Wild Things by Clay Carmichael

From the Publisher

With her father long gone, spunky eleven-year-old Zoe is shuffled from relative to relative after her mother dies. The story opens as she arrives at her uncle Henry Royster's Farm outside Sugar Hill, a small Southern town.

VOYA

Zoe, eleven and wild, comes to live with her half-uncle Henry when her mother dies. Henry, a doctor turned metal sculptor, is the only reliable adult in Zoe's life. Unlike Zoe's mentally ill mother and her string of no-good boyfriends, Henry works steadily and is able to provide Zoe with basic needs like new clothing and clean shelter. For the first time in her life, wise-beyond-her-years Zoe must attend school regularly, even though she considers herself too smart for school in everything except math. Interspersed with Zoe's story are passages centering on a feral cat that lives under Henry's porch, which is supposed to parallel Zoe's life, show her passion for animals, and explain some of her family's history. Full of hokey dialogue and flat characters, this book is best enjoyed by adults who want to reassure themselves of children's wisdom and need for solid adult guidance. There are no children in the book save for Zoe until about the midpoint, and they serve only to antagonize. The adults are all fonts of wisdom, especially Zoe's teacher, who gives her a journal in which to write. Rounding out the book's long list of flaws are slow pacing, long descriptions that do little to move the book forward, and the completely unintriguing mystery of a boy living in a nearby woods. Reviewer: Carlisle K. Webber

Children's Literature

This wonderfully rich and layered novel is filled with real and symbolic "wild things." There is the main character, Zoe, an untrusting eleven-year-old girl, who goes to live with her Uncle Henry after the death of her mentally-ill mother. There is the old feral cat that has lived in the woods near Henry's house for years. There are Uncle Henry's eccentric metal sculptures, and there is the beautiful white deer and her mysterious companion who roam the woods. Zoe quickly learns that her Uncle Henry is not like the troubled men her mother knew. Henry is kind and reclusive. Zoe warms to his friends, particularly Bessie, the fragile wife of Henry's caretaker. One day, while roaming the woods around Henry's home, Zoe stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned cabin. The cabin becomes Zoe's hideout, a place for her to be alone and write in her journals and read the books that her teacher has loaned her. Zoe becomes furious when, one day, she discovers her hideout has been ransacked, and her special journal is missing. This incident leads to multiple events: the near fatal shooting of the white deer, the discovery of the wild boy who cares for the deer, and the eventual unfolding of the wild boy's connection to Zoe and her family. The author tells her story through Zoe, but readers learn the family's history through the stray cat that Zoe eventually tames. These alternating viewpoints, combined with intriguing subplots and the theme of learning to trust, make this a fantastic book for classroom or small group discussions. Reviewer: Jody J. Little

VOYA

Clay Carmichael has crafted a beautiful tale about the effect kindness can have on trust. Eleven-year-old Zoe Royston finds herself in the care of her Uncle Henry, a well-known artist, when her troubled mother commits suicide. At first, she is wary of him and resents having to attend school, which had previously been low on the priorities list. As time progresses, however, she meets some of the fellow residents of Uncle Henry's small town and is warmed by their caring ways. She forms a relationship with a feral cat hanging around her uncle's house and names him Mr. C-mere (as in "come here"). The two work their way slowly but surely into each other's lives. In alternating chapters, the cat tells of his life leading up to meeting Zoe and his current observations about the people around her. He knows the background of the abandoned trailer that Zoe has found in the woods behind her uncle's house and the identity of the mysterious creature lurking around it. His cat senses cause him to be even more hesitant than Zoe to trust and his wild instincts prevent him from letting his guard down. Zoe's willingness to dive head first into unfamiliar territory both puzzles and intrigues him. Compassion and gentility transform the wild things in this novel, both human and animal. Carmichael's beautifully written story is wonderful. It pulls the reader into the lives of these interesting characters and their small town. Readers both young and old will find Zoe a likeable and touching character and will be moved by the people who try to help her. This novel is a wonderful addition to any fiction collection. Reviewer: Victoria Vogel

Kirkus Reviews

After the death of her mentally ill mother, Zoe-tart-tongued and valiant-is adopted by her paternal uncle, artist Henry Royster, and with his help moves toward a more conventional life. The structure is complex, alternating Zoe's first-person commentary with narration from the point of view of the cat living under Henry's porch-a technique that provides information and builds suspense without creating spoilers. Girl and cat follow parallel journeys to trust in their present safety and comfort. Strongly drawn characters-Zoe, Henry and the people in their small town-come alive on the pages of this debut novel. There are resonances and echoes of the children's books important to Zoe-The Secret Garden, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Golden Compass and, a story integral to this tale, The Boy Who Drew Cats. A tribute to the power of story, this is ultimately a tale of hope and redemption. Zoe Royster, peer to the literary heroines she so loves, is as memorable in her own way as the Great Gilly Hopkins, Opal Buloni and Anne Shirley. (Fiction. 9-12) Starred Review

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