Families who loved Sunwing by Kenneth Oppel often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels small or overshadowed by the world and needs to see that courage is found in heart, not size. This epic sequel follows Shade, a young Silverwing bat, as he journeys into a mysterious human laboratory and the dark jungles to find his lost father. Along the way, he must confront the terrifying cannibal bat Goth, who plans to plunge the world into eternal darkness. While the story is an exciting animal fantasy, it deeply explores the bonds of family and the weight of choosing what is right over what is easy. It is a perfect choice for middle grade readers who enjoy high stakes adventure and are beginning to grapple with more complex ideas of sacrifice and heroism. Because it deals with themes of survival and war between species, it offers a wonderful bridge to discuss bravery and resilience in the face of daunting odds.