The 'Silverwing' Trilogy by Kenneth Oppel: Recent Episodes
Midsummer Station
Shade is a young Silverwing bat, the runt of his colony... ...determined to prove himself on the long and dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum, millions of wingbeats to the south.
During a storm, Shade is swept out over the ocean -- away from his family, his friends, and the only life he has ever known. Alone and frightened as winter fast approaches and temperatures plunge, Shade sets out on a remarkable journey to rejoin his colony to the south.
(http://www.kennethoppel.ca/pages/silverwing.shtml)
Being called the 'little' runt of the colony was not easy, despite the truth in that. The rest of the newborns were already growing faster than he was. The nursery roost & The Elders-The owls, the Morning Chorus and the banning to see the sun is a part of this runt's expansive, yet dangerous world. The first part of a fantastic story, told through the eyes of a Silverwing bat named Shade and his transformation from a doubtful runt & into a confident, reliable leader.