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Twelve-year-old Robin will never get over her mother's death. Nor will she forgive her father for moving the family to a small town to live with a weird grandmother. At her new school Robin is laughingly called "Green Girl" and is taunted relentlessly because of an award she received. She decides not to care about anyone or anything. But when her pregnant dog plunges into the frozen lake, she saves the dog and hence the puppies.
Robin finds she can't stop herself from caring. She begins rescuing wild animals and rehabilitates them in the barn. Robin's father forbids her to take in more, but she rescues some skunks, anyway, and hides them. Other animals arrive, and soon she's running an illegal animal shelter. When she's found out, Robin mounts a campaign to save her shelter. Will she have the courage to stand against the whole town?
Robin finds she can't stop herself from caring. She begins rescuing wild animals and rehabilitates them in the barn. Robin's father forbids her to take in more, but she rescues some skunks, anyway, and hides them. Other animals arrive, and soon she's running an illegal animal shelter. When she's found out, Robin mounts a campaign to save her shelter. Will she have the courage to stand against the whole town?
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Karen Hood-Caddy
12 books12 followersEven though I was raised in a big city, Toronto, and went to University there (York U.--which always sounds a little like swearing) we had an awesome cottage in Muskoka, where I spent many, many hours devouring books!!
Over the years, I saw that pristine natural paradise become a 'playground' of the rich and famous and it lost its feelings of wilderness--something I loved.
So, my books are about people trying to keep that wilderness and all the animals that call the wilderness they're home.
In each book, whether its my adult series or the new YA series, the characters
wrestle with an environmental issue and all the drama that entails... they save lakes, bears, raccoons and all kinds of wild things. Read the books to find out more.
Over the years, I saw that pristine natural paradise become a 'playground' of the rich and famous and it lost its feelings of wilderness--something I loved.
So, my books are about people trying to keep that wilderness and all the animals that call the wilderness they're home.
In each book, whether its my adult series or the new YA series, the characters
wrestle with an environmental issue and all the drama that entails... they save lakes, bears, raccoons and all kinds of wild things. Read the books to find out more.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 11, 2020
Liked it (didn’t love), but found it really engaging. May eventually read the sequels, but my “to-read” list is so long!
I should add, it’s written by a local author and it takes place in my town/area, so the setting was definitely familiar!
I should add, it’s written by a local author and it takes place in my town/area, so the setting was definitely familiar!
February 3, 2012
I love me a good book about animal rescue, especially when it's an inspiring read about how someone ends up making a living at it. Lets face it, if I could manage it I would totally be one of those people with a sanctuary. So when Dundurn Press talked me up about Howl I knew I had to read it.
From the back of the book:
Robin will never get over her mother's death. Nor will she forgive her father for moving the family to a small town in cottage country to live with her weird grandmother. In order to cope she decides not to care about anyone or anything. But when her dog falls through the ice and is about to drown, she realizes she cares hugely and becomes part of a dramatic rescue.
That caring leads her to rescue other animals - dogs, bears, skunks, baby raccoons, which she nurses in the barn. Soon she's running an illegal animal shelter. When her father forbids her to carry on, and the sheriff shows up to take the animals away, will she have the courage to stand up to them all and save the animals she loves?
I liked this book on a lot of levels. It obviously talked a great deal about wild animal rescue, but it also delved into Eco-living, bullying and facing your fears. And although that sounds like it covered a lot of ground for 244 pages it did it well. Non of it was broached in moralizing or preachy ways and the way the kids enthusiastically jumped from one cause to another reminded me of my energy and love of causes when I was around 12. I most certainly would have locked myself to an animal shelter to prevent needy animals from being euthanized, but since I didn't run across that issue I wrote moralizing letters to McDonald's and had my mom drive me over to the local franchise so I could drop them off with a cashier. I was going to make a difference god #%$@ it! They were ruining the rainforest!
I also raised money to buy acres of the rainforest and sold UNICEF buttons like a mad thing. 12 is a good age to start being a lobbyist, you have tonnes of energy.
I appreciated that Karen didn't dumb down the animal rescue aspect of the story. She makes no bones about how little sleep Robin, her brother Squirm and their grandmother are getting while caring for all these injured animals, and the constant danger of having the injured baby bear is regularly brought up as well. On the other hand I like that she represented it in a positive light, it's hard but rewarding work for these three as well as their friends who get involved later. Often I think the benefits of animal rescue work, of any kind, are under appreciated. The feeling of accomplishment when the animals do well under your care is what keeps people doing it, and Karen really illustrates well how fulfilled Robin and her friends and family are by their work at the Wild Place.
I came away from Howl feeling inspired to do more (can you hear the hubby groaning in the background?), so I can only imagine how inspiring it will be for middle school readers who are in the prime of their change the world years. If you have an animal loving child on your list this season definitely consider Howl, then make sure you pick them up Wild Spirits by Rosa Jordan as a follow up. You'll have a hardcore rescue enthusiast on you hands in no time.
From the back of the book:
Robin will never get over her mother's death. Nor will she forgive her father for moving the family to a small town in cottage country to live with her weird grandmother. In order to cope she decides not to care about anyone or anything. But when her dog falls through the ice and is about to drown, she realizes she cares hugely and becomes part of a dramatic rescue.
That caring leads her to rescue other animals - dogs, bears, skunks, baby raccoons, which she nurses in the barn. Soon she's running an illegal animal shelter. When her father forbids her to carry on, and the sheriff shows up to take the animals away, will she have the courage to stand up to them all and save the animals she loves?
I liked this book on a lot of levels. It obviously talked a great deal about wild animal rescue, but it also delved into Eco-living, bullying and facing your fears. And although that sounds like it covered a lot of ground for 244 pages it did it well. Non of it was broached in moralizing or preachy ways and the way the kids enthusiastically jumped from one cause to another reminded me of my energy and love of causes when I was around 12. I most certainly would have locked myself to an animal shelter to prevent needy animals from being euthanized, but since I didn't run across that issue I wrote moralizing letters to McDonald's and had my mom drive me over to the local franchise so I could drop them off with a cashier. I was going to make a difference god #%$@ it! They were ruining the rainforest!
I also raised money to buy acres of the rainforest and sold UNICEF buttons like a mad thing. 12 is a good age to start being a lobbyist, you have tonnes of energy.
I appreciated that Karen didn't dumb down the animal rescue aspect of the story. She makes no bones about how little sleep Robin, her brother Squirm and their grandmother are getting while caring for all these injured animals, and the constant danger of having the injured baby bear is regularly brought up as well. On the other hand I like that she represented it in a positive light, it's hard but rewarding work for these three as well as their friends who get involved later. Often I think the benefits of animal rescue work, of any kind, are under appreciated. The feeling of accomplishment when the animals do well under your care is what keeps people doing it, and Karen really illustrates well how fulfilled Robin and her friends and family are by their work at the Wild Place.
I came away from Howl feeling inspired to do more (can you hear the hubby groaning in the background?), so I can only imagine how inspiring it will be for middle school readers who are in the prime of their change the world years. If you have an animal loving child on your list this season definitely consider Howl, then make sure you pick them up Wild Spirits by Rosa Jordan as a follow up. You'll have a hardcore rescue enthusiast on you hands in no time.
November 23, 2015
No, no animals die during this really adorable YA novel that I sort of checked out by accident but really ended up loving. So put your mind at ease and enjoy The Wild Place.
Robin's mother dies when she is 12, and shortly after, her veterinarian father uproots them all (teen queen Ari, brainy Robin and little brother "Squirm") and moves to a small town so they can live with their grandmother. The grandmother, who I loved, helps Robin grieve for her mother and get over some other long-buried issues (with her sister, with swimming) during the course of a school year.
The biggest therapeutic aid, however, is the animal preserve that Robin, along with her friends and family, begin in their grandmother's barn. It starts with puppies (by the way, what self-respecting vet DOESN'T spay his damn dog, and therefore allow her to get knocked up by the neighbor's mutt?) and ends up housing birds, bears, skunks and all sorts of other creatures. While it create turmoil within the family and the town, it also brings everyone together for a happy ending (and a couple of sequels, I believe).
I didn't realize this was YA until I started it, but the writing clued me in pretty quickly. It's definitely written for 12 year old girls -- I would know, as I have stayed in close contact with my 12 year old self. But it's a cute story, and nothing would stop an animal-loving adult from enjoying it.
Robin's mother dies when she is 12, and shortly after, her veterinarian father uproots them all (teen queen Ari, brainy Robin and little brother "Squirm") and moves to a small town so they can live with their grandmother. The grandmother, who I loved, helps Robin grieve for her mother and get over some other long-buried issues (with her sister, with swimming) during the course of a school year.
The biggest therapeutic aid, however, is the animal preserve that Robin, along with her friends and family, begin in their grandmother's barn. It starts with puppies (by the way, what self-respecting vet DOESN'T spay his damn dog, and therefore allow her to get knocked up by the neighbor's mutt?) and ends up housing birds, bears, skunks and all sorts of other creatures. While it create turmoil within the family and the town, it also brings everyone together for a happy ending (and a couple of sequels, I believe).
I didn't realize this was YA until I started it, but the writing clued me in pretty quickly. It's definitely written for 12 year old girls -- I would know, as I have stayed in close contact with my 12 year old self. But it's a cute story, and nothing would stop an animal-loving adult from enjoying it.
April 30, 2015
I won book two in this series from Goodreads First Reads, so obviously I had to read book one. I really enjoyed this read even though it was a middle grade read. This book taught a lot of lessons that I could stand behind. I really like these characters, even if I didn't like certain ones at the begining I came around. I'm really excited to read the next book to see what happens nex. Any animal lover should read this series. I also think kids of all ages and even adults would really benefit from this book.
January 29, 2012
A good book for a pre-teen/young adult. Howl is a quick read covering many different issues facing kids today: bullying/the environment/starting at a new school/family troubles/ethical treatment of animals etc. After moving in with her grandmother and starting at a new school, Robin begins rescuing injured animals. Authorities discover Robin is running an unlicensed shelter and try to shut it down. Robin and her new friends learn to stand up for what is right.
February 20, 2014
Yep. It's a happy ending.
The gang, who now has a license to care for injured animals with a operating room now have their lives as they used to be.
Connor Kingshot now with a major loss of votes, with enough money to sustain, the animal shelter is now successful. I think this book is a good way of showing courage and this shows true friendship between the animals and the gang.
The gang, who now has a license to care for injured animals with a operating room now have their lives as they used to be.
Connor Kingshot now with a major loss of votes, with enough money to sustain, the animal shelter is now successful. I think this book is a good way of showing courage and this shows true friendship between the animals and the gang.
June 3, 2012
It is a heart-warming story about a girl who saves the animals when her father tells her not to.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews