Search This Blog









2023 Literary Escapes Challenge





2023 Build Your Library Reading Challenge







Exciting Yukon Adventure Story Stars Jack London Himself

The first installment, The Wild, begins with 17-year-old Jack heading to the Yukon to look for gold. Thrilled by the prospect of getting rich as well as the challenge of pitting himself against the extreme Alaskan weather, Jack's ready for the adventure. Even when his brother-in-law, an older man with a bad heart, turns back, he continues undaunted. Despite his vow to trust no one, Jack hooks up with two newbie prospectors, who soon become his best friends. The trio make an unlikely group - Merritt Sloper's a 25-year-old stonemason, Jim Goodman's a 22-year-old schoolteacher, and Jack's a young scrapper with a hot temper - but they're still alive. Which is more than they can say for a lot of their comrades.
Jack attributes the group's success to blind luck and grim determination, but when he's rescued from a desperate situation by an animal straight out of a fairy tale, he's forced to admit that he's got some otherworldly support. A good thing, since not all of the enemies he's battling out in the wild are human. He's seen the evil men embrace out in the lawless north and he's seen ... other things. The only question that remains is: Will he make it out of the Yukon alive?
I don't read a lot of Man vs. Nature type books, so I wasn't sure this one would strike my fancy, but guess what? It totally did. Not only is the book well-written, but it's surprising and engrossing, even funny in parts. Vivid illustrations by Greg Ruth add even more suspense to the tale. I liked The Wild so much more than I thought I would. And I'm a 30 (ish) woman - I imagine teenage boys would find the story especially compelling. The Sea Wolves, the next installment in the series, comes out in February and I can hardly wait. So inspired am I that I might even re-read Call of the Wild. How's that for enthusiasm? Well, what can I say? Judging from the first book, this series deserves it.
(Readalikes: It's been a long time since I read Call of the Wild or White Fang, but I assume both have some similarities to this story.)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), violence and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Wild from the generous folks at HarperTeen. Thank you!
1 comment:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!




Reading
Solito by Javier Zamora

Listening
My Calamity Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows



Followin' with Bloglovin'



-
-
-
-
167. Something Like Home6 hours ago
-
WIP Wrap-up for September 20238 hours ago
-
-
The Letter Tree15 hours ago
-
-
-
Audiobook: Stars in Your Eyes21 hours ago
-
A Traitor in Whitehall1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The Sands of Time 552 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sunday Salon: October 1, 20233 days ago
-
Books read in September3 days ago
-
-
The Murderess by Jennifer Wells5 days ago
-
-
-
Reading Recap August 20234 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra3 months ago
-
Weekly Update - What I'm Reading4 months ago
-
-
Dotty Beanie with Ears5 months ago
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?11 months ago
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!



Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
I put this one on my "to buy" for my middle school library. I have boys that are always looking for books like this (Hatchet lovers.) Thanks!
ReplyDelete