Friedrich Schiller once said, “Art is the daughter of freedom.”

This quote succinctly encapsulates the core trope that intertwines the profound ideas of art and freedom — the two primary keystones that drive the story of Wings in the Wild by Margarita Engle.

Written in verse, this book is internationally commended for its lyrical style and deep allegorical connotations. The novel’s unique structure helps the reader connect to the characters’ emotions and struggles. Using its poetic narrative, Wings in the Wild intricately laces the ideas of art, freedom, and romance into a sublime depiction of two teens’ struggles in their journey toward tackling environmental crises. This delightful and stimulating novel serves as a quintessential portrayal of the intricacy of nature and human resilience.

Wings in the Wild starts by showcasing the ordeals faced by two Cuban teenagers, Soleida and Dariel. Soleida’s life is turned upside down when her parents are imprisoned for violating censorship laws by creating secret art, a rebellious act under their oppressive regime. On the other hand, a tragic wildfire causes the demise of Dariel’s parents, who used to be stars in the telenovela world. Soleida and Dariel encounter each other at a refugee camp where they seek asylum. Although they come from different worlds, one thing they share is their undeterred drive to make a sea of change in the world by working toward saving the environment. Engle’s lucid description of the hardships faced by Dariel and Soleida shines a needed light on the arduous lives of Cuban refugees, and at the same time helps us understand the adverse effects of natural disasters.

Teeming with imagery and allegories, the dual perspectives of Soleida and Dariel deepen the reader’s understanding of the core message Engle conveys. Also, she lucidly balances realism and poetic idealism in the novel, thereby helping readers relate to the adversities faced by the characters. However, I found the plot to be a bit too predictable, as it only revolves around the “oppression-resistance-love” arc.

Along with portraying the effects of major crises, Wings in the Wild illustrates how a strong bond and shared values can have the everlasting power to make a difference in society. Albeit from vastly contrasting backgrounds, Soleida and Dariel find common ground in their keenness toward nature and art. This shows how love and solidarity play a crucial role in transcending the societal paradigms that confine one’s mind. I resonated with this idea as I am someone that enjoys art and a little bit of romance in books. Since art is used as a metaphor for resistance and freedom in the book, it serves as a motif in Soleida and Dariel’s journey to challenge norms.

Furthermore, Engle also incorporates multiple allegories which act as a locomotive for the themes conveyed in the book. The author very meticulously shows wings — which symbolize flight — as a metaphor for freedom, juxtaposing the common perspective that wings symbolize escapism. Soleida and Dariel face their own challenges for freedom, and the idea of “wings” and “birds” represent how they rise above these adversities to propel positive change. Another connection I noticed in the book is between the wildness of nature and untamed forces of the environment which are spurred by human actions. This destruction of nature could serve as a metaphor for how human greed and corruption can be detrimental to environmental equilibrium.

In addition to these intriguing themes, one element I found fascinating about this novel is how Engle subtly blends concepts from her previous story Your Heart, My Sky to convey the ideas shared in the book. Through this continuation of ideas, Engle creates a literary ecosystem where she portrays the recurring significance of activism, nature, and human resilience.

I would give this book four out of five stars, as it gave me abundant insights into environmental crises as well as how human resilience plays an important part in tackling them. I also appreciate Engle’s incorporation of metaphors in her efforts to communicate themes like love, art, and freedom. Moreover, as someone who enjoys poetry and philosophy, I could relate to the format of the book and the various ideas it encompassed. The only element that could have been enhanced was the plot predictability.

All in all, Wings in the Wild inspired me to break through boundaries and constantly soar higher in life.