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The Wild Book
"The idea of a wild book on which to let words sprout is one that should speak to those with reading difficulties and to aspiring poets as well." — School Library Journal Fefa struggles with words. She has word blindness, or dyslexia, and the doctor says she will never read or write. Every time she tries, the letters jumble and spill off the page, leaping away like bullfrogs. How will she ever understand them? But her mother has an idea. She gives Fefa a blank book filled with clean white pages. "Think of it as a garden," she says. Soon Fefa starts to sprinkle words across the pages of her wild book. She lets her words sprout like seedlings, shaky at first, then growing stronger and surer with each new day. And when her family is threatened, it is what Fefa has learned from her wild book that saves them. This glowing portrait in verse of Margarita Engle's Cuban grandmother as a young girl struggling with dyslexia is not to be missed.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
25 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
About the author
Margarita Engle
73 books392 followersMargarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
November 6, 2011
Review of an advance copy:
This book, featuring Margarita Engle's lovely free-verse, is based on the life of Ms. Engle's grandmother. 11-year-old Fefa (Josefa) has dyslexia. The local doctor calls it "word blindness" and suggests that Fefa will never be able to read or write. Fortunately, Mamá has faith in her daughter and insists on patience and perseverance. And, despite the teasing from her siblings and the doctor's harsh verdict, Fefa also has an indomitable spirit. Her persistence begins to pay off as reading becomes less of a challenge, and Fefa's careful studying of words even leads her to save her family from the threat of a bandit. I enjoyed Fefa's voice and her story and her portrayal of family life. This is one of Margarita Engle's strongest books yet.
This book, featuring Margarita Engle's lovely free-verse, is based on the life of Ms. Engle's grandmother. 11-year-old Fefa (Josefa) has dyslexia. The local doctor calls it "word blindness" and suggests that Fefa will never be able to read or write. Fortunately, Mamá has faith in her daughter and insists on patience and perseverance. And, despite the teasing from her siblings and the doctor's harsh verdict, Fefa also has an indomitable spirit. Her persistence begins to pay off as reading becomes less of a challenge, and Fefa's careful studying of words even leads her to save her family from the threat of a bandit. I enjoyed Fefa's voice and her story and her portrayal of family life. This is one of Margarita Engle's strongest books yet.
July 20, 2012
This book is about the author's grandmother who grew up in Cuba in 1912. She has dyslexia and tries to get her words out with poems and uses this to tell her story. I really like the idea of this book and the subject matter but to be honest I got kind of bored about half way through and lost interest. Finally I got tired of seeing it on my shelf so I decided to finish it. Not sure who I would recommend it too? It was okay, I'd give it 2 1/2 stars if we could give 1/2 stars.
Read
April 16, 2021There is so much about this that is good and that makes this possibly my favorite of Engle's books (or maybe second after Forest Secrets. There are so many ways that I think Cuban history is better represented and explained here than in many of her fictionalized biographies. And, at least as far as I can tell from not having dyslexia myself, I think it was a very respectful and accurate portrayal of what it's like to struggle with it? But what might work perfectly well in any other book doesn't in this one--the stutters and sounding words out, and the ¡Ay! Why? repeated refrain don't work, because they're in English, but everything in the book is actually happening in Spanish. Everything else is so well done, but that problem just really pulls me out of the story.
December 8, 2012
I love Engle's verse novels of Cuban history and this one is based on her grandmother's experience growing up with "word blindness" or dyslexia as we know it today. A blank book, a gift from her mother, helps the girl have a place to explore language. A wild book. My sixth grade girls keep raving about this at our book club so I had to get to it. They are right. It is lovely.
March 3, 2023
"While I think of battles
and my own struggle
to read, I begin stringing
a bright necklace
of shiny red and black
chocho seeds,
even though I know
that the prettiest parts of wild plants
are often the most
poisonous.
Gardens of thought
are not always
peaceful."
This is a book that I wish I had been able to read when I was young. I struggles so much with learning to read, and yet, like the main character in this story, I longed for the words and stories. It would have done me so much good as a young person to have a character I could connect with over dyslexia, and I'm glad that kids can have that now.
Outside of that aspect, I'm also glad to see how the struggle to read informs her life and relationships with others outside of school itself. That's not something often touched on in fiction when dyslexia IS approached topically.
This author just has a lot of hard hitting and thoughtful verses and I still haven't gotten tired of them.
and my own struggle
to read, I begin stringing
a bright necklace
of shiny red and black
chocho seeds,
even though I know
that the prettiest parts of wild plants
are often the most
poisonous.
Gardens of thought
are not always
peaceful."
This is a book that I wish I had been able to read when I was young. I struggles so much with learning to read, and yet, like the main character in this story, I longed for the words and stories. It would have done me so much good as a young person to have a character I could connect with over dyslexia, and I'm glad that kids can have that now.
Outside of that aspect, I'm also glad to see how the struggle to read informs her life and relationships with others outside of school itself. That's not something often touched on in fiction when dyslexia IS approached topically.
This author just has a lot of hard hitting and thoughtful verses and I still haven't gotten tired of them.
October 3, 2018
"The doctor's tired voice
no longer sounds like a hiss.
Perhaps my way of hearing
has somehow
changed."
Fefa is diagnosed with word blindness (dyslexia) and the doctor says she will never read or write. In a family and community that composes poems as gifts and celebrates holidays with poetry contests, that disconnect is catastrophic. But Fefa's mother gives her a book of blank pages, where the words can grow wild, and slowly, s-l-o-w-l-y, the words began to come together.'
Based on the true story of the author's grandmother, this story in poem form is beautiful and hopeful.
no longer sounds like a hiss.
Perhaps my way of hearing
has somehow
changed."
Fefa is diagnosed with word blindness (dyslexia) and the doctor says she will never read or write. In a family and community that composes poems as gifts and celebrates holidays with poetry contests, that disconnect is catastrophic. But Fefa's mother gives her a book of blank pages, where the words can grow wild, and slowly, s-l-o-w-l-y, the words began to come together.'
Based on the true story of the author's grandmother, this story in poem form is beautiful and hopeful.
Read
June 3, 2017Funnily enough, I struggle with reading verse-novels, but it didn't take long for me to be drawn into Fefa's story. The setting is beautifully shared and learning more about the characters as Fefa's strength and confidence in her own writing grew was great.
July 16, 2019
I love Margarita Engle's books. They're so thoughtful and beautiful and vivid. I can see the world through her words. Fefa is someone that you will instantly care about. Fefa struggles to read. Luckily, she has people who won't give up on her. Through them she learns patience and begins to have faith in herself. This is a beautiful story about family and the power of stories.
January 21, 2026
This book was really enlightening. I love reading verse! I am glad I got to understand dyslexia a little more.
October 20, 2018
A book, written in verse, talking about the struggle a young girl with dyslexia faces with words each day. Each page is another entry in her book that shows the progression of her struggle. I am excited to share this book with my middle school readers to give them a unique perspective on dyslexia set in the backdrop of Cuba.
March 19, 2020
The Wild Book is based on the life of the author's grandmother, Josefa de la Caridad Uria Pena. The book is told in verse about the struggles and hardships Margarita Engle's grandmother went through while growing up. The Wild Book introduces a girl named Fefa who struggles with "word blindness", which we call today as dyslexia. Fefa was diagnosed with “word blindness” and was told that she would never read or write because it was such a hardship for her and she was not obtaining it right away like others her age. Whenever she would write or try to read, it was like the words were "falling off the pages" and difficult syllables were unable to come out, or it was hard to speak about the words OUT LOUD. Luckily, Fefa’s mother has an idea. She gives her daughter a blank book to fill with words, as if she is scattering wildflower seeds on the ground. At first Fefa’s words are hesitant and stilted, like seedlings. However, as the verse flow throughout the story, Fefa slowly grows in her writing and her reading starts improve as she learns to take her time and gains confidence. The story is based off a true story during a time period when chaos broke out following Cuba's wars for independence from Spain. It was a time when bandits would steal from others as well as destroy property, laws were broken, and they would kidnap children and threaten families in demand for money.
I believe Engle does a excellent job formatting this piece of poetry using the voice of her grandmother who experienced this true event and her own life. It shows a beautiful celebration of history and the powerful words that is presented to the reader. The author shows a lot of imagery throughout the pages and she allows the readers to imagine the specific moments that the character is feeling through the vivid, expressive language. When the author emphasized the character having reading difficulties and she presented in the text of the Fefa having to read "out loud", with it being in all caps, you could feel the character's challenge that she was consistently facing. Fefa wanting her reading and writing to be heard and recognized by others, without mistakes, but simple couldn't because it was difficult and took time for her.
I could see this piece of text being used for a social studies unit on history of Cuba's fight for independence and learning more about it. I feel like this book would need to have some background knowledge on the historical event because I did not know about it and struggled to follow it at times. This poetic book could also be used for a poetry unit and it can be deeply analyzed to recognize the language and vivid movements the author uses with her words to allow readers to feel it.
I believe Engle does a excellent job formatting this piece of poetry using the voice of her grandmother who experienced this true event and her own life. It shows a beautiful celebration of history and the powerful words that is presented to the reader. The author shows a lot of imagery throughout the pages and she allows the readers to imagine the specific moments that the character is feeling through the vivid, expressive language. When the author emphasized the character having reading difficulties and she presented in the text of the Fefa having to read "out loud", with it being in all caps, you could feel the character's challenge that she was consistently facing. Fefa wanting her reading and writing to be heard and recognized by others, without mistakes, but simple couldn't because it was difficult and took time for her.
I could see this piece of text being used for a social studies unit on history of Cuba's fight for independence and learning more about it. I feel like this book would need to have some background knowledge on the historical event because I did not know about it and struggled to follow it at times. This poetic book could also be used for a poetry unit and it can be deeply analyzed to recognize the language and vivid movements the author uses with her words to allow readers to feel it.
April 4, 2012
Fefa cannot read because she suffers from "word-blindness" or dyslexia. Her mother gives her a blank book to write her own words. Scrawling her wild words into the book gives Fefa growing confidence and provides her insight that saves her family at a crucial moment.
Based on Engle's grandmother's childhood experiences growing up during the chaos after Cuba's fight for independence from Spain.
This novel in verse contains so many wonderful images. One of my favorites:
Storytelling
No one in my family
ever throws anything away.
not even an old story
that can be told and retold
Based on Engle's grandmother's childhood experiences growing up during the chaos after Cuba's fight for independence from Spain.
This novel in verse contains so many wonderful images. One of my favorites:
Storytelling
No one in my family
ever throws anything away.
not even an old story
that can be told and retold
October 31, 2016
This book is a beautifully written free verse novel, and I felt like I had a better grasp on the struggle people with dyslexia have after I read it. I also learned about the situation in Cuba in the early 1900s, which I was completely unaware of before. I gave it four stars instead of five because I don't know that the format and lyricism will be as appealing to the young age of the readers it is geared toward as it is for me as an adult.
November 20, 2021
Read it one sitting! It's everything I hoped it would be and more. I didn't realize it was based off the author's grandmother's experiences growing up in a lawless Cuba!
Interesting history!
Beautiful, poetic language!
Fantastic messages about being persistant!
Interesting history!
Beautiful, poetic language!
Fantastic messages about being persistant!
June 16, 2022
Another ostensibly upper grade/middle school novel that is so inspiring and so beautifully written that it has appeal and value for all ages. A few quotes from the book:
"I don't understand
the whole thrilling verse,
but I love the way poetry
turns ordinary words
into winged things
that rise up
and soar."
".........listen
to the natural poem-songs
whistled and whooshed
by water, birds, wind,
......."
Need I say more? As a child, the poet's grandmother was diagnosed with "word blindness." School was torture for her as she struggled with what is now known as dyslexia. She was teased unmercifully by most people, but her kind compassionate mother, who loved poetry, found a way to help. Later, a brother who had always teased her became a patient, kind, and encouraging teacher.
Readers are also immersed into the turbulent history of early twentieth century Cuba and into the music of Cuban poetry. This book will encourage readers to learn more about Cuba, an island that is ninety miles away from Florida, but a world away in our understanding.
"I don't understand
the whole thrilling verse,
but I love the way poetry
turns ordinary words
into winged things
that rise up
and soar."
".........listen
to the natural poem-songs
whistled and whooshed
by water, birds, wind,
......."
Need I say more? As a child, the poet's grandmother was diagnosed with "word blindness." School was torture for her as she struggled with what is now known as dyslexia. She was teased unmercifully by most people, but her kind compassionate mother, who loved poetry, found a way to help. Later, a brother who had always teased her became a patient, kind, and encouraging teacher.
Readers are also immersed into the turbulent history of early twentieth century Cuba and into the music of Cuban poetry. This book will encourage readers to learn more about Cuba, an island that is ninety miles away from Florida, but a world away in our understanding.
March 1, 2018
I think this is such a cool book for many reasons:
The main character, Fefa, struggles with dyslexia (the book uses the term from the time, word-blindness) and is also a hero. The book offers an interesting glimpse into how people lived with dyslexia in times where there was less understanding of the disability and fewer resources available.
The book takes place in 1912, during Cuba's first years of independence from Spain. It depicts some of the chaos and lawlessness of the time. I don't know much about this time period in Cuba, so I enjoyed reading about it.
This book is also a love letter to poetry and the oral tradition. It is written in non-rhyming verse, with each poem functioning as a different "chapter". Fefa enjoys adivinanzas (riddles) and shares them in the book. Her mom is a fan of poetry who names two of her sons "Rubén" and "Darío", and several of the characters participate in a poetry-reciting contest. It brought back memories of my own Cuban grandparents sharing poetry with me.
DD1 enjoyed this book as well!
The main character, Fefa, struggles with dyslexia (the book uses the term from the time, word-blindness) and is also a hero. The book offers an interesting glimpse into how people lived with dyslexia in times where there was less understanding of the disability and fewer resources available.
The book takes place in 1912, during Cuba's first years of independence from Spain. It depicts some of the chaos and lawlessness of the time. I don't know much about this time period in Cuba, so I enjoyed reading about it.
This book is also a love letter to poetry and the oral tradition. It is written in non-rhyming verse, with each poem functioning as a different "chapter". Fefa enjoys adivinanzas (riddles) and shares them in the book. Her mom is a fan of poetry who names two of her sons "Rubén" and "Darío", and several of the characters participate in a poetry-reciting contest. It brought back memories of my own Cuban grandparents sharing poetry with me.
DD1 enjoyed this book as well!
December 30, 2020
Another ostensibly upper grade/middle school novel that is so inspiring and so beautifully written that it has appeal and value for all ages. A few quotes from the book:
"I don't understand
the whole thrilling verse,
but I love the way poetry
turns ordinary words
into winged things
that rise up
and soar."
".........listen
to the natural poem-songs
whistled and whooshed
by water, birds, wind,
......."
Need I say more? As a child, the poet's grandmother was diagnosed with "word blindness." School was torture for her as she struggled with what is now known as dyslexia. She was teased unmercifully by most people, but her kind compassionate mother, who loved poetry, found a way to help. Later, a brother who had always teased her became a patient, kind, and encouraging teacher.
Readers are also immersed into the turbulent history of early twentieth century Cuba and into the music of Cuban poetry. This book will encourage readers to learn more about Cuba, an island that is ninety miles away from Florida, but a world away in our understanding.
"I don't understand
the whole thrilling verse,
but I love the way poetry
turns ordinary words
into winged things
that rise up
and soar."
".........listen
to the natural poem-songs
whistled and whooshed
by water, birds, wind,
......."
Need I say more? As a child, the poet's grandmother was diagnosed with "word blindness." School was torture for her as she struggled with what is now known as dyslexia. She was teased unmercifully by most people, but her kind compassionate mother, who loved poetry, found a way to help. Later, a brother who had always teased her became a patient, kind, and encouraging teacher.
Readers are also immersed into the turbulent history of early twentieth century Cuba and into the music of Cuban poetry. This book will encourage readers to learn more about Cuba, an island that is ninety miles away from Florida, but a world away in our understanding.
May 1, 2018
Excerpts:
FLY TO THE TRUTH OF DREAMS
After my mother finishes her seascape,
one of my uncles recites
a long poem about the sky,
where sun spirits
ride glowing chariots,
and there is someone
who knows how to fly
toward the truth
of dreams...
I don't understand
the whole thrilling verse,
but I love the way poetry
turns ordinary words
into winged things
that rise up
and soar!
DISCOVERING MY VOICE
The parrot on the roof
wails and shrieks, copying
Mamá's desperate prayers
as she begs for a miracle
of healing.
Tear-streaked and silent,
I feel so useless, so helpless-
until an imaginary wild book
opens up, inside my mind.
Quietly, I begin picturing letters,
syllables, and invisible wings,
sending a trail of bird-words
soaring toward heaven.
My silent voice feels
powerful and LOUD.
FLY TO THE TRUTH OF DREAMS
After my mother finishes her seascape,
one of my uncles recites
a long poem about the sky,
where sun spirits
ride glowing chariots,
and there is someone
who knows how to fly
toward the truth
of dreams...
I don't understand
the whole thrilling verse,
but I love the way poetry
turns ordinary words
into winged things
that rise up
and soar!
DISCOVERING MY VOICE
The parrot on the roof
wails and shrieks, copying
Mamá's desperate prayers
as she begs for a miracle
of healing.
Tear-streaked and silent,
I feel so useless, so helpless-
until an imaginary wild book
opens up, inside my mind.
Quietly, I begin picturing letters,
syllables, and invisible wings,
sending a trail of bird-words
soaring toward heaven.
My silent voice feels
powerful and LOUD.
October 4, 2020
This little book is in my favorite form: the novel in verse. Short and sweet. Sparse phrasing enlivens a lush atmosphere rife with challenges and small victories.
It has sat quietly in its place on a library shelf for the last eight years awaiting an eager reader, but sadly I am the only one to visit. In the length of that sitting, so many readers have passed it by in favor of something larger, more colorful or more exciting. As I contemplate the month of dyslexia awareness seeking to develop some understanding and empathy, I relish this tale about a young girl who deals with an old problem. And many others in a nondescript period of time. Well worth the hour it will probably take you to read it.
It has sat quietly in its place on a library shelf for the last eight years awaiting an eager reader, but sadly I am the only one to visit. In the length of that sitting, so many readers have passed it by in favor of something larger, more colorful or more exciting. As I contemplate the month of dyslexia awareness seeking to develop some understanding and empathy, I relish this tale about a young girl who deals with an old problem. And many others in a nondescript period of time. Well worth the hour it will probably take you to read it.
November 15, 2018
Fefa struggles with words. She has word blindness, or dyslexia, and the doctor says she will never read or write. Every time she tries, the letters jumble and spill off the page, leaping and hopping away like bullfrogs. How will she ever understand them?But her mother has an idea. She gives Fefa a blank book filled with clean white pages. "Think of it as a garden," she says. Soon Fefa starts to sprinkle words across the pages of her wild book. She lets her words sprout like seedlings, shaky at first, then growing stronger and surer with each new day. And when her family is threatened, it is what Fefa has learned from her wild book that saves them.
February 21, 2026
To preface, this book is one that my fourth grade students are about to read and discuss. This novel is a good short read that has a unique verse-structure and interesting figurative language (which I am excited to discuss with my students). I enjoyed the overall premise and the growth that is shown through Fefa’s character, but the end did feel a bit abrupt. I saw a lot of similarities with this book and the poetry book “Love That Dog,” which we have previously read. I am curious to see how my initial thoughts will change after discussing the plot and writing with my fourth graders!
June 28, 2018
This was a sweet book. The writing is not particularly brilliant or beautiful, but the story is interesting and told well, a fascinating glimpse of childhood in Cuba in somewhat recent history. Plus the story would be great for children with dyslexia because the main character is dyslexic and the story is written as if she is writing it, in short, simple verses that are less daunting than traditionally narrative formats for anyone who has trouble reading.
September 15, 2020
3 stars
I honestly don’t have very many thoughts on this book. It was okay, but I didn’t really feel anything while I was reading it. I thought the message was nice and I loved reading a middle grade historical fiction set outside of the US. I think younger readers will definitely enjoy this one more, but I can definitely see the merit of it because I think the story is really valuable, but the execution wasn’t for me.
I honestly don’t have very many thoughts on this book. It was okay, but I didn’t really feel anything while I was reading it. I thought the message was nice and I loved reading a middle grade historical fiction set outside of the US. I think younger readers will definitely enjoy this one more, but I can definitely see the merit of it because I think the story is really valuable, but the execution wasn’t for me.
November 29, 2020
The selection is astounding in the presentation of poetic form and expresses the experiences of those living with a disability. This complex fictionally historical story is an appropriate addition to the intermediate child literacy curriculum. The poetry book elicits empathy from the audience and connections to historical time periods contributing to an audiobook extended class lesson learning
experience with reflection.
experience with reflection.
December 7, 2018
Read for: quick juve fiction, girlhood, life in Cuba, word-blindness/dyslexia, prose
Really sweet and lovely, but not super substantial. I wanted more poetry, and the plot point at the end felt thrown in. I think it just needed a bit more work. Still, you don't get to read much regarding Cuba. I just found this author but I'm really looking forward to what she is doing.
Really sweet and lovely, but not super substantial. I wanted more poetry, and the plot point at the end felt thrown in. I think it just needed a bit more work. Still, you don't get to read much regarding Cuba. I just found this author but I'm really looking forward to what she is doing.
December 22, 2019
Disappointed dyslexic here.
So often I am disappointed with how dyslexia is portrayed in books...only really focusing on the mixing of letters which is only a tiny bit of what it is like to be dyslexic. Unfortunately this book disappoints like all the rest.
I shall continue my journey to find a book that goes deeper and is more realistic than this... here is to hoping.
So often I am disappointed with how dyslexia is portrayed in books...only really focusing on the mixing of letters which is only a tiny bit of what it is like to be dyslexic. Unfortunately this book disappoints like all the rest.
I shall continue my journey to find a book that goes deeper and is more realistic than this... here is to hoping.
February 8, 2022
2.5 stars. This is the second book I’ve read by Margarita Engle in as many weeks and it was based on her grandmother’s coming-of-age experience in early 20th century Cuba after it had won its independence from Spain and was occupied by the U.S.
Fefa (Josefa) is dyslexic and we read her story written in verse… unfortunately, to me it was a bit boring and forgettable.
Fefa (Josefa) is dyslexic and we read her story written in verse… unfortunately, to me it was a bit boring and forgettable.
August 9, 2022
A book of poems (the non-rhyming kind) written by a fictional protagonist based on the author’s Abuelita, who grew up in Cuba’s war from independence from Spain and subsequent US occupation. Abuelita also suffered from dyslexia. As the book progresses you see her face her struggles with reading and writing, as well as the dangers of kidnappers and bandits. Great book.
November 17, 2022
Beautiful and vivid nature-based imagery throughout, but this seems like another example of a "verse novel" that might as well have been written as prose. Lovely note at the end about the author's grandmother who inspired the book. Recommended as a whole-class read aloud, mentor text for an imagery unit, or a short example of historical fiction for grades 6-7.
June 16, 2018
1912 - From Trinidad, Cuba, Fefa struggles with words. Through this beautiful quick book, she begins to see beauty and patterns as she heads into her 12th year. I'm so glad a student turned me on to this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews