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The Big Wander
A Summer To Remember
Fourteen-year-old Clay Lancaster has been dreaming for years of the adventure he calls The Big Wander -- a summer in the Southwest with his older brother, Mike, searching for their uncle Clay. When Mike decides to return home to Seattle and the girlfriend he left behind, Clay chooses to stay on and continue the search on his own.
Following a tip about his uncle, he heads out into the most remote canyons of the Navajo reservation, with only a burro and a dog named Curly for company. Clay loses his heart to the vast, rugged land -- and to an adventurous girl with a long, dark braid -- but finds his uncle in big trouble. Can Clay pull off a risky plan to save his uncle -- and the wild horses Uncle Clay has put his own life in jeopardy to protect?
Fourteen-year-old Clay Lancaster has been dreaming for years of the adventure he calls The Big Wander -- a summer in the Southwest with his older brother, Mike, searching for their uncle Clay. When Mike decides to return home to Seattle and the girlfriend he left behind, Clay chooses to stay on and continue the search on his own.
Following a tip about his uncle, he heads out into the most remote canyons of the Navajo reservation, with only a burro and a dog named Curly for company. Clay loses his heart to the vast, rugged land -- and to an adventurous girl with a long, dark braid -- but finds his uncle in big trouble. Can Clay pull off a risky plan to save his uncle -- and the wild horses Uncle Clay has put his own life in jeopardy to protect?
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 1992
9 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Will Hobbs
29 books170 followersWILL HOBBS is the author of seventeen novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason's Gold, were named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. ALA also named Far North and Downriver to their list of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of the Twentieth Centrury. Ghost Canoe received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1998 for Best Young Adult Mystery.
In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A graduate of Stanford University and former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since 1990. He lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado.
Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.
In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A graduate of Stanford University and former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since 1990. He lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado.
Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.
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December 2, 2019I like how in this book the main character is the same age as me. I think it is funny how Hubcap Willie got his name(he collects hubcaps),or steals. I also like how they are in the mountains. I don't really like the pace of the book because it is a little slow. I think it is kind of a coincidence that Clay found a "girlfriend" on their trip. I also like how their uncle who they are looking for is a famous rodeo cowboy. I think it is also weird though that nobody knows him very well if he is "famous". I think that Hubcap Willie is kind of a jerk because he just took their truck and left the donkey. I think that Clays brother should of cared a little more about his truck being stolen. I hope that they find their uncle someday but it isn't looking very good.
August 28, 2017
At first I wasn't sure I'd like this book. It's a bit outside of my realm, and the main character, Clay, is a selfish guy, but as I read on, I did come to enjoy it. This is a coming-of-age story of sorts, about a boy spending his summer in search of his missing uncle, ex-rodeo star Clay Jenkins. I appreciated the details of the era, especially where media and mustang (the horse, not the car) are concerned. Toward the end, the book shifts from survival to western, and all of a sudden we have medicine hat paints and goats and cowgirls with flying braids -- which I could appreciate even further.
This is a safe read for pretty much anyone. Tween boys would especially like it, I think.
This is a safe read for pretty much anyone. Tween boys would especially like it, I think.
May 22, 2013
I love the mountains and the country, which you can plainly see on the cover. I knew this book would have a lot to do with the western theme and I am a sucker for cowboys. Super attractive. However, we aren't here to talk about cowboys. Based on the title I thought it would be about an adventure. I mean "The Big Wander" just screams cowboy adventure to me.
Overall the book was good, but it wasn't what I was expecting it to be. I was a little disappointed. It's a very good book to read when you want to really relax. Not relax into another world but relax on a busy day when you finally ave a little free time.
Warnings:
Language: Very mild.
Drugs:None.
Sex: None, but there is a kiss.
Violence: None.
Rock and roll: Nada.
Overall the book was good, but it wasn't what I was expecting it to be. I was a little disappointed. It's a very good book to read when you want to really relax. Not relax into another world but relax on a busy day when you finally ave a little free time.
Warnings:
Language: Very mild.
Drugs:None.
Sex: None, but there is a kiss.
Violence: None.
Rock and roll: Nada.
August 12, 2015
it's great, it's about a boy who is looking for his uncle, his brother quits the search, so Clay is searching alone, and he meets lots of people, including others working at trading posts, Navajos, a family living out of the nearby town, and his uncle
February 8, 2021
I bought this at a library sale for only 10cents. I couldn't believe it was priced so low.
A sticker blocked out some of the words so I went on goodreads to read the synopsis and it was completely different. I knew I should have stopped reading, but I didn't. It gave away the fact that he meets a girl and that he finds his uncle, which my copy did not give away. Those were big spoilers so that ruined it.
I couldn't believe Hubcap Willie stole their truck and left them the donkey; he was a likable character til then.
I loved all the info in here:
The dark stripe along a donkeys back and across their shoulders is called the cross of Bethlehem. Every donkey has one, even the one Mary rode.
Kit Carson was at the head of the US cavalry in the mid 1800s and rounded up the navajos, making them walk to Fort Sumner, New Mexico. They still call it 'The Long Walk.' Hoskininni's band hid out in remote areas and managed to live free during the years the Dine were in exile. Diné means 'the People' and is what they call themselves.
Navajos have played other tribes like Apache, Cheyenne, and Comanches, but not themselves.
Oljeto means 'Moonlight on Water.'
Navajo is as different from our language as Chinese, and I've heard that about one Native American language before. Which is why they were the code talkers.
People out there called the rugged country 'the Back of Beyond.'
The Navajo find it difficult to speak of certain things and would purify themselves first, in a sweat lodge, without eating.
It was cool how Russell's dad, Sam, was a Navajo code talker.
I couldn't believe they still had boarding schools for native Americans when this book was set, in 1962, I believe. They had to speak English at them. They lived there and only came home at Christmas and a week in the spring, and during summer.
They called him Hosteen Clay, which meant honored, and was usually reserved for older men like grandfathers.
I kept waiting to see what the real town was that Clay thought was Restaurant Hay. I thought it was Mexican Hat, or something else close, not what it turned out to be, which was Escalante, cause that doesn't sound like Mexican Hat at all.
Sam sang the Sweat Bath Song, an old story of how First Man put down the first sweat hogan at the edge of the hole where the people came up from the world before this one. 'Everlasting and peaceful, he put it down there, the Son of the She-Dark.' The swear hogan was called that.
Navajo call white men biligaana.
The People are good horse wranglers from when they would raid and trade horses a long time ago.
Sam's sister and Uncle Clay liked each other and Sam told his mom not to speak to him again because he would be her son-in-law. I wondered if that was a custom and wanted to hear more about it.
They liked the spotted ponies best, the pintos. The best horses were the wild mustangs, which weren't big but could run all day and never slip and fall even in the wild country. Indian people especially liked to catch the painted mustangs and breed them for their colors.
The People used to trade with the Mormons near Utah and Colorado. They would trade jewelry and blankets for sheep and horses, and sometimes mustangs.
To marry in the Navajo way, the man would need to find someone to speak for him who wasn't of her family, or a friend or relation of his. The go-between would suggest the marriage and then propose a dowry, which was jewelry or horses usually.
First the go-between has to ask if the dowry is accepted before you deliver the dowry.
They have a summer and a winter place. Uncle Clay didn't help build their summer hogan, but could help building the winter one of wood and earth.
The groom enters the hogan first, passes around the south side, and seats himself at the rear of the hogan facing the door which is to the east. The bride brings a basket of boiled cornmeal, and enters with her family and sits to the husband's right.
A water jug is placed in front of the bride and she ladles the water into her groom's hand. He washes his hands and then he pours water over her hands. Corn pollen is sprinkled over the basket from east to west, and north to south. The bride and groom eat from the boiler cornmeal and the pollen in the correct places, and in a correct order. After everyone eats the wedding feast.
The couple stays in the hogan for four nights and four days.
A canyon in here was called Coyote Canyon, which was cool cause I have a children's horse book with that name.
I had a feeling and wasn't surprised that Uncle Clay's wife died. He said he buried his heart along with her. But I thought in the beginning that his uncle would be dead, or lost. And after I expected him to be mining uranium or silver.
Diné Bikéyah means Navajoland.
I liked that he said Russell's mother had made a beautiful patterned blanket from her head and they thought he was something special, and he asked himself what had he ever done?
I was surprised they didn't call each other by names, but said "my brother who is the son of my mother's younger sister." There were two families of all the generations joined together.
I knew Marilyn wasn't sending him letters, which hinted at something, but I was disappointed in her in the end, sending the shark tooth back and telling him to get lost. She was even more disappointing that Hubcap Willie. I wondered if everyone was gonna end up being a disappointment in here!
I hated that he tossed the petrified sharks tooth away.
This book really captured the time period, how they were talking about a man on the moon. How the US was trying to beat the Russians before the end of the decade. And how kids were worried about an atomic war, and they had to practice them at school in case of air raids.
Russell had a Stetson buffalo nickle hat and their horses had silver bridles.
The kind of horse Russell had was called a Medicine Hat. And was a good war horse. Some tribes say the markings were good luck because it looked like a war bonnet and shield.
Clay knew the Navajo custom wasn't to say thank you at every turn. Their dignity and pride didn't allow it. But for great occasions and with great humility you can say it. Kehey means thank you.
It wasn't good to speak the name of the dead.
They were building a dam on the Colorado river. It would back up all the canyons so only the tops should show, and it would be called Lake Powell. I hated to think of all Tahoe canyons underwater.
I was disappointed the uncle didn't show up on the date he said he would, to meet the Navajos. I wanted a nice reunion, for him to see Clay on the horse. Now Clay had to go on by himself.
For a minute I thought Pal was dying and then I guessed she might be pregnant. I was really glad it turned out to be the latter.
His thoughts weren't italicized like they should be.
It was very funny and cute how Clay was nervous with girls, and the encounter he had with the girl on her horse.
I didn't like that Uncle Clay being in jail ruined the reunion I was hoping for, of him seeing Clay on the horse, with his Navajo jewelry on.
I didn't like how this turned into an escape from jail, and them being on the run from the police. Why couldn't he just have gotten out of jail, them round up the horses together and take them to the Navajos? I also thought he'd leave Pal and Burrito with Russell's family.
It was cute he asked Sarah if she liked long letters after his experience with Marilyn.
I didn't like how we didn't get to hear Clay tell Mike he found Uncle Clay and that he was in jail in real time. He only recounts it to Mrs. Darling.
Meeting Sarah and staying with her family felt random, and them going to the movies. It felt like a distraction from the plot, when I just wanted his uncle to get out of jail. And then for them to round up the wild horses and bring them to the native Americans.
The lead mare leads them to water, and is the first to drink, then the next in rank and so on. If the stallion tries to drink before they're finished, they'll run him off.
They rolled in the mud to protect themselves from flies.
I liked the mention of the book Misty of Chincoteague.
It was cute they went to see The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and were discussing who they thought shot him, and that the bad guy was scum.
I liked the dance they had to commemorate the dances that the pioneers had in 1879. The townspeople were driving chuck wagons and having food to celebrate.
It shows the time period, how they had bomb shelters and food stored away.
I couldn't believe it skipped over the escape from jail. Idl missing out on stuff like that. I wanted to see Uncle Clay's reaction.
It was so cool how Apaches could hide themselves in the desert admits rocks, sand, and scrub as high as your waist, and you wouldn't see them.
The women knew which colors to use as dye came from which plants, and whether it's the roots or leaves or flowers.
I didn't like how he gave the bracelet Sam Yazzie made him to Sarah.
I couldn't believe Clay and his uncle left without getting the mustangs. And I was hoping he'd see Sarah.
I loved when she showed up, leading the horses to them. But I hate sudden endings.
It started feeling draggy and I just wanted to get to the end. It didn't go like I thought it would, and I felt it could have left out some stuff to include others, things I would have preferred reading. Like him and his uncle leading the horses back to the Navajo. Of Sam and Russell seeing uncle Clay again, of Clay returning the horse to Russell. And of their uncle meeting up with Mike.
The synopsis was a bit misleading for me. I thought he'd stay and learn more from the Navajo. He didn't learn much.
I was shocked to find this was inspired by a real person, Everett Ruess, a real-life artist who traveled with his dog Curly and burro to the canyons of the Escalante in 1934, and who's fate remains unknown. I'm glad this was happier.
Idl how his uncle is a fugitive and can't go back to the state again.
This just ending up being so different than I thought. I was hoping for a big reunion at the end. I was disappointed by this at the end; it was much better in the beginning.
A sticker blocked out some of the words so I went on goodreads to read the synopsis and it was completely different. I knew I should have stopped reading, but I didn't. It gave away the fact that he meets a girl and that he finds his uncle, which my copy did not give away. Those were big spoilers so that ruined it.
I couldn't believe Hubcap Willie stole their truck and left them the donkey; he was a likable character til then.
I loved all the info in here:
The dark stripe along a donkeys back and across their shoulders is called the cross of Bethlehem. Every donkey has one, even the one Mary rode.
Kit Carson was at the head of the US cavalry in the mid 1800s and rounded up the navajos, making them walk to Fort Sumner, New Mexico. They still call it 'The Long Walk.' Hoskininni's band hid out in remote areas and managed to live free during the years the Dine were in exile. Diné means 'the People' and is what they call themselves.
Navajos have played other tribes like Apache, Cheyenne, and Comanches, but not themselves.
Oljeto means 'Moonlight on Water.'
Navajo is as different from our language as Chinese, and I've heard that about one Native American language before. Which is why they were the code talkers.
People out there called the rugged country 'the Back of Beyond.'
The Navajo find it difficult to speak of certain things and would purify themselves first, in a sweat lodge, without eating.
It was cool how Russell's dad, Sam, was a Navajo code talker.
I couldn't believe they still had boarding schools for native Americans when this book was set, in 1962, I believe. They had to speak English at them. They lived there and only came home at Christmas and a week in the spring, and during summer.
They called him Hosteen Clay, which meant honored, and was usually reserved for older men like grandfathers.
I kept waiting to see what the real town was that Clay thought was Restaurant Hay. I thought it was Mexican Hat, or something else close, not what it turned out to be, which was Escalante, cause that doesn't sound like Mexican Hat at all.
Sam sang the Sweat Bath Song, an old story of how First Man put down the first sweat hogan at the edge of the hole where the people came up from the world before this one. 'Everlasting and peaceful, he put it down there, the Son of the She-Dark.' The swear hogan was called that.
Navajo call white men biligaana.
The People are good horse wranglers from when they would raid and trade horses a long time ago.
Sam's sister and Uncle Clay liked each other and Sam told his mom not to speak to him again because he would be her son-in-law. I wondered if that was a custom and wanted to hear more about it.
They liked the spotted ponies best, the pintos. The best horses were the wild mustangs, which weren't big but could run all day and never slip and fall even in the wild country. Indian people especially liked to catch the painted mustangs and breed them for their colors.
The People used to trade with the Mormons near Utah and Colorado. They would trade jewelry and blankets for sheep and horses, and sometimes mustangs.
To marry in the Navajo way, the man would need to find someone to speak for him who wasn't of her family, or a friend or relation of his. The go-between would suggest the marriage and then propose a dowry, which was jewelry or horses usually.
First the go-between has to ask if the dowry is accepted before you deliver the dowry.
They have a summer and a winter place. Uncle Clay didn't help build their summer hogan, but could help building the winter one of wood and earth.
The groom enters the hogan first, passes around the south side, and seats himself at the rear of the hogan facing the door which is to the east. The bride brings a basket of boiled cornmeal, and enters with her family and sits to the husband's right.
A water jug is placed in front of the bride and she ladles the water into her groom's hand. He washes his hands and then he pours water over her hands. Corn pollen is sprinkled over the basket from east to west, and north to south. The bride and groom eat from the boiler cornmeal and the pollen in the correct places, and in a correct order. After everyone eats the wedding feast.
The couple stays in the hogan for four nights and four days.
A canyon in here was called Coyote Canyon, which was cool cause I have a children's horse book with that name.
I had a feeling and wasn't surprised that Uncle Clay's wife died. He said he buried his heart along with her. But I thought in the beginning that his uncle would be dead, or lost. And after I expected him to be mining uranium or silver.
Diné Bikéyah means Navajoland.
I liked that he said Russell's mother had made a beautiful patterned blanket from her head and they thought he was something special, and he asked himself what had he ever done?
I was surprised they didn't call each other by names, but said "my brother who is the son of my mother's younger sister." There were two families of all the generations joined together.
I knew Marilyn wasn't sending him letters, which hinted at something, but I was disappointed in her in the end, sending the shark tooth back and telling him to get lost. She was even more disappointing that Hubcap Willie. I wondered if everyone was gonna end up being a disappointment in here!
I hated that he tossed the petrified sharks tooth away.
This book really captured the time period, how they were talking about a man on the moon. How the US was trying to beat the Russians before the end of the decade. And how kids were worried about an atomic war, and they had to practice them at school in case of air raids.
Russell had a Stetson buffalo nickle hat and their horses had silver bridles.
The kind of horse Russell had was called a Medicine Hat. And was a good war horse. Some tribes say the markings were good luck because it looked like a war bonnet and shield.
Clay knew the Navajo custom wasn't to say thank you at every turn. Their dignity and pride didn't allow it. But for great occasions and with great humility you can say it. Kehey means thank you.
It wasn't good to speak the name of the dead.
They were building a dam on the Colorado river. It would back up all the canyons so only the tops should show, and it would be called Lake Powell. I hated to think of all Tahoe canyons underwater.
I was disappointed the uncle didn't show up on the date he said he would, to meet the Navajos. I wanted a nice reunion, for him to see Clay on the horse. Now Clay had to go on by himself.
For a minute I thought Pal was dying and then I guessed she might be pregnant. I was really glad it turned out to be the latter.
His thoughts weren't italicized like they should be.
It was very funny and cute how Clay was nervous with girls, and the encounter he had with the girl on her horse.
I didn't like that Uncle Clay being in jail ruined the reunion I was hoping for, of him seeing Clay on the horse, with his Navajo jewelry on.
I didn't like how this turned into an escape from jail, and them being on the run from the police. Why couldn't he just have gotten out of jail, them round up the horses together and take them to the Navajos? I also thought he'd leave Pal and Burrito with Russell's family.
It was cute he asked Sarah if she liked long letters after his experience with Marilyn.
I didn't like how we didn't get to hear Clay tell Mike he found Uncle Clay and that he was in jail in real time. He only recounts it to Mrs. Darling.
Meeting Sarah and staying with her family felt random, and them going to the movies. It felt like a distraction from the plot, when I just wanted his uncle to get out of jail. And then for them to round up the wild horses and bring them to the native Americans.
The lead mare leads them to water, and is the first to drink, then the next in rank and so on. If the stallion tries to drink before they're finished, they'll run him off.
They rolled in the mud to protect themselves from flies.
I liked the mention of the book Misty of Chincoteague.
It was cute they went to see The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and were discussing who they thought shot him, and that the bad guy was scum.
I liked the dance they had to commemorate the dances that the pioneers had in 1879. The townspeople were driving chuck wagons and having food to celebrate.
It shows the time period, how they had bomb shelters and food stored away.
I couldn't believe it skipped over the escape from jail. Idl missing out on stuff like that. I wanted to see Uncle Clay's reaction.
It was so cool how Apaches could hide themselves in the desert admits rocks, sand, and scrub as high as your waist, and you wouldn't see them.
The women knew which colors to use as dye came from which plants, and whether it's the roots or leaves or flowers.
I didn't like how he gave the bracelet Sam Yazzie made him to Sarah.
I couldn't believe Clay and his uncle left without getting the mustangs. And I was hoping he'd see Sarah.
I loved when she showed up, leading the horses to them. But I hate sudden endings.
It started feeling draggy and I just wanted to get to the end. It didn't go like I thought it would, and I felt it could have left out some stuff to include others, things I would have preferred reading. Like him and his uncle leading the horses back to the Navajo. Of Sam and Russell seeing uncle Clay again, of Clay returning the horse to Russell. And of their uncle meeting up with Mike.
The synopsis was a bit misleading for me. I thought he'd stay and learn more from the Navajo. He didn't learn much.
I was shocked to find this was inspired by a real person, Everett Ruess, a real-life artist who traveled with his dog Curly and burro to the canyons of the Escalante in 1934, and who's fate remains unknown. I'm glad this was happier.
Idl how his uncle is a fugitive and can't go back to the state again.
This just ending up being so different than I thought. I was hoping for a big reunion at the end. I was disappointed by this at the end; it was much better in the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2021
My book review is on a title called “The Big Wander” by Will Hobbs. Imagine you're on a road going through the desert. This is where the story begins. We find ourselves with two brothers, a 14 year old boy named Clay Lancaster and his brother Mike at the wheel. During their summer break, Clay got a mysterious call from their uncle, who is also named Clay. The brothers leave Seattle and plan to go out to find him before the summer's over. After a few pages they get to a saloon because it's the desert and Clay starts to fall in love with this girl named Marilyn. They meet her brothers and parents. Mike and Marylin’s parents start talking while Clay and Marilyn start up a conversation. Then they get back on the road after milkshakes. After a little while they meet up with this hobo named Hubcap Willy. He's called that because he collects hubcaps. After he joins them, they come upon a little town called Monument Valley. They surprisingly trade their truck for Hubcap Willy’s mule Pal. Mike and Clay have an argument and go their separate ways. Clay stays in Monument Valley and works at a store, and Mike takes a bus to the train station to go home. Some time later, Clay leaves Monument Valley on his own with Pal because he got a clue about his uncle Clay. The rest of the book is Clay going on his own to find his uncle.
The book starts like this: “Clay Lancaster rolled down the window and drank in the wind and the rolling red desert, the clouds impossibly tall in Arizona's turquoise sky. He read the billboards aloud to his brother Mike at the wheel of the pickup.
PRAIRIE DOG VILLAGE!
GENUINE INDIAN MOCCASINS!
LIVE TWO-HEAD CALF!
Clay had never seen so many billboards in his life as lined Route 66. Dozens, even hundreds, advertised the same few roadside attractions. You started seeing signs hundreds of miles away and you came to think of them as companions on this thin strip through the big emptiness.”
I like how the author describes the landscape becuase I am a man of the world. I like getting out there on roadtrips and seeing different things.
That is a big part of what the book is about.
Some emotions I felt while reading this book were joy and happiness. The author helped me feel joy and happiness with the birth of Pal’s baby mule. Clay named him Burrito which in English means “little burro.” Other emotions that I felt were sadness that Clay and his brother were not going to finish the journey together as a family. I also felt surprised when Clay found his uncle in jail. The author did a good job of helping me feel these emotions by telling them in a way that I could be there in the moment. Another emotional moment was when Clay got a letter from Marilyn with a sharktooth. She rejected him saying, “GET LOST.” As you can see, that was a very emotional time for Clay and I felt bad for him. Good thing for Clay he had a few friends to help him get through his troubles.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure stories, cowboys, horses, or traveling. I had no trouble reading this book, but grade level wise I would recommend this book to kids in middle school like 5th grade. I loved this book. I think many other people will love it. I might even read it to my children before bed sometime, when I am an adult of course.
The book starts like this: “Clay Lancaster rolled down the window and drank in the wind and the rolling red desert, the clouds impossibly tall in Arizona's turquoise sky. He read the billboards aloud to his brother Mike at the wheel of the pickup.
PRAIRIE DOG VILLAGE!
GENUINE INDIAN MOCCASINS!
LIVE TWO-HEAD CALF!
Clay had never seen so many billboards in his life as lined Route 66. Dozens, even hundreds, advertised the same few roadside attractions. You started seeing signs hundreds of miles away and you came to think of them as companions on this thin strip through the big emptiness.”
I like how the author describes the landscape becuase I am a man of the world. I like getting out there on roadtrips and seeing different things.
That is a big part of what the book is about.
Some emotions I felt while reading this book were joy and happiness. The author helped me feel joy and happiness with the birth of Pal’s baby mule. Clay named him Burrito which in English means “little burro.” Other emotions that I felt were sadness that Clay and his brother were not going to finish the journey together as a family. I also felt surprised when Clay found his uncle in jail. The author did a good job of helping me feel these emotions by telling them in a way that I could be there in the moment. Another emotional moment was when Clay got a letter from Marilyn with a sharktooth. She rejected him saying, “GET LOST.” As you can see, that was a very emotional time for Clay and I felt bad for him. Good thing for Clay he had a few friends to help him get through his troubles.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure stories, cowboys, horses, or traveling. I had no trouble reading this book, but grade level wise I would recommend this book to kids in middle school like 5th grade. I loved this book. I think many other people will love it. I might even read it to my children before bed sometime, when I am an adult of course.
June 30, 2020
I’ve picked up a few of Will Hobbs’ books because they are set in National Park’s and such. I like to read them to see if my daughter might enjoy them. And also cause I just need a quick book every once in awhile. This particular story was set in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah which is just up the road from where I live. It definitely had a “Louis L’amour Junior” vibe to it which I loved. I appreciate his portrayal of the Navajo people although I’m not sure what “kehey” is suppose to mean. I think it’s suppose to be “thank you” but in Navajo it’s actually “a’héhee’”
I enjoyed this fun, little Western coming-of-age story. Just like Clay, it’s hard not to fall in love with the beauty of all the Southwest has to offer. But now I need to go visit Escalante area...
I enjoyed this fun, little Western coming-of-age story. Just like Clay, it’s hard not to fall in love with the beauty of all the Southwest has to offer. But now I need to go visit Escalante area...
July 23, 2017
Probably one the most captivating books I have read by Will Hobbs. I happen to like burros and reading about the Southwest, so the escapes with Little Burrito with burro's mother (Hal), were totally hysterical. Please see Kirkus Review for more detail at: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
October 11, 2025
This book has been at my mom’s house for a long time. Decided to read it bc I was stuck in a reading rut. Pretty cute kids western book. A little outlandish for a kid his age to have THAT kind of adventure. But still fun.
November 1, 2019
Interesting adventure story, but the love interests got old, and unnecessary for a good junior high book. (couple of instances of misusing God's name)
February 1, 2021
One of the better younger age books I read. I still found myself not always wanting to pick it up though.
November 15, 2022
Good story, with adventure, a little disaster, and assorted surprises.
August 15, 2023
It would have been one star but the ending made up
September 3, 2025
this was a great book
July 2, 2025
What an adorable adventure to tag along on! I loved the spirit of adventure portrayed in this book through Clay’s ambition and curiosity. I also enjoyed learning about the Navajo and the geography of Utah and about cows and horses. I also found such great importance in Clay’s recovery and take aways from his brother going home early and the heartbreak he went through, yet his resilience and bravery and overall decision to hold onto his adventurous spirit and see where it takes him is what got him through. I also think the attention given to what makes a good person is so important for younger generations to start chewing on, and the way it is gently presented in this book is so healing and thoughtful. Each word was crafted with intent and purpose. (Only giving it 4 stars, bc it is a young adult book - not my person preference, but that just me)
February 5, 2015
The book The Big Wander is about a kid named Clay with his brother Mike looking for their uncle Clay who Clay was named after. He was a professional boxer and Clay wanted to see him again. Claymeets many problems like Mike's emotional problems,girl problems, and actually finding uncle Clay.
I can connect to the World how so many people have ran off to do something they wanted to do, like College. They go off to study and everything and that is like uncle Clay. Uncle Clay ran off to the West to see sights and find horses. So I understand how Clay feels like trying to find uncle Clay. They think that he is dead and everything because he hasnt called or written in a long time.
I rated this book a two out of five star because Clay never faces another charcter conflict, besides in letters and all the mean words people say Clay has never met someone and had a fight. I did like how detailed they were to the setting. You can see the table Clay is sitting at and the people dancing around him. You can notice the little things like a clang from a pinball machine.
I can connect to the World how so many people have ran off to do something they wanted to do, like College. They go off to study and everything and that is like uncle Clay. Uncle Clay ran off to the West to see sights and find horses. So I understand how Clay feels like trying to find uncle Clay. They think that he is dead and everything because he hasnt called or written in a long time.
I rated this book a two out of five star because Clay never faces another charcter conflict, besides in letters and all the mean words people say Clay has never met someone and had a fight. I did like how detailed they were to the setting. You can see the table Clay is sitting at and the people dancing around him. You can notice the little things like a clang from a pinball machine.
May 7, 2013
This book takes you on an adventure with a young man named Clay. Clay is a City boy from Seattle, but him and his brother decide to go to the southwest to look for their uncle that they haven't talked to in some time. I liked how you could see a lot of growth in Clay over the span of the book. The ending of the book isn't as built up as a lot of other books and the book was over pretty quick. I think it was more realistic though than a lot of other adventure books.
I would recommend this book to people that like the outdoors, and especially the wild west. This isn't a classic western, but it has some of those elements.
warnings:
drugs: none
Violence: a gun is pulled on someone
sex: none
Rock n roll: none
language; none
I would recommend this book to people that like the outdoors, and especially the wild west. This isn't a classic western, but it has some of those elements.
warnings:
drugs: none
Violence: a gun is pulled on someone
sex: none
Rock n roll: none
language; none
May 16, 2013
I thought this book started off a little slow, but it picked up in the middle and I ended up really liking it. I really liked the protagonist, and it almost gave me that same feel as Hatchet. It's one of those books I can imagine reading to my kids at bed time.
This book also had a lot of fun facts. I learned a lot about Indian customs and the way they lived. Plus this was set in the 60's so there were some fun little time period things in there as well. All around it was a fun read, and a fun coming of age story. I would share this with a YA for a fun, quick read.. and to teach about a different time period too. Things have changed pretty drastically since the 60's.
Warnings:
None. Good, clean, family appropriate.
This book also had a lot of fun facts. I learned a lot about Indian customs and the way they lived. Plus this was set in the 60's so there were some fun little time period things in there as well. All around it was a fun read, and a fun coming of age story. I would share this with a YA for a fun, quick read.. and to teach about a different time period too. Things have changed pretty drastically since the 60's.
Warnings:
None. Good, clean, family appropriate.
August 6, 2016
In the summer of 1962 two brothers head from Seattle to Arizona to search for their missing uncle. When his older brother decides to return home, he misses his girlfriend, 14-year-old Clay finds a job at a trading post to stay and continue the search. He travels into Utah with a mule and a puppy, meets some friendly Navajos, a nice Mormon family, and ultimately his uncle. This is a great story about friendship, growing up, and doing the right thing no matter what. A highly recommended read, especially for boys.
March 19, 2008
this was recommended to me by a 13 year old girl and her mother, as i had just recently moved to arizona. i think their recommendation and enthusiasm added to my appreciation of this story. and the fact that i also love the southwest. i do wonder if my perspective would have been different had i read this many years ago when i was the age of its intended audience. for now, though, i appreciate the wide-eyed adventure story of a 14 year old boy saving the world on horseback.
March 4, 2008
Absolutly one of the best books i have ever read
Read
February 9, 2009JAR5-Hob
February 6, 2013
I enjoyed listening to this book with my 12 yo son each week on our way to and from bagpipe practice. He thought it was a great story which took place in early 60's and in parts of Arizona and Utah.
October 16, 2012
A seminal book of my childhood/young adulthood. Would recommend highly to any preteen boys in search of an excellent adventure in the outdoors.
April 10, 2013
Loved it from start to finish.
July 3, 2014
I love these young adult books because the information is around my neck of the woods. I believe Hobbs does a great job in getting factual information too.
July 11, 2015
A great adventure.
October 27, 2015
This isn't high brow literature, but sometimes you just need a fun story. Based loosely on a true story, it is adventurous and fun. It has a good ending, but was rather abrupt.
January 10, 2016
A solid young adult novel inspired by the life of Everett Ruess, whose letters I'm currently reading.
July 13, 2009
Classroom library
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