forsaken pile of rocks, he could have some real adventures. Then one morning the irritable ghost of an ancient magician appears on the beach and offers—amazingly—to teach Jon to fly. Jon agrees, and at first flying seems to be the answer to his wildest dreams. But then he flies into some serious trouble. . . . From the acclaimed author of The Cay , here is a sweet, funny, and outrageous tale of a boy who gets his dearest wish—and then wishes he hadn't.
153 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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37 people want to read
About the author
Theodore Taylor
116 books106 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 28, 2011
“The Boy Who Could Fly Without a Motor” is about a lonely nine years old boy who learns to levitate, essentially fly (without a motor). The story is set in 1935.
The story is fantasy. There is an outlandish character, Ling Wu and there is a supernatural event – Jon, the main character’s ability to levitate.
The story should be entertaining to children. They will probably like getting to know Jon and may be able to empathize with his feeling of loneliness. I also think they will like the supernatural element in the story. What child would not want to be able to fly (without a motor)? Although this is a completely fantastical premise, children will be interested to read about all the trouble Jon’s newfound ability causes for him and his family.
The outlandish character, Ling Wu, is not likable and a bit over-the-top (he threatens to burn Jon in dragon bile if he tells anyone how he learned to fly). He also lacks any redeeming characteristics. I think because he is so villainous that will add to the enjoyment of reading the book for children. Children will want to know whether Jon was able to keep his secret or if he was put in a position where he had to tell it.
My rating for the book is three stars. As an adult, I did not find the reading entertaining but I do think children will like it.
The story is fantasy. There is an outlandish character, Ling Wu and there is a supernatural event – Jon, the main character’s ability to levitate.
The story should be entertaining to children. They will probably like getting to know Jon and may be able to empathize with his feeling of loneliness. I also think they will like the supernatural element in the story. What child would not want to be able to fly (without a motor)? Although this is a completely fantastical premise, children will be interested to read about all the trouble Jon’s newfound ability causes for him and his family.
The outlandish character, Ling Wu, is not likable and a bit over-the-top (he threatens to burn Jon in dragon bile if he tells anyone how he learned to fly). He also lacks any redeeming characteristics. I think because he is so villainous that will add to the enjoyment of reading the book for children. Children will want to know whether Jon was able to keep his secret or if he was put in a position where he had to tell it.
My rating for the book is three stars. As an adult, I did not find the reading entertaining but I do think children will like it.
October 21, 2010
I read this story when I was about 8 or 9, but even then I've kept the title and the entire story memorized. Like everyone, we all have dreams to fly, maybe not on an airplane but freely with nothing to hold you back. As you read this story, you'll be captivated by one boys dream of flying and it's magical twists. "The Boy Who Could Fly Without a Motor" certainly combines one boys dream of the impossible and reality together. No matter what level of reading this may be, this is a story no one should miss.
August 25, 2008
I like to read books about people who can fly. :) This one sucked, though. It had kid-book logic that adults think is good for kids, but is actually just sort of the literary equivalent of baby talk.
December 29, 2018
Clever—some good lessons
September 7, 2022
Not as good as I though it would be.
November 19, 2012
Summary: This was a wonderful science fiction book. This was a story that took place in 1935. The story is about a little boy is on a tiny rocky island off the coast of San Fran. He lives with his Mom and his Dad, who is a light house keeper. One night when the young boy is sleeping, a ghost of an ancient magician appears and offers to teach the boy how to fly. Like any younger child would, he decided he wanted to learn! The magical ancient magician, who four feet and fifty four pounds, and the little boy fly and go on many adventures together. The two friends travel to all different places. The author of this story takes us on a journey. He teaches us how this Great Ling Wu, an ancient magician and the little boy develop into the best of friends. At the end of the story, the magician disappears, and the little boy is returned back to his home.
POV: 1st person
Main Characters: Little boy, who is the unnamed narrator, Great Ling Wu(ancient chineese magician)
Setting: 1935, all different parts of the world!
Classroom uses/theme: I would definitely use this book in my classroom for third grade and up! I would talk about things such as sensory details, using your imagination and science fiction! I would explore the theme of science fiction writing and creating a story that seems true but is not.
Scholastic Level: 3rd grade
POV: 1st person
Main Characters: Little boy, who is the unnamed narrator, Great Ling Wu(ancient chineese magician)
Setting: 1935, all different parts of the world!
Classroom uses/theme: I would definitely use this book in my classroom for third grade and up! I would talk about things such as sensory details, using your imagination and science fiction! I would explore the theme of science fiction writing and creating a story that seems true but is not.
Scholastic Level: 3rd grade
August 17, 2014
Jon lives in a lighthouse, and feels isolated most of the time. He sends a wish out into the universe that he could fly so he could visit the mainland whenever he wants, and then he is visited by a Chinese ghost named Ling Wu. The ghost teaches Jon how to levitate, but makes him promise not to reveal the secret or a terrible fate awaits him. Jon disobeys, flies too far, and finds his powers corrupted. Now he levitates when he doesn't mean to! What happens when he can't control his flying and everyone finds out? How can he go back to how he was?
The storytelling in this book is simplistic to an insulting degree--it sounds like the kind of phrasing you have to politely tolerate from your uncle who talks to you like you're five when you're eleven. Condescending and frequently ho-hoing to itself throughout, the story shakes its finger at the protagonist for daring to disobey, and insists on restating its moral since after all if you're a kid you probably didn't get it, right? It also features the uncomfortable trope of invoking Asian mystics who not only possess magical knowledge but are out to swindle you. I didn't find the character likable at all because of the storytelling style, which is a shame because I love picking up books that involve flying characters.
The storytelling in this book is simplistic to an insulting degree--it sounds like the kind of phrasing you have to politely tolerate from your uncle who talks to you like you're five when you're eleven. Condescending and frequently ho-hoing to itself throughout, the story shakes its finger at the protagonist for daring to disobey, and insists on restating its moral since after all if you're a kid you probably didn't get it, right? It also features the uncomfortable trope of invoking Asian mystics who not only possess magical knowledge but are out to swindle you. I didn't find the character likable at all because of the storytelling style, which is a shame because I love picking up books that involve flying characters.
December 21, 2016
What if you were a boy stuck at a lighthouse for three years with your parents? What if you were shown how to levitate?
Flying is fun. It's fun until you can't stop levitating. It's fun until you're spotted. Now what?
The book is set at the beginning of World War II. Lighthouses had to have people there to keep the windows clean and the lanterns lit. Each attendant and their family had a three year assignment. It was isolated and lonely especially for a nine-year-old.
I found the book too unbelievable. The levitation part was fine. The government response was too stereotypical over reaction. The characters were too flat.
The book is cute. It is fast and simple to read. It might make some kids start concentrating very very hard trying to follow the levitation directions.
Flying is fun. It's fun until you can't stop levitating. It's fun until you're spotted. Now what?
The book is set at the beginning of World War II. Lighthouses had to have people there to keep the windows clean and the lanterns lit. Each attendant and their family had a three year assignment. It was isolated and lonely especially for a nine-year-old.
I found the book too unbelievable. The levitation part was fine. The government response was too stereotypical over reaction. The characters were too flat.
The book is cute. It is fast and simple to read. It might make some kids start concentrating very very hard trying to follow the levitation directions.
December 15, 2014
Jon Jeffers is a 9 year old boy with an imaginative personality. He lived on a rocky, isolated island off the coast of San Fransisco with his father, mother, and dog, Smacks. Jon was so lonely and longed for company other than his parents. He dreamed about flying away to make friends. The story is fast paced and has a definite beginning, middle, and ending. It's personal and I feel like I'm there with him. Jon has an innocence to him and he's curious. He's ambitious and he wouldn't give on up his dream of flying. This book always relaxes me. The only thing I think the book lacked was thorough description. I feel like it could've been more visual but aside from that, this is a great book.
April 4, 2016
This is a quick read about a lonely young boy who lives on an island with his father who is the lighthouse keeper, and his mother.
Craving adventure, he discovers a Chinese man who hailed from the 1800's. Giving the boy the power to float, and then fly, enabled the boy to feel powerful and less lonely.
When he failed to listen to the warnings of what could happen, he discovered the consequences of flying were too dangerous.
Lacking depth, this is a book for a young juvenile reader.
Craving adventure, he discovers a Chinese man who hailed from the 1800's. Giving the boy the power to float, and then fly, enabled the boy to feel powerful and less lonely.
When he failed to listen to the warnings of what could happen, he discovered the consequences of flying were too dangerous.
Lacking depth, this is a book for a young juvenile reader.
June 26, 2007
I read this book with the kid I tutor. It was just okay. I wouldn't recommend it, but he seemed to enjoy it alright. He's pretty easy-going, though.
August 6, 2009
This book was okay. It was definatly better than The Fledgling, though. It could have used a dash more detail on some points, but overall it was quite a nice book.
April 18, 2010
Be careful what you wish for, you might get it!
Read
May 30, 2010this a crazy book
February 15, 2012
Interesting book, though I feel liked it lacked something.
July 5, 2014
Really quick, concise, and convenient ending. It was okay for the intended audience I guess.
June 22, 2015
"The Boy Who Could Fly Without a Motor" - written by Theodore Taylor and published in 2002 by HMH Books for Young Readers. An enjoyable short middle-grade novel.
January 25, 2016
Read this pretty handily in one sitting. Quite different, fairly enjoyable.
July 5, 2016
a fun fantas
tical read.
tical read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews