If I Just Had Two Wings

by Virginia Frances Schwartz

In her dreams, Phoebe twirls through rows of sea island cotton as a white dress blows around her knees like a breeze. As she dances, she loses all memory of being born a slave on an Alabama plantation. She lifts up her feet and flies high above the fields, as light as air. Before her a single white star shines.

Thirteen-year-old Phoebe has always dreamed of leaving her life as a slave behind. She has heard whispers about a secret path to freedom, and she has seen what can happen to those who take it and fail. But freedom means more to Phoebe than anything, and when she meets Liney, a strong young woman who picks cotton next to her, they form a plan to escape together.

One night, Poebe, Liney, and Liney's two small children flee under cover of darkness. Following clues from the songs and stories they have heard, the runaways elude slave catchers and reach the first stop on the Underground Railroad. It is only one safe house in a chain that leads all the way north to Canada. But between them and freedom, lie miles and miles of unfriendly country and dangers too horrible to imagine.

Winner, Silver Birch Award, 2002

Winner, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction

A 2005 New York Public Library selection for Books for the Teen Age

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Read For School, School

221 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was 10 and it first came out and I will always remember it. Before this book I absolutely hated reading, now I love reading and it started from this book. First book I read that I loved and I had no idea that reading could actually be enjoyable before it. 9 years later and I still love If I Just Had Two Wings:).

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't trust everyone, the devil was once an angel.

[KB.]

another strange relic from the 2000s of white women from Southern Ontario writing fictional stories about fugitive slaves. I would have read this book for the first time in grade four or so and found the story compelling as a child eager for representation. now, the 'tidiness' of the narrative makes it quite clear that it was written by a white woman from Stoney Creek lol.

on the plantation, death is positioned as a seemingly desirable mode of escape. the stark binaries of life and death, freedom and slavery, Canada and the US are presented with very little nuance. simply put, the representation of Canada as a destination of absolute freedom is historically inaccurate and many young, racialized readers will know this to be true from their lived experiences. the plot is also driven in multiple places by the benevolence of white people, belittling the efforts of fugitive slaves and free Black people to secure collective freedom.

I take issue with Schwartz's framing of freedom as only accessible after the passing of pain, grief, or "achin'". freedom and grief are contiguous parts of one's internal geography and deep, critical remembering can animate our unending pursuit of freedom.

in 2024, I am not sure this book still has a place in the Ontario classroom, even if it opened the eyes of many now 20 or 30-somethings as a Silver Birch winner in 2002. while the narrative hits familiar emotional notes that may resonate with students, I am hopeful that Ontario educators can seek out novels about slavery that have been written more recently by Black authors. if that proves challenging, consider using non-fiction resources to teach yourself and your students about slavery while selecting contemporary fiction from Black Canadian authors to discuss slavery's afterlife in Canadian society. this approach may give you access to a broader range of stories that more intentionally address the lived realities of Black girlhood, queerness, and disability.

[Lauren Jude]

I read this for school, and I honestly didn't really enjoy it that much. I found the pacing to be too slow, and the ending was just terrible. So many questions were left unanswered, it was like there was no point in reading the book at all. This story isn't really unique, and there was nothing different about this story. The writing wasn't very good, and extremely repetitive. Overall, I didn't enjoy this novel, although I can still see the touching story the author was trying to create. I will hand it to the author, though, that the character development in this novel was well done.

[Jessietea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author writes that this is a story of fiction based on research but I feel as though the story is real. The thoughts, the dreams, the fears - it’s all real. This is my first time reading this novel at 29 yrs and I’m glad I found it. It brought me to tears at several points and I believe it perfectly depicts the struggles that people endured on the underground rail road to Canada. Highly recommend this to anyone that knows how to read. I wish I had found it sooner.

[Kristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Minor Spoilers*
I really liked this book. It was a nice story to read in class and to take a break from all the immensely popular novels out there. (I mean, obviously I still love popular, mainstream books, but just for a bit, it's interesting to read something...different, if that makes any sense)
This book was nice since it really showed you that dreaming does take you places, and helps you prepare and create the next day, the future. They help shape reality in many different forms. The main character, Phoebe had such vivid dreams that were fascinating and led her pretty much throughout the book. It also had a more serious topic in the background, the Civil War. It's quite sad to read about how difficult some of the slaves lives were and what precautions some of them had to take. They just thrive for freedom. I found this book was very educational to kids and teens out there since it taught us how the world was in the past and certain things about history.
The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because some chapters were dragged out and/or sort of boring.
And the ending was quite unique, I must say. It did confuse me a bit, but at the same time, that's a good thing! The author sort of wanted the reader to inference and/or predict + make your own thoughts about what happened at the end.
Overall, it was a good book, just a bit of little things here and there :)

[Andreea Rotariu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much!!! It's really emotional and touching, I loved the characters and it really shows the pain that slaves had that time and the way they were punished. I loved it so much but to be honest the ending wasn't that good. What happened to the people they left behind? What happened to Phoebe and the others? I just didn't get the end and it still leaves me with lots of questions

[Saffy 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So hard to put down!
I love all the characters personality's. It was dreamy, but also realistic. I loved how the author wrote this book!

[Emma Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember devouring this book as a third-grader. I read it for the Silver Maple Awards reading competition and probably finished it in only two or three days. Then I read it again, and again, and again. And then I moved schools, to a new school that didn't allow for me to sit in the library for hours after school or during recess, moving my way through the shelves. I chased down a copy of this book in my adult life, and have been bringing it with me from province to province for the last 4 years, only to finally have picked it up this spring. And it was just as good as I remember. It moved me to tears, had me laughing out loud, and screaming in emotional pain. Proof that a "kid's book" is just as meaningful to an adult reader, and can still grip your heart, 20 years later.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe kept dreaming of freedom. Finally one day she and her friend, Liney followed their dreams. They joined the Underground Railroad to freedom. It was dangerous journey, especially since they were traveling with children during the winter. However their dreams kept them going and they finally reached Canada.

[Cheri Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this several times as a young teen . It was a fav book. Loved it. Used to get it out from the library alot. Randomly 20 years later I remembered the characters name so I could google search and find the title. Can't wait to read it again.
Definitely a must read for all ages.

[Amal al hussein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really like this book

[Zyler]

I am doing this book in school and i think that this book is very nice and intresting i love to read it lol....

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book!

[abi ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this when i was 12 and just remembered it, i sobbed the whole time and will be ordering it again

[Eni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this 10 times when I was 12 and I still think about this book.

[Bree Tabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book actually started my love of reading.
In Grade 6 at my elementary school we were assigned this book to read and do a classic "book report" on. I hated book reports. I hated reading. Why would a teacher ever make me read?
I picked up this book and read the first couple chapters one day in class and put off reading it for about two weeks. It was a Saturday when I realized that I had a middle of the book quiz on Monday and came to the realization that I really needed to start reading this book.
I picked it up Saturday morning and read the whole thing before supper. I couldn't put it down. This book was my first thing I truly read and loved. This book was amazing. I don't care if you're in the 6th grade or 30 years old, it is worth the read.

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 5 out of 5]

My niece (11 years old) suggested I read it. This is about a runaway slave girl trying to make it to freedom. It's very well written and interesting. Highly recommend both young and old read it.

[Claudia.o · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 stars (weird rating... I know)
I read this book at school, and though it was a nice story, it got boring at times (especially in the beginning). It started getting a little more interesting when we got to part 2, but, I still didn't find myself loving the book. It was a nice story about the struggles of slaves during the civil war, but I think that the author could've done a lot more with the story. I also think that she could've added more to the end, instead of ending the book off where she did, leaving me a little confused. A lot more could have been done with this story (which is why I only rated it 2.7 stars)

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in middle school and it was my introduction to the Underground Railroad. It’s story and heroine stayed with me almost 20 years later and I’ve re-read it a couple of times since, and it holds up. It’s obviously sad, but the ending is heartwarming and you really feel the journey and longing for freedom the characters go through. Honestly this should be one of those essential reading books for kids circa 5-6th grade. It’s historical and educational, but also inspiring and interesting, and it never gets too gruesome or dark, making it appropriate for that age group.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Liney finds that she is going to be sold to another plantation she makes a break for the Underground Railroad to Canada but is caught and punished. Phoebe's sister disappeared earlier and when Liney heals the two of them sneak off with Liney's two daughters and another slave from a neighbouring plantation. Music and conductors point the way north but it is a mighty struggle to keep on traveling.

[Maire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young slave on a plantation in the south dreams of freedom and following the underground railroad. She finally escapes and makes a family with the people she runs with.

I loved this book. Of course, it was full of hard things - an almost too graphic picture of violence (for younger kids) when an escaped slave is brought back - but also so full of hope and love and, happily, a happy ending. Just such a wonderful, beautiful book.

[Monica Lukudu]

If I just Had Two Wings by Virginia Schwartz was a very good book. This was my second time reading it. I learned so much about slavery and the effects of it and dreams. Dreams seemed real important to get over to Canada. If you don't dream, you wont't be happy. It was and awesome book. I totally recommend reading this book. :D!

[Karen]

What book could make the world a better place, if it was required reading? Here are some of their responses.

“Virginia Frances Schwartz gave me a lot of perspective as a child. It’s about a 13-year-old girl escaping the slave trade on the Underground Railroad, and growing up in a small (and very non-diverse) town. It taught me a lot that my school never thought to teach.”

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that shows how hard it was to be an African-American searching for freedom on the underground railroad. I loved this book for its passion and love. I also love how determined they were and just kept going and did not stop.

[Ericka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thin that the way the story was planned was shockingly realistic and you feel how it's like to be a runaway slave trying to find freedom. You'll understand how difficult it was to escape and the determination of the slaves to flee from the plantation. Over all i think it was really good.

[adriiii · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book really deserves a good 4-stars.
It is very well written and it has brought tears to my eyes.
it is a very good book and i really liked reading it, i couldn't put it down!
although, the ending could have been better.. i mean, what happened to Rachel?? ..

[Charissa Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 10 year old read this and asked me to read it after she had finished. Have read the Book of Negros and 12 Year Slave myself, the subject matter was not surprising. That said, I feel this is a good introduction to slavery for pre-teens. It's not very well written, but a good one for grade 5/6.

[I EAT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. This book is amazing. I read it first when I was in grade five, and I've read it about three times since then (I am now 13).
It's definitely one of my favourite books!