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Sammy Keyes #11
Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things
This is not the summer camping trip of Sammy's dreams. She imagined shady glades, meandering streams, a deer or two. What she gets are scrubby shrubs, blazing sun, rattlesnakes, ticks, and scorpions. Her fellow campers are desperate to catch a rare glimpse of an endangered condor. To Sammy, the trip is nothing more than the painful in pursuit of the unspeakably ugly.
But when she and two other girls find an injured condor, Sammy's intrigued at last. As they track down a clue, they stumble onto two classmates and wind up lost. Which leaves three girls and two boys in a canyon with one tent and six billion biting flies. Oh—and an armed and dangerous highstakes poacher.
S'mores anyone?
The Sammy Keyes mysteries are fast-paced, funny, thoroughly modern, and true whodunits. Each mystery is exciting and dramatic, but it's the drama in Sammy's personal life that keeps readers coming back to see what happens next with her love interest Casey, her soap-star mother, and her mysterious father.
But when she and two other girls find an injured condor, Sammy's intrigued at last. As they track down a clue, they stumble onto two classmates and wind up lost. Which leaves three girls and two boys in a canyon with one tent and six billion biting flies. Oh—and an armed and dangerous highstakes poacher.
S'mores anyone?
The Sammy Keyes mysteries are fast-paced, funny, thoroughly modern, and true whodunits. Each mystery is exciting and dramatic, but it's the drama in Sammy's personal life that keeps readers coming back to see what happens next with her love interest Casey, her soap-star mother, and her mysterious father.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2007
26 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
Wendelin Van Draanen
47 books2,184 followersWendelin Van Draanen has written more than thirty novels for young readers and teens. She is the author of the 18-book Edgar-winning Sammy Keyes series, and wrote Flipped which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by SLJ, and became a Warner Brothers feature film with Rob Reiner directing. Her novel The Running Dream was awarded ALA’s Schneider Family Award for its portrayal of the disability experience.
Van Draanen's latest book, Hope in the Mail, is part memoir, part writing guided, designed to encourage aspiring writers to pursue their dream.
Van Draanen is also the author of two short chapter-book series. The Gecko & Sticky books, are fun read-alouds, perfect for reluctant readers, and the Shredderman books—featuring a boy who deals with a bully—received the Christopher Award for “affirming the highest values of the human spirit” and became a Nickelodeon made-for-TV movie.
Van Draanen was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. She and her husband reside in California and have two sons.
Van Draanen's latest book, Hope in the Mail, is part memoir, part writing guided, designed to encourage aspiring writers to pursue their dream.
Van Draanen is also the author of two short chapter-book series. The Gecko & Sticky books, are fun read-alouds, perfect for reluctant readers, and the Shredderman books—featuring a boy who deals with a bully—received the Christopher Award for “affirming the highest values of the human spirit” and became a Nickelodeon made-for-TV movie.
Van Draanen was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. She and her husband reside in California and have two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 31, 2008
This was about really annoying birds and Sammy and Casey getting closer.
February 11, 2016
lately, the sammy keyes series has totally been my crack. i sped my way through all of them and am now waiting anxiously for the next one to be released in the fall. they are nothing like i thought they were and just so, so good overall. i think "and the art of deception" was my favorite, but this one is probably batting second.
January 9, 2024
I just want to know where my real life Casey Acosta is. Considerate, funny, supportive, sweet, caring, literally perfect??? The blister scene?? Literally the main thing I remembered about this book was that scene. It sounds weird, but the fact that this boy took care of Sammy’s horrible, painful foot blisters in such a tender, gentle way… it is a truly beautiful depiction of love. In general, throughout this book, despite Sammy being a general outdoorsy mess, he isn’t fazed by the unkemptness of her appearance, her chapped lips, her blistered feet, her matted hair, any of that. He just sees Sammy and stands by her no matter what. It is perfect.
Also, I actually misremembered the culprit for this one, so it was fun being proven wrong.
And it makes me laugh that in this book, the minor character Cassie suddenly gets a nickname, “Cricket.” I assume what happened was that when Cricket became a major character in this book, Wendelin Van Draanen was like “oh no, I can’t have Cassie AND Casey as two of the MCs,” so she gave Cassie a nickname. Which, fair. That would be super confusing. XD
A shoutout to Billy Pratt for being a goof and making roasted rattlesnake seem like the best meal ever. And this book made me have a new appreciation for condors.
Also, I actually misremembered the culprit for this one, so it was fun being proven wrong.
And it makes me laugh that in this book, the minor character Cassie suddenly gets a nickname, “Cricket.” I assume what happened was that when Cricket became a major character in this book, Wendelin Van Draanen was like “oh no, I can’t have Cassie AND Casey as two of the MCs,” so she gave Cassie a nickname. Which, fair. That would be super confusing. XD
A shoutout to Billy Pratt for being a goof and making roasted rattlesnake seem like the best meal ever. And this book made me have a new appreciation for condors.
June 27, 2008
Yes! Casey and Sammy go camping!
July 22, 2020
5 Stars.
Audible.
Audible.
March 4, 2024
24.03.03
not her best
not her best
Want to read
February 18, 2008this is the latest sammy keyes book, so I want to read it. i like these books- it's my favorite mystery series. the mysteries are really interesting, and sammy keyes is awesome. I love it when I find out who's the culprit a second before sammy does.
March 10, 2008
this (and along with the rest of the series) is a GREAT BOOK. i want to find out what happens with the whole casey/heather/sammy drama i know it will be good when it come s out th\is month.
IF IT COMES OUT
I WANT TO KNOW MORE!!
IF IT COMES OUT
I WANT TO KNOW MORE!!
June 11, 2008
I love this series, have followed it closely since the first. Although there is quite a bit of a time gap between books, so much so that I feared this would never come out, the books are great! Good little mysteries for teens and fun-loving adults.
July 25, 2008
I just finished reading this book ten minutes ago. It was so good!! I love this series and this was probably the best one yet! So many new characters were introduced and so many relationships were built. I can't wait to read the next one!
July 28, 2007
The best Sammy book yet. Good mystery, fun new characters, and realistic developments in the Sammy/Casey romance. I wish these books had been around when I was that age.
November 21, 2007
My favorite one of the Sammy Keyes series! I love this book! So mysterious & suspenseful! Action-packed!
December 29, 2007
These books are pee-your-pants funny. And mysterious. It's like two of my favorite genres in one. I think I like this book the best because Sammy makes new friends and becomes closer with others.
January 29, 2008
Just read because it is nominated for the Edgar award for children's mysteries. It was a quick read about the saving the condor, camping, and friendship. Would be ok in an elementary school.
September 3, 2008
i love Billy in this book!
April 21, 2008
Great book. Love it!
September 14, 2008
loved it!!
sammy is so cool.....
sammy is so cool.....
September 19, 2008
As always this was extremely funny. It has that middle school wit, you know? Well, I really enjoyed all the Sammy Keyes books and I know you will too.
Read
October 13, 2008awsome
October 23, 2008
This is a really nice book. Its a mystery but includes a little of Sammy's wild life side as she tries to protect endangered birds from being killed.
December 20, 2008
I love these books. Sammy Keyes is like Kinsey Millhone teenage version.
Read
December 29, 2008This book is awesome! I love mysteries.
December 31, 2008
All of the Sammy Keyes are really good. They are suspensful, well written mysteries. Read them, I tell ya.
February 6, 2009
This is one of the better Sammy Keyes books that I have read. I enjoyed the setting, the somewhat kooky new friends, and the possibility of romance for Sammy.
April 14, 2009
Terrific! I'm surprised I haven't heard of this series before. I adore Sammy's voice; it's filled with life, spunk, humor. I would shove this book in the hands of any middle schooler, boy or girl.
March 13, 2012
Another fantastic Sammy Keyes mystery. Van Draanen doesn't get half the credit she deserves for her writing.
October 3, 2017
After finishing this book, I was reminded why this was my favorite book so far from this series. It was absolutely hilarious and funny and sweet. Also, the absence of Heather for the majority of the book made this a less stressful book and I'm glad Lady Lana was not in it as well.
I just want to highlight some of my favorite scenes in this:
#1: When Casey and Billy bumped into Sammy and Cricket in the forest
#2: When Casey fixed up Sammy's feet and blisters
#3: When Casey didn't want to cuss in front of his crush aka Sammy
#4: When it was only Billy, Casey, and Sammy around the camp fire and Billy shared his snake with his bro (Casey) and his bro's crush and Sammy was sharing Casey's jacket to keep warm which means she was real close and snuggling up to him if you think about it
#5: Billy roasting and making fun of Gabby at every possible moment she was being annoying
#6: The friendship between Casey, Sammy, Gary, and Cricket (they were seriously awesome together and I liked how Gary became more involved in Cricket's life again)
#7: Sammy FINALLY telling Casey the truth about her living situation because now he understands her way better and doesn't have to wonder if she's just brushing him off when she avoids him or ends her phone calls abruptly
#8: when Casey hUGGED SAMMY FROM BEHIND AND RESTED HIS HEAD ON HER SHOULDER WHEN THEY WERE WATCHING THE CONDORS FLY OFF ( I AM STILL FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SOOOOOOOOO CUUUUTTTEEEEEE )
So as you can tell, any scenes with Casey were my fave ones XD
I hope that we will still see Cricket in the upcoming books but I have a feeling we wont. I just really liked her and Gary and wouldn't mind seeing more of them.
Also,
YOU GUYS I ALMOST FORGOT A SCENE: WHEN SAMMY MADE THE SAME MISTAKE AND TOLD WARREN EVERYTHING INSTEAD OF CASEY! I DIED FROM LAUGHTER XD
I just want to highlight some of my favorite scenes in this:
#1: When Casey and Billy bumped into Sammy and Cricket in the forest
#2: When Casey fixed up Sammy's feet and blisters
#3: When Casey didn't want to cuss in front of his crush aka Sammy
#4: When it was only Billy, Casey, and Sammy around the camp fire and Billy shared his snake with his bro (Casey) and his bro's crush and Sammy was sharing Casey's jacket to keep warm which means she was real close and snuggling up to him if you think about it
#5: Billy roasting and making fun of Gabby at every possible moment she was being annoying
#6: The friendship between Casey, Sammy, Gary, and Cricket (they were seriously awesome together and I liked how Gary became more involved in Cricket's life again)
#7: Sammy FINALLY telling Casey the truth about her living situation because now he understands her way better and doesn't have to wonder if she's just brushing him off when she avoids him or ends her phone calls abruptly
#8: when Casey hUGGED SAMMY FROM BEHIND AND RESTED HIS HEAD ON HER SHOULDER WHEN THEY WERE WATCHING THE CONDORS FLY OFF ( I AM STILL FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SOOOOOOOOO CUUUUTTTEEEEEE )
So as you can tell, any scenes with Casey were my fave ones XD
I hope that we will still see Cricket in the upcoming books but I have a feeling we wont. I just really liked her and Gary and wouldn't mind seeing more of them.
Also,
YOU GUYS I ALMOST FORGOT A SCENE: WHEN SAMMY MADE THE SAME MISTAKE AND TOLD WARREN EVERYTHING INSTEAD OF CASEY! I DIED FROM LAUGHTER XD
June 9, 2023
I've been reading one book from this series each month this year and I look forward to it every month. I never want the series to end!
Some thoughts:
-I really loved seeing Sammy's struggles with camping and learning about Condor birds
-I just love Sammy's character and watching her figure out friends and everything
-It was nice to have a break from so much of Heather
-I love, love, love Casey and the way he and Sammy are friends but also have a crush on each other
-I love how so many of the side characters, like Billy
-The mysteries are really fun but I really read these because I love the characters
Some thoughts:
-I really loved seeing Sammy's struggles with camping and learning about Condor birds
-I just love Sammy's character and watching her figure out friends and everything
-It was nice to have a break from so much of Heather
-I love, love, love Casey and the way he and Sammy are friends but also have a crush on each other
-I love how so many of the side characters, like Billy
-The mysteries are really fun but I really read these because I love the characters
October 19, 2022
My least favorite in the series so far. Sometimes I had trouble understanding where Sammy got a certain piece of information, I thought it was contrived that Cricket and Sammy managed to find the boys in the woods (and didn’t believe their parents would let two fourteen-year-olds go backpacking unsupervised), and I really don’t like Billy Pratt. But it was still good, and I do like that the cast of characters aren’t the same every book. Makes it feel more realistic, where it’s not always you and your three best friends together all the time.
February 7, 2023
The mystery In this book is very the rescuers down under. I love that Sammy is shown out of her element a little bit, and for being a “tough” girl is shown as vulnerable/ not automatically good at camping because she’s strong. And, of course the unconditional love of Casey Acosta— Ever since 8th grade I just wanted a boy that would love me even if I had blisters, sucked at camping, had a sunburn, was dirty, and drooled!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews