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Wild
The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving - that's all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he's the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger...
Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy - he's stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.
Thrust into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he's not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.
As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade's past tear them apart?
Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy - he's stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.
Thrust into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he's not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.
As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade's past tear them apart?
435 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2014
11 people are currently reading
3097 people want to read
About the author
Alex Mallory
2 books15 followersAlex Mallory is a pen name for YA author Saundra Mitchell. She’s a big fan of reading, history, camping and competitive M&M sorting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
April 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this retelling! But it got a bit slow toward the end so that why I have it a 3.5-4 stars
April 17, 2018
Full Review
Shoutout to Aqsa for letting me know that this book existed.
As a Tarzan series and movie lover (both the animation and real), as soon as I knew a YA retelling of Tarzan existed, I just had to read it asap and I’m glad that I did.
Plot : Cade has been living in the forest all his life with his family because according to his mum, the world had basically ended because of a virus and the people remaining are infected, making the forest the only safe place to live (spoiler alert: it’s a lie). Cade lived with them until he was 13 when his dad died (his mum died earlier) and for the next 3 years, he was all alone until he comes across two teenagers camping in the forest.
Thoughts:
- I really loved this book especially Cade’s POV. It was fascinating reading about his thoughts, especially when he comes to the city and sees all these technologies for the first time. He was basically a kid in a teenager’s body. He’s such a pure, innocent boy
- There can’t be a Tarzan without a Jane and in this book, that was Dara. Dara was one of the teenagers who went camping and the other was her boyfriend.
- I shipped Cade + Dara so much and I loved how their relationship blossomed from fascinating into something real.
“It was easy to block everything out when he was with her. Every inch of her fascinated him”
Although I shipped them, a part of me was wondering if they were actually in love or maybe it was only fascination but I guess time will tell. If I met a wild (hot) guy in the forest and he seems only interested in me, I'll probably ‘love’ him too because it's different lol
I liked how this book discusses the notion of a ‘home’. When Cade comes to the city, everyone was obsessed with making sure he gets to live in a home, which meant a real house but all Cade wanted was his home in the forest, which was ‘obviously’ not a home according to social norms.
“He didn’t cry. He wouldn’t cry. He just wanted to go home”
I really felt sorry for Cade and I just wanted to scream at everyone that he already has a home but then again I understand where others were coming from. A minor living alone in the forest seems like pitiful, terrible situation.
Overall, I really loved this book and if it ever becomes a movie I nominate this guy below to play cade. I had a crush on him when he was in glee 💕😍
*************************************************************************************************
OMG, This was the purest book I have ever read. Cade a.k.a Tarzan was like a human puppy.
I was wary about reading this because of the low average rating but I loved every single page.
Shoutout to Aqsa for letting me know that this book existed.
As a Tarzan series and movie lover (both the animation and real), as soon as I knew a YA retelling of Tarzan existed, I just had to read it asap and I’m glad that I did.
Plot : Cade has been living in the forest all his life with his family because according to his mum, the world had basically ended because of a virus and the people remaining are infected, making the forest the only safe place to live (spoiler alert: it’s a lie). Cade lived with them until he was 13 when his dad died (his mum died earlier) and for the next 3 years, he was all alone until he comes across two teenagers camping in the forest.
Thoughts:
- I really loved this book especially Cade’s POV. It was fascinating reading about his thoughts, especially when he comes to the city and sees all these technologies for the first time. He was basically a kid in a teenager’s body. He’s such a pure, innocent boy
- There can’t be a Tarzan without a Jane and in this book, that was Dara. Dara was one of the teenagers who went camping and the other was her boyfriend.
- I shipped Cade + Dara so much and I loved how their relationship blossomed from fascinating into something real.
“It was easy to block everything out when he was with her. Every inch of her fascinated him”
Although I shipped them, a part of me was wondering if they were actually in love or maybe it was only fascination but I guess time will tell. If I met a wild (hot) guy in the forest and he seems only interested in me, I'll probably ‘love’ him too because it's different lol
I liked how this book discusses the notion of a ‘home’. When Cade comes to the city, everyone was obsessed with making sure he gets to live in a home, which meant a real house but all Cade wanted was his home in the forest, which was ‘obviously’ not a home according to social norms.
“He didn’t cry. He wouldn’t cry. He just wanted to go home”
I really felt sorry for Cade and I just wanted to scream at everyone that he already has a home but then again I understand where others were coming from. A minor living alone in the forest seems like pitiful, terrible situation.
Overall, I really loved this book and if it ever becomes a movie I nominate this guy below to play cade. I had a crush on him when he was in glee 💕😍
*************************************************************************************************
OMG, This was the purest book I have ever read. Cade a.k.a Tarzan was like a human puppy.
I was wary about reading this because of the low average rating but I loved every single page.
February 12, 2014
Marooned in an empty, devastated world.
Cade thought he was alone. His parents had prepared him to live in a world ravaged by a pandemic. He was an uncivilized young man living in the wild. He imagined that only a few survivors remained - until the day Dara wandered into his territory while on a camping trip with her boyfriend and shattered the realm of everything he thought he knew.
What I loved best about this story is how authentic it felt. While there was an undercurrent of attraction between the two main characters, the amount of romanticism was dialed down in favor of two characters being simply curious about one another. After all, they were from different worlds.
"There's some guy living in the middle of nowhere in clothes from the 1800s, fishing with a spear, disappearing and reappearing anywhere he wants to, and the only reason you can come up with that I'm interested is that I might want to do him?"
I mean, yeah, I was rooting for the wild boy and city girl to get together. How could I not be? But what made this story great is that it wasn't just another romance with little to no plot. Most of the fun was in seeing an untamed person adjust to life as the rest of us know it.
Fingers sliding along the surface, he made it bleat and squeal.
Ms. Fourakis popped her head out of the kitchen. "Don't buy anything else from the appstore."
As one could imagine, trying to take a boy from the wild and integrate him into society wasn't going to be easy. Throughout the read, I never really knew if Cade would be able to fit in with his new life. I think most readers are going to struck with a sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"It's okay Cade. You're doing fine."
Cade closed his eyes. He was so sick of fine.
Not gonna lie. When I saw Cade described with dark eyes and dark hair in dreads, it wasn't hard to immediately imagine Samuel Larson in my head.
I really have no complaints. It probably wouldn't have hurt for the publishers to cut a few chapters because some of the day-to-day happenings started to meander on there for a moment, but hey, I have no problems admitting to skimming those few chapters. Otherwise, I am happily surprised by what a great gem this turned out to be. I'd love to see what others think of the story! This book had characters I could get behind, a unique twist on the Tarzan theme, and the perfect amount of humor and emotional moments to tie everything together.
...and the ending. Never, have I seen an open ending handled quite this perfectly. When I was a few pages from finishing, I started to panic a little, almost unsure if I could handle this story being over without a book 2 to fall back on. But then, the ending came and I loved exactly how it finished.
Two cultures, both building pyramids to lift them to the heavens. People were beautiful.
This book provided from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All quotes taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted from the final version.
September 14, 2015
http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.nl/2...
Words to describe this book? Horrible. Disgusting. Terrible. Tagline? A failed attempt for a Tarzan retelling.
You guys, I’m not even sure where I need to get started. This book made me roll my eyes, grind my teeth and there were several times where I wanted to throw it out of the window. I only finished it, because it’s a review copy and I put more effort in those. I feel so stupid, because I could have saved myself an hour filled with frustration and stupid characters that made my eyes bleed.
To make a long, boring story short. Cade has been living in the woods since he was little, because his parents believed the world was ending. Dara and Josh are secretly camping in the woods to bring new life in their relationship. They lied to their parents and now Dara found out they are followed by someone. Anyone sane would freak out, pack their backs and leave, like Josh suggests. Instead, Dara is fascinated and she forces Josh to stay.
“What the hell? Dara, we’re leaving. Let’s start getting this stuff together.”
Dara surprised herself when she said, “No.”
“Wait, what?”
“No,” she repeated. Tugging the necklace away from him, she tucked it in her pocket. “I’m not afraid. I’m curious. I mean, if he wanted to hurt us, he could have slit our throats last night while we were sleeping.”
I was glad that Josh turned out to have more sense. Dara keeps talking smack about him, but she doesn’t deserve him. She is constantly mad at him for trying to get back to safety, but what the hell is wrong with you girl?
And what kind of jerk would he be to abandon his girlfriend in the middle of nowhere. With some weird homeless guy already on her scent, at that. Where was all her careful-at-night, parking-under-the-lights, asking-security-to-walk-her-out defensiveness now?
At this point I was already very tired of Dara and nothing happens except for her whining, but then they get into a bear attack and I was secretly hoping they would just die. That wasn’t the case, because Cade jumps in the middle and saves them, while getting seriously injured. This is how he makes his big entrance in normal society. While he is in the hospital recovering, Dara gets to spread some more of her stupidity with her dumbass friend of a Sofia.
A high-pitched tone lingered on the line. It resolved into Sofia asking, “And?”
“And what?”
“Is he hot?”
With a sigh, Dara dropped her hand in her lap. “Seriously, Sof. I’m still traumatized, for real. He was torn to shreds. I was literally holding pieces of his chest together.” Immediately penitent, Sofia apologized. “Sorry. Sorry. My whole week has been is she hot? Is he hot? Who’s hot? Am I hot? Brain is still engaged in Orlando Vision, obviously. Is he okay?”
Our precious Dara also isn’t aware of how terrible this situation is. Her parents found out she lied about her destination, she was also attacked by a bear and returns with a wounded boy with no identity. Instead of being happy that she is still allowed to leave the house, she is whining about how unfair life is.
Dara wasn’t sure why her parents had cracked down so hard. She was a good student. She didn’t get in trouble; they never had to worry about her—not like they did about Lia. And what’s more, they knew she was spending spring break with Josh. Sure, they thought it would be at Disney World, not Daniel Boone National, but so?
Only finding these quotes and using them for this review makes me mad and annoyed again, so I can’t take it any longer. It’s up to you to decide if you can stand her, but good luck with that. Oh, also, just because Cade grew up in the forest doesn’t make this a Tarzan retelling. That would be the same as a book where a girl is looking for a shoe; that doesn’t make her a Cinderella either.
Words to describe this book? Horrible. Disgusting. Terrible. Tagline? A failed attempt for a Tarzan retelling.
You guys, I’m not even sure where I need to get started. This book made me roll my eyes, grind my teeth and there were several times where I wanted to throw it out of the window. I only finished it, because it’s a review copy and I put more effort in those. I feel so stupid, because I could have saved myself an hour filled with frustration and stupid characters that made my eyes bleed.
To make a long, boring story short. Cade has been living in the woods since he was little, because his parents believed the world was ending. Dara and Josh are secretly camping in the woods to bring new life in their relationship. They lied to their parents and now Dara found out they are followed by someone. Anyone sane would freak out, pack their backs and leave, like Josh suggests. Instead, Dara is fascinated and she forces Josh to stay.
“What the hell? Dara, we’re leaving. Let’s start getting this stuff together.”
Dara surprised herself when she said, “No.”
“Wait, what?”
“No,” she repeated. Tugging the necklace away from him, she tucked it in her pocket. “I’m not afraid. I’m curious. I mean, if he wanted to hurt us, he could have slit our throats last night while we were sleeping.”
I was glad that Josh turned out to have more sense. Dara keeps talking smack about him, but she doesn’t deserve him. She is constantly mad at him for trying to get back to safety, but what the hell is wrong with you girl?
And what kind of jerk would he be to abandon his girlfriend in the middle of nowhere. With some weird homeless guy already on her scent, at that. Where was all her careful-at-night, parking-under-the-lights, asking-security-to-walk-her-out defensiveness now?
At this point I was already very tired of Dara and nothing happens except for her whining, but then they get into a bear attack and I was secretly hoping they would just die. That wasn’t the case, because Cade jumps in the middle and saves them, while getting seriously injured. This is how he makes his big entrance in normal society. While he is in the hospital recovering, Dara gets to spread some more of her stupidity with her dumbass friend of a Sofia.
A high-pitched tone lingered on the line. It resolved into Sofia asking, “And?”
“And what?”
“Is he hot?”
With a sigh, Dara dropped her hand in her lap. “Seriously, Sof. I’m still traumatized, for real. He was torn to shreds. I was literally holding pieces of his chest together.” Immediately penitent, Sofia apologized. “Sorry. Sorry. My whole week has been is she hot? Is he hot? Who’s hot? Am I hot? Brain is still engaged in Orlando Vision, obviously. Is he okay?”
Our precious Dara also isn’t aware of how terrible this situation is. Her parents found out she lied about her destination, she was also attacked by a bear and returns with a wounded boy with no identity. Instead of being happy that she is still allowed to leave the house, she is whining about how unfair life is.
Dara wasn’t sure why her parents had cracked down so hard. She was a good student. She didn’t get in trouble; they never had to worry about her—not like they did about Lia. And what’s more, they knew she was spending spring break with Josh. Sure, they thought it would be at Disney World, not Daniel Boone National, but so?
Only finding these quotes and using them for this review makes me mad and annoyed again, so I can’t take it any longer. It’s up to you to decide if you can stand her, but good luck with that. Oh, also, just because Cade grew up in the forest doesn’t make this a Tarzan retelling. That would be the same as a book where a girl is looking for a shoe; that doesn’t make her a Cinderella either.
February 3, 2015
Wild is an upcoming novel by Alex Mallory, a pen name for Saundra Mitchell. The book is a retelling of the classic Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Retellings can be done very well or fail miserably. A good author pays attention to the original themes of the source book and treats the material with respect. Alex Mallory has done just that with Wild. This is a brilliant retelling.
Cade has lived in the forest for most of his life. When he was thirteen he buried his Father, and his mother a few years before. His parents instilled in him the skills to survive off the land. They also taught him to fear the outside world. Cade believes that he is one of the last humans alive and he has little to contradict that thought until the outside world shows up on his doorstep.
Dara and Josh are spending their spring break in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. They lied to their parents, deciding to camp outdoors rather than travel to Orlando with their friends. Ideally, the trip was supposed to be relaxing and romantic. However, inept camping skills on Josh’s part leads to a few critter invasions and tempers become frayed with little food. Dara is content to take photos until she senses another presence in the woods; a feeling that she never shakes. When a disaster forces Cade to return to the world his parents fled the book becomes one of the best fish-out-of-water stories that I have read in a long time.
Mallory nailed the themes from Tarzan. What she has done to modernize it in a contemporary setting is fantastic. Tarzan’s curiosity has always been his downfall. His obsession with outsiders when they enter his midst is a turning point. Throwing in electronic devices and shopping malls and instant food and convenience… all of these things work in a way that makes the classic tale come alive. The base elements are there and the characters match the pace.
Cade is the perfect reinvention of Tarzan, quick to temper and all. His intense loyalty, his direct and truthful personality, all of it rings true. There’s not an ounce of guile in his entire body. He is precisely who he needs to be. Dara is a great counterpart to him as well as a fresh take on Jane Porter. Jane was always a damsel in distress whereas Dara holds her own in any (and all) argument(s). Some of the best moments from the book come from Dara. She has more spunk than the original heroine but I’m not mad about it. Jane needed the revamp to appeal to today’s woman and Dara hits the note perfectly.
There are a few minor plot details that I am sketchy about but they’re minor quibbles. Overall the book is superb and I am really happy that Mallory chose to write it. It’s really, bloody good.
5 out of 5 stars.
- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkkreads.com
July 10, 2014
For a full and edited review go to: Blame it on the Book
I was excited for Wild, It was even my Waiting on Wednesday one week. I’ve read a few reviews and they were mixed, also I was worried Cade would be portrayed as an idiot. Even though I was excited I was skeptical and after the first few pages I relaxed. It was everything I could ask for.
Cade had lived in the forest, at first he was with his parents until they both passed away and now for “3 Summers” he had been living in solitude. He lived alone because his mother had taught him that the world was under a pandemic and he belived it, Until he met Dara.
“Everyone is happy- young and old, diverse, and energetic. They bask in the sun and share treats, and walk arm in arm, around and around. What they are is not sick. They’re not dying”
she was on a romantic hiking trip with her Boyfriend Josh. They had both been slowly breaking up, they were high school sweethearts that where going too different colleges and had changed too much.
“In her head, it was in irrational carousel that turned and turned. We’re together, we’re in love; we’re doomed, this time is wasted.”
It was a last chance to fix their relationship but that was thwarted when Cade started following Dara.
After an awful event Dara had to take Cade back to the town. Because it was such a small town everything blew up and there were cameras and reporters everywhere. Everyone wanted to know if he really lived in a forest alone and how it was possible. Poor Cade just wanted to go home, he wanted things to go back to normal but it wasn’t possible, everything he thought was true was slipping away.
I didn’t just love the story line, I also loved the writing. It was full of beautiful imagery and metaphors. For example, instead of just saying Josh got angry, she wrote : “Anger licked through Josh. It built until he felt full of fire and acid.” Another cool part about the story was how it was told from basically every characters persepective. We were able to see Cades, Daras, Josh, even Dara’s best friend Sofia. We were able to better understand everyone and their decisions.
As for the characters, my favorite was Sofia. She was a loyal best friend and she was sweet while sassy. “Sorry. Sorry. My whole week has been is she hot? Is he hot? Who’s Hot? Am I hot? Brain is still engaged in Orlando Vision.” Even she had a brother/sister relationship with Cade and it was adorable. I liked the fact that there was not girl hate and Sofia never got jealous.
The romance was my top favorite thing. I think its been a long time since I’ve read a toe curling YA book. It was due time for such a great romance. Even though there were times Dara acted more like a teacher than a romance interest but that was okay because Cade needed to learn a lot from this world. Although Cade did know certain things and wasn’t just clueless.
“But you’ve never seen a stove.”
“I’ve never seen Pluto. I still know it’s a planet.”
With a wry smile, Dara looked back at him “Actually its not anymire. It got demoted.”
The look on Cade’s face was priceless.
Maybe that wasn’t romance but it was still a cute moment. Just like in Tarzan there was a big show of true love.
Overall it was such an emotional read, but in the best way possible. It will break your heart and then make you smile and swoon. Highly Recommend.
July 3, 2014
Initially I have it 2.5 stars because
(1) extremely slow pacing
(2) not that likable MC (Dara)
(3) irrelevant scenes of Dara's high school life and also her interactions with her boyfriend Josh were such a bore.
(4) very descriptive writing.
The only person I really liked/ cared for was Cade, the guy who grew up in the woods. I loved the purity he had and even after moving to the city, he never let go of his innocent side. The parts where he explored our world and our advanced technology were some of my favorite in this book. It was like a kid finding a new toy to play with everyday. I loved it.
But the more I think about this story, especially the end, the more I like it. I love that the author stayed true to Cade's character and didn't force him into any unrealistic transformation. The end gives me hope that there might be another book and if so, then I'll definitely read it, but is not, then I'm happy with the way things ended.
My only critique for the author would be to try and edit out the early camping scenes because it seemed to go on forever and made it hard for me to get excited for a story. Otherwise, Wild is a fantastic read! On another note, I didn't realize that it was a retelling of Tarzan until I was halfway done. That was a freaking awesome retelling! And the end makes it 100 times better!
Final rating: 4 stars
(1) extremely slow pacing
(2) not that likable MC (Dara)
(3) irrelevant scenes of Dara's high school life and also her interactions with her boyfriend Josh were such a bore.
(4) very descriptive writing.
The only person I really liked/ cared for was Cade, the guy who grew up in the woods. I loved the purity he had and even after moving to the city, he never let go of his innocent side. The parts where he explored our world and our advanced technology were some of my favorite in this book. It was like a kid finding a new toy to play with everyday. I loved it.
But the more I think about this story, especially the end, the more I like it. I love that the author stayed true to Cade's character and didn't force him into any unrealistic transformation. The end gives me hope that there might be another book and if so, then I'll definitely read it, but is not, then I'm happy with the way things ended.
My only critique for the author would be to try and edit out the early camping scenes because it seemed to go on forever and made it hard for me to get excited for a story. Otherwise, Wild is a fantastic read! On another note, I didn't realize that it was a retelling of Tarzan until I was halfway done. That was a freaking awesome retelling! And the end makes it 100 times better!
Final rating: 4 stars
July 2, 2014
I’ll start by putting this little tidbit out in the open: I don’t like Tarzan. Yes, yes, I can hear the collective gasp from miles away, but its’ true, I don’t like it. Not even the Disney version convinced me. The reason why I read Wild by Alex Mallory was simply because it was available to me. I know very shallow reason but please accept it. But that aside, it was…decent. This is one of those not unusual occasions where I usually state how I don’t exactly hate it but neither did I like it. And maybe I find most of my time reading the book quite…boring? But not really that extremely boring because I did finish the book!
So this kid, Cade was raised in the wild. When he was a child his parents forbid him to mingle with people, telling the young Cade that they will hurt him and might infect him. They said they were dying and they were the only ones who were safe from harm. But until he saw people, lively, very different to what he was told. He realized that his mother lied to him.
So how should I put this, well, the story was expanded in a way that impaired the story. I think there were quite events there that felt redundant or evasive because I know there something behind what Cade was brought up to and I knew what could it be but instead it was kind of sidetracking me, still trying to go all murky on me. It did feel that way to me. I don’t know maybe because I’m that type of reader that if I know what the jig really is and the story still try to elaborate it even further, it lessens the fun to me. That, and I wasn’t really that invested to anyone in the story. Ok, not entirely true, I’m maybe a bit interested on the honchos behind Cade’s upbringing.
For most parts, the romance was ok-ish. Dara is Jane to Cade’s Tarzan…did I get the analogy right? Whatever, and anyway, I don’t wanna dwell with them anymore, and to be blunt, it was the weakest aspect of the story. Oh yeah, there was a love triangle. But was it really a love triangle? Oh right, I’m not going to elaborate. So all in all it wasn’t really that great and two, among few reasons that drove me further was why his parent lied to him (as well as his parent's identity) and even though I guessed the whys (and perhaps the who’s), it still left a decent amount of impact to me—like tiny but cute sparkles. So here are my two stars rating. That’s pretty much I can give, from what I think its worth.
Originally published at The Aeropapers.
So this kid, Cade was raised in the wild. When he was a child his parents forbid him to mingle with people, telling the young Cade that they will hurt him and might infect him. They said they were dying and they were the only ones who were safe from harm. But until he saw people, lively, very different to what he was told. He realized that his mother lied to him.
So how should I put this, well, the story was expanded in a way that impaired the story. I think there were quite events there that felt redundant or evasive because I know there something behind what Cade was brought up to and I knew what could it be but instead it was kind of sidetracking me, still trying to go all murky on me. It did feel that way to me. I don’t know maybe because I’m that type of reader that if I know what the jig really is and the story still try to elaborate it even further, it lessens the fun to me. That, and I wasn’t really that invested to anyone in the story. Ok, not entirely true, I’m maybe a bit interested on the honchos behind Cade’s upbringing.
For most parts, the romance was ok-ish. Dara is Jane to Cade’s Tarzan…did I get the analogy right? Whatever, and anyway, I don’t wanna dwell with them anymore, and to be blunt, it was the weakest aspect of the story. Oh yeah, there was a love triangle. But was it really a love triangle? Oh right, I’m not going to elaborate. So all in all it wasn’t really that great and two, among few reasons that drove me further was why his parent lied to him (as well as his parent's identity) and even though I guessed the whys (and perhaps the who’s), it still left a decent amount of impact to me—like tiny but cute sparkles. So here are my two stars rating. That’s pretty much I can give, from what I think its worth.
Originally published at The Aeropapers.
July 8, 2014
Wild is going to be one of those books were everything hinges on the reader liking the writing style. If you can't get into the writing style you are going to have a very hard time liking this book. I on the other hand had no issues with the writing style. I actually thought it suited quite well the tone of the whole book.
Wild read almost like a documentary kind of, but in a good way? I'm not sure how to explain it. It covers all the major characters and their interactions during those certain events were the rest of the story line hangs on. It would jump from a scene with Tarzan, to one showing how the police investigation is going, to how Dara is dealing with it and whole all these little things shape up to be Tarzan's story.
Sure, Cade (Tarzan) and Dara's relationship evolves very quickly, but it somehow didn't seem unnatural or weird to me. It felt right. I could understand where their feelings were coming from and why. So it didn't bother me.
There were quite a few characters that I wasn't too happy about like Dara's sister, but overall, they were all fully rounded characters, and you get to see their depth with the way they handle this very strange situation and the press attention it comes with.
In my opinion I thought it was a wonderfully done Tarzan retelling, but again, if you find out the writing style isn't for you then you probably won't be enjoying this as much as I did.
*A copy was provided through Edelweiss and HaperTeen for review consideration*
Wild read almost like a documentary kind of, but in a good way? I'm not sure how to explain it. It covers all the major characters and their interactions during those certain events were the rest of the story line hangs on. It would jump from a scene with Tarzan, to one showing how the police investigation is going, to how Dara is dealing with it and whole all these little things shape up to be Tarzan's story.
Sure, Cade (Tarzan) and Dara's relationship evolves very quickly, but it somehow didn't seem unnatural or weird to me. It felt right. I could understand where their feelings were coming from and why. So it didn't bother me.
There were quite a few characters that I wasn't too happy about like Dara's sister, but overall, they were all fully rounded characters, and you get to see their depth with the way they handle this very strange situation and the press attention it comes with.
In my opinion I thought it was a wonderfully done Tarzan retelling, but again, if you find out the writing style isn't for you then you probably won't be enjoying this as much as I did.
*A copy was provided through Edelweiss and HaperTeen for review consideration*
September 8, 2014
First Impression
Tarzan retelling?! WHAT! There are many retellings out now a days, but how often do you come across one on Tarzan? I can't think of any, it's just so rare! Back in April after reading the synopsis I added it to my 2014 shelf and when I say there was a blog tour for it, well of course I had to sign up! I mean...it's TARZAN!
The Good
- More plot, less Romance - I loved that this was not a romance driven novel. I mean yes, you have a little bit of romance between Cade and Dara, obviously! But it was more described as two characters being interested and curious about each other. Wild has a solid plot, with romance floating in the background.
- Writing style - Alex Mallory knows how to write! I found her writing to be very descriptive and has a beautiful lay-out which helped made me feel like I was actually IN the story! I liked that she went with third person POV, it allows for readers to see different perspectives and get a real sense of what was happening.
- Characters - I loved the two main characters; Cade and Dara! Cade, oh Cade. He's just so adorable! My heart broke for him; being ripped away from the only world he knows and thrown into the world he didn’t know existed is just plain cruel. I just wanted to grab him and hold him and tell him everything was going to be okay!! Dara is a strong-willed individual, if she sets her mind to something it's happening. There's no way to change her mind. And the secondary characters had a bigger role in this than I expected, but liked! Cade and Dara had great chemistry together and even as individuals they brought a lot to this story.
The Bad
- Nothing really that I would consider bad.
The In-Between
Pace - I'm a little bit of an impatient individual and when I get to books that have long and slow chapters I tend to lose focus. Wild is a slow pace kind of story that bothered me, but it's so well written that I didn't want to DNF it.
Lasting Impression
Overall, Wild was a beautiful modern-day retelling of Tarzan. A little slow at times, but still a solid story! If you love Tarzan, retellings, or in the mood for a contemporary novel I recommend giving Wild a try!
January 29, 2014
As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I got really excited. I love Tarzan and this new imagining of it sounded brilliant. And, it definitely turned out to be just that! Wild was an absolutely amazing YA read. I loved everything about it, from the characters, to the story, to the romance. It was all perfect.
Dara was a great heroine. She was very determined and refused to let anyone push her around. When she got her mind set on something, nothing was going to keep her from doing it. I really liked her. She definitely proved herself as a worthy heroine.
Cade was an interesting character. He had been raised in the forest by his parents, who told him that the world was decimated by disease. He lived his life thinking that he and his parents were some of the very few remaining humans on the planet. So, imagine his surprise when 2 seemingly disease-free people appear and he is whisked off into a world inhabited by several billion people. He struggled to understand the new version of reality and to adapt to a vastly different way of life. I absolutely adored his character. He was so sweet and had an air of guilelessness that made him seem innocent and likable. I felt so bad for the poor guy, taken away from what he knew and unable to return to his home because nobody (excerpt Dara) understood why he wouldn't want to live in modern society. He was wonderful and I just loved him.
The romance was light and very sweet. I loved how Dara and Cade were so perfectly matched that they simply understood each other. I thought they were perfect together.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. The secrets of Cade's past and how he ended up living in a forest were surprising, yet entirely believable. I really appreciate that the author found a way to make the entire situation seem utterly possible because it made the book that much more realistic. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely, tying up the story, while leaving an open note for the future. I believe this is Alex Mallory's debut book and, after reading it, I'm excited to see more from this new author.
Wild was a brilliant, fantastic, utterly amazing read. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Everything about it was perfect. YA readers, you have to read this book. Seriously, this is a book you definitely don't want to miss.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Quotes:
Squinting, Dara waited for Ms. Fourakis to walk out of earshot, then asked, "Do you even know what a phone is?"
"Yes. It plays music in your bag, and you cuss until it stops. Then you hold it in front of your face and talk to yourself."
Sofia made an explosive sound, and handed the bottle of birch beer to Dara. Scrubbing at her face with a tissue, she started to giggle. "Are you for real?"
"Yes." Cade pressed his forefinger against Sofia's arm. "See?"
Dara was a great heroine. She was very determined and refused to let anyone push her around. When she got her mind set on something, nothing was going to keep her from doing it. I really liked her. She definitely proved herself as a worthy heroine.
Cade was an interesting character. He had been raised in the forest by his parents, who told him that the world was decimated by disease. He lived his life thinking that he and his parents were some of the very few remaining humans on the planet. So, imagine his surprise when 2 seemingly disease-free people appear and he is whisked off into a world inhabited by several billion people. He struggled to understand the new version of reality and to adapt to a vastly different way of life. I absolutely adored his character. He was so sweet and had an air of guilelessness that made him seem innocent and likable. I felt so bad for the poor guy, taken away from what he knew and unable to return to his home because nobody (excerpt Dara) understood why he wouldn't want to live in modern society. He was wonderful and I just loved him.
The romance was light and very sweet. I loved how Dara and Cade were so perfectly matched that they simply understood each other. I thought they were perfect together.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. The secrets of Cade's past and how he ended up living in a forest were surprising, yet entirely believable. I really appreciate that the author found a way to make the entire situation seem utterly possible because it made the book that much more realistic. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely, tying up the story, while leaving an open note for the future. I believe this is Alex Mallory's debut book and, after reading it, I'm excited to see more from this new author.
Wild was a brilliant, fantastic, utterly amazing read. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Everything about it was perfect. YA readers, you have to read this book. Seriously, this is a book you definitely don't want to miss.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Quotes:
Squinting, Dara waited for Ms. Fourakis to walk out of earshot, then asked, "Do you even know what a phone is?"
"Yes. It plays music in your bag, and you cuss until it stops. Then you hold it in front of your face and talk to yourself."
Sofia made an explosive sound, and handed the bottle of birch beer to Dara. Scrubbing at her face with a tissue, she started to giggle. "Are you for real?"
"Yes." Cade pressed his forefinger against Sofia's arm. "See?"
February 7, 2015
**4.5/5 stars**
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
It was only when I’d finished reading this book and started writing this review that I found out that Alex Mallory is Saundra Mitchell. I really loved The Vespertine! It was one of the first books that I’d reviewed on the blog, but I unfortunately didn’t manage to continue with the series. I’m glad to say though that Wild was an amazing book. I’ve never heard of a Tarzan retelling in YA, and despite the lack of excellent musical numbers, this one was stellar. I haven’t actually read the original Tarzan of the Apes, so I only have the Disney version of the movie to base the story on. I was thrilled that I got an advanced copy to read, and was even more so when I got the chance to be a part of the blog tour.
I really loved both characters. While the book was presented in third person, it alternated between Cade’s and Dara’s perspectives. I enjoyed the parallel to Tarzan and Jane respectively, and especially liked the interaction between the both of them. Several other characters, such as Sofia and Josh, also have a large role in the book and I liked their characters’ contributions to the plot. The unraveling of the mystery as the characters explore further into Cade’s past was very intriguing and was well-written in terms of incorporating character development into the plot’s progression.
I loved the setting for this – the forest was beautifully described both through Cade and Dara’s eyes, but also the time period was fitting for the retelling. While I’m sure it wouldn’t have been set during the time that Tarzan was, it was cool to see how someone who hasn’t really interacted with today’s world see the world and it’s development with new eyes. I also felt that Mallory (Mitchell) managed to capture the portrayal of media. Especially since Wild depicted how pushy the media can be and the boundaries it’s willing to break, no matter the consequences. It’s a horrifying picture that the author paints, but it’s definitely a realistic one.
The ending was great: I felt that it gave the book closure without making everything conveniently fall into place. While it would have been cool to see this book work as a series, I was glad that it was a standalone so that there was no need to drag it out. It concluded well, leaving room for imagination but still leaving things in place.
While the 440 pages would have first put me off, Wild was a marvelous read, one I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) put down. Mallory’s spellbinding retelling is a powerful story of love, destruction and what makes us human.
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
It was only when I’d finished reading this book and started writing this review that I found out that Alex Mallory is Saundra Mitchell. I really loved The Vespertine! It was one of the first books that I’d reviewed on the blog, but I unfortunately didn’t manage to continue with the series. I’m glad to say though that Wild was an amazing book. I’ve never heard of a Tarzan retelling in YA, and despite the lack of excellent musical numbers, this one was stellar. I haven’t actually read the original Tarzan of the Apes, so I only have the Disney version of the movie to base the story on. I was thrilled that I got an advanced copy to read, and was even more so when I got the chance to be a part of the blog tour.
I really loved both characters. While the book was presented in third person, it alternated between Cade’s and Dara’s perspectives. I enjoyed the parallel to Tarzan and Jane respectively, and especially liked the interaction between the both of them. Several other characters, such as Sofia and Josh, also have a large role in the book and I liked their characters’ contributions to the plot. The unraveling of the mystery as the characters explore further into Cade’s past was very intriguing and was well-written in terms of incorporating character development into the plot’s progression.
I loved the setting for this – the forest was beautifully described both through Cade and Dara’s eyes, but also the time period was fitting for the retelling. While I’m sure it wouldn’t have been set during the time that Tarzan was, it was cool to see how someone who hasn’t really interacted with today’s world see the world and it’s development with new eyes. I also felt that Mallory (Mitchell) managed to capture the portrayal of media. Especially since Wild depicted how pushy the media can be and the boundaries it’s willing to break, no matter the consequences. It’s a horrifying picture that the author paints, but it’s definitely a realistic one.
The ending was great: I felt that it gave the book closure without making everything conveniently fall into place. While it would have been cool to see this book work as a series, I was glad that it was a standalone so that there was no need to drag it out. It concluded well, leaving room for imagination but still leaving things in place.
While the 440 pages would have first put me off, Wild was a marvelous read, one I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) put down. Mallory’s spellbinding retelling is a powerful story of love, destruction and what makes us human.
May 30, 2018
This book helped distract me from myself during a tough time.
WARNING:
WARNING:
July 3, 2014
An advance copy of this title was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
I've pretty much loved all of the historical fiction novels I've read of Saundra Mitchell's, so when I heard she was writing a YA retelling of Tarzan under a pen name, I immediately added the book to my wishlist. I wasn't disappointed. The tone and voice of this novel were so different from her other books that it was as if she was a different author completely...but not at the detriment to this novel. In this case, different is very good. I appreciated the liberties the author took with the original story but I also liked that she stayed relatively true to it in its most basic form.
If I had to describe this novel as simply as possible, I'd have to say that it was a blending of the Disney version of Tarzan and Crocodile Dundee . I normally hate making comparisons like that, but for this book, it just feels apt. Because when we meet Cade, he is wild...not completely uncivilized but definitely unused to human companionship. Cade's parents made sure he was educated, that he could read and write, but because they believed the world as they knew it had ended, they didn't teach him the ways of the world. So when he ends up in polite society, it's a bit like Mick walking around NYC, clad in his safari gear and completely perplexed by all the technology surrounding him. Dara and other concerned citizens, even those who find his tragic story implausible, try to acclimate him to city life. But after nearly two decades of living in the wilderness, integration into our world doesn't seem all that possible.
an approximation of Cade =D
Still, Cade is curious. His folks told him of the many conveniences the world has to offer, the technologies that had been available when they bailed on the rest of the world in favor of survival. But he's never seen them until now. Dara is curious, too, about this boy who claims to know little of the luxuries she's taken for granted her whole life. As they discover more about each other, there are romantic sparks, but it never felt as if their relationship was in any way the antithesis to discovering the mystery of who Cade really was and how he came to be in that forest in the first place.
The relationships in this novel were so genuine and believable. So even though Dara actually had a boyfriend, I wasn't bothered by what was developing between her and Cade because before she even met him in those woods, she was already questioning her relationship with Josh. They would be graduating in mere months, heading off to different colleges in the fall, and it was obvious that they'd outgrown each other. Josh was the one holding on to something that was already gone. I swore he and Cade would end up in fisticuffs, or that at least one of them would resort to belting out that famous Tarzan yell to claim Dara as their woman, but both behaved admirably. For the most part. ;0) Cade saw Dara, saw who she was and what she was about, and Dara was able to do that for Cade, as well. Their mutual attraction and the feelings that developed were actually quite sweet and well-deserved. There was respect and longing and passion there that had been missing in her relationship with Josh for some time.
Dara also takes care with her other relationships. Just as she didn't rush into anything with Cade -- or out of anything with Josh -- she doesn't take her devotion to her family or her friends lightly. Her father is the sheriff in charge of the investigation into Cade's disappearance from society at large and subsequent appearance in their small town. Dara loves and respects Sheriff Porter, but she also wants him to trust her. Neither wants this case to come between them. And even though Dara's younger sister was a rather large nuisance to the situation for much of the novel, Dara is still there when Lia needs her most. Just as Sophia, Dara's best friend, is always there when Dara is in need. The brother-sister bond that developed between Cade and Sophia might have actually been my favorite relationship of the whole book, though, because it showed just how much Cade's presence had changed things, even so much as to point out how one's perspective can be completely altered if they can keep an open mind.
And Cade adjusting to our world definitely requires a shift in perspective. Though, I will admit that maybe a little too much time was spent exploring this aspect, as well as showing him in his natural habitat. I think I was nearly to the halfway point before anything actually happened, though when it did, it sent the lives of all involved into a tailspin. But what the story lacked in action, it made up for in heart. These were characters I could truly empathize with, who I wanted to see triumph, even if it wasn't in the way I had imagined for them.
There are beautiful moments between the characters and whimsical ones, and it was all just so honest and real, true to the way that normal people would react to a situation such as this. And the way it was told was honest, too. You never had to wonder how any one character felt because in a matter of seconds, the author was telling you. You're in and out of characters thoughts, quick as a flash, but the transitions are seamless. As was the open-ended conclusion to the story, if you can believe that. Even knowing that there's not another book planned to follow this one, I'm okay with where the author left Cade and Dara's story. She handled it brilliantly, and I don't think I would have wanted more. I do wish I hadn't spent the last thirty pages or so panicking for fear of no resolution, though. o_O
Wild was a strong retelling with a unique twist on the original story, one that's felt throughout the novel and explored intimately. If you want to read a strongly developed novel that focuses on the characters and their stories more fully than the accompanying romance, I'd definitely recommend Wild to you. Also, if you're a fan of hot guys with dreads who have decent manners despite their particularly wild upbringing, you'd probably enjoy this book. :D
GIF it to me straight:
Okay, so it's emotional and beautiful, too, but I couldn't resist. ;)
This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
I've pretty much loved all of the historical fiction novels I've read of Saundra Mitchell's, so when I heard she was writing a YA retelling of Tarzan under a pen name, I immediately added the book to my wishlist. I wasn't disappointed. The tone and voice of this novel were so different from her other books that it was as if she was a different author completely...but not at the detriment to this novel. In this case, different is very good. I appreciated the liberties the author took with the original story but I also liked that she stayed relatively true to it in its most basic form.
If I had to describe this novel as simply as possible, I'd have to say that it was a blending of the Disney version of Tarzan and Crocodile Dundee . I normally hate making comparisons like that, but for this book, it just feels apt. Because when we meet Cade, he is wild...not completely uncivilized but definitely unused to human companionship. Cade's parents made sure he was educated, that he could read and write, but because they believed the world as they knew it had ended, they didn't teach him the ways of the world. So when he ends up in polite society, it's a bit like Mick walking around NYC, clad in his safari gear and completely perplexed by all the technology surrounding him. Dara and other concerned citizens, even those who find his tragic story implausible, try to acclimate him to city life. But after nearly two decades of living in the wilderness, integration into our world doesn't seem all that possible.
an approximation of Cade =D
Still, Cade is curious. His folks told him of the many conveniences the world has to offer, the technologies that had been available when they bailed on the rest of the world in favor of survival. But he's never seen them until now. Dara is curious, too, about this boy who claims to know little of the luxuries she's taken for granted her whole life. As they discover more about each other, there are romantic sparks, but it never felt as if their relationship was in any way the antithesis to discovering the mystery of who Cade really was and how he came to be in that forest in the first place.
The relationships in this novel were so genuine and believable. So even though Dara actually had a boyfriend, I wasn't bothered by what was developing between her and Cade because before she even met him in those woods, she was already questioning her relationship with Josh. They would be graduating in mere months, heading off to different colleges in the fall, and it was obvious that they'd outgrown each other. Josh was the one holding on to something that was already gone. I swore he and Cade would end up in fisticuffs, or that at least one of them would resort to belting out that famous Tarzan yell to claim Dara as their woman, but both behaved admirably. For the most part. ;0) Cade saw Dara, saw who she was and what she was about, and Dara was able to do that for Cade, as well. Their mutual attraction and the feelings that developed were actually quite sweet and well-deserved. There was respect and longing and passion there that had been missing in her relationship with Josh for some time.
Dara also takes care with her other relationships. Just as she didn't rush into anything with Cade -- or out of anything with Josh -- she doesn't take her devotion to her family or her friends lightly. Her father is the sheriff in charge of the investigation into Cade's disappearance from society at large and subsequent appearance in their small town. Dara loves and respects Sheriff Porter, but she also wants him to trust her. Neither wants this case to come between them. And even though Dara's younger sister was a rather large nuisance to the situation for much of the novel, Dara is still there when Lia needs her most. Just as Sophia, Dara's best friend, is always there when Dara is in need. The brother-sister bond that developed between Cade and Sophia might have actually been my favorite relationship of the whole book, though, because it showed just how much Cade's presence had changed things, even so much as to point out how one's perspective can be completely altered if they can keep an open mind.
And Cade adjusting to our world definitely requires a shift in perspective. Though, I will admit that maybe a little too much time was spent exploring this aspect, as well as showing him in his natural habitat. I think I was nearly to the halfway point before anything actually happened, though when it did, it sent the lives of all involved into a tailspin. But what the story lacked in action, it made up for in heart. These were characters I could truly empathize with, who I wanted to see triumph, even if it wasn't in the way I had imagined for them.
There are beautiful moments between the characters and whimsical ones, and it was all just so honest and real, true to the way that normal people would react to a situation such as this. And the way it was told was honest, too. You never had to wonder how any one character felt because in a matter of seconds, the author was telling you. You're in and out of characters thoughts, quick as a flash, but the transitions are seamless. As was the open-ended conclusion to the story, if you can believe that. Even knowing that there's not another book planned to follow this one, I'm okay with where the author left Cade and Dara's story. She handled it brilliantly, and I don't think I would have wanted more. I do wish I hadn't spent the last thirty pages or so panicking for fear of no resolution, though. o_O
Wild was a strong retelling with a unique twist on the original story, one that's felt throughout the novel and explored intimately. If you want to read a strongly developed novel that focuses on the characters and their stories more fully than the accompanying romance, I'd definitely recommend Wild to you. Also, if you're a fan of hot guys with dreads who have decent manners despite their particularly wild upbringing, you'd probably enjoy this book. :D
GIF it to me straight:
Okay, so it's emotional and beautiful, too, but I couldn't resist. ;)
August 18, 2017
An interesting retelling.
July 20, 2014
YOU CAN ALSO READ MY REVIEW HERE AND ENTER THE GIVEAWAY.
"Do you even know what a phone is?"
"Yes. It plays music in your bag, and you
cuss until it stops. Then you hold it in
front of your face and talk to yourself."
I don't know if it's just me, but I never really encountered any YA retelling of Tarzan before. You can see a lot of Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast etc. But Tarzan? Unlikely. So imagine my squealing when I discovered this book. Especially when I got to be a part of the tour. I should probably point out that Alex Mallory is a foreign author to me. Never really read anything from her. And now I'm glad I did.
Cade is living in the forest since his parents died. He believes that he is alone and there's only few survivors left. All his beliefs changed when he and Dara crossed paths. Cade was immediately fascinated by Dara. She followed her through out Dara's camping with her boyfriend. He even got jealous, though of course, he didn't know that jealousy is what he's feeling at that moment. I usually hate Insta-love, but in this case, it's totally different. Also, to be completely fair, I don't really think it's considered as Insta-love. They're just... curious at each other. Well, if you see a guy like Cade, wouldn't you be curious at all? And I understand that in Cade's eyes, Dara looks strange also.
But enough with that, the real fun here is seeing a caveman being tamed. Witnessing Cade, a guy who is so uncivilized, trying to fit in in our world. I found myself hanging in every chapter. I laughed at some moments, got touched by Dara's determination and while reading Wild, I can't really help but wonder how can a guy like Cade be turned into a civilized citizen. Is it really possible? Why yes, of course it is. If you have a girl like Dara instructing you, then it really is possible.
The pacing is a bit slow for me. And for a reader like me who is impatient and isn't satisfied with dull chapters, finishing this book says a lot. I tend to DNF a book when there's nothing happening and when I feel like there's a lot of unnecessary chapters but Wild really is an exception. It's because Alex Mallory writes a book that is so readable that you can't help but be lost inside of it.
The characters are very well developed, even the background characters who plays a big part in the story are brilliantly written. Dara and Cade are strong characters. They're authentic. And though the romance is very tame and sweet.. it's real.
Now that ending, Maaaaan! It's not a cliffhanger, but it isn't completely concrete either. Surprisingly, I honestly felt wonderful and satisfied with the ending. It was handled insanely well. Yes, insanely. The fact that I'm not angry right now because of that ending is insane you know.
With an alluring backdrop, sweet romance and very much alive characters... Wild is a fresh read where you can't help but get lost into.
"Do you even know what a phone is?"
"Yes. It plays music in your bag, and you
cuss until it stops. Then you hold it in
front of your face and talk to yourself."
I don't know if it's just me, but I never really encountered any YA retelling of Tarzan before. You can see a lot of Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast etc. But Tarzan? Unlikely. So imagine my squealing when I discovered this book. Especially when I got to be a part of the tour. I should probably point out that Alex Mallory is a foreign author to me. Never really read anything from her. And now I'm glad I did.
Cade is living in the forest since his parents died. He believes that he is alone and there's only few survivors left. All his beliefs changed when he and Dara crossed paths. Cade was immediately fascinated by Dara. She followed her through out Dara's camping with her boyfriend. He even got jealous, though of course, he didn't know that jealousy is what he's feeling at that moment. I usually hate Insta-love, but in this case, it's totally different. Also, to be completely fair, I don't really think it's considered as Insta-love. They're just... curious at each other. Well, if you see a guy like Cade, wouldn't you be curious at all? And I understand that in Cade's eyes, Dara looks strange also.
But enough with that, the real fun here is seeing a caveman being tamed. Witnessing Cade, a guy who is so uncivilized, trying to fit in in our world. I found myself hanging in every chapter. I laughed at some moments, got touched by Dara's determination and while reading Wild, I can't really help but wonder how can a guy like Cade be turned into a civilized citizen. Is it really possible? Why yes, of course it is. If you have a girl like Dara instructing you, then it really is possible.
The pacing is a bit slow for me. And for a reader like me who is impatient and isn't satisfied with dull chapters, finishing this book says a lot. I tend to DNF a book when there's nothing happening and when I feel like there's a lot of unnecessary chapters but Wild really is an exception. It's because Alex Mallory writes a book that is so readable that you can't help but be lost inside of it.
The characters are very well developed, even the background characters who plays a big part in the story are brilliantly written. Dara and Cade are strong characters. They're authentic. And though the romance is very tame and sweet.. it's real.
Now that ending, Maaaaan! It's not a cliffhanger, but it isn't completely concrete either. Surprisingly, I honestly felt wonderful and satisfied with the ending. It was handled insanely well. Yes, insanely. The fact that I'm not angry right now because of that ending is insane you know.
With an alluring backdrop, sweet romance and very much alive characters... Wild is a fresh read where you can't help but get lost into.
April 15, 2017
Dara and Josh both lie to their parents and decide to go camping for their Spring Break instead of going to Florida with the rest of their friends. Dara and Josh both hope that this trip will bring them closer together as a couple and help to ease the fighting and tension that has been growing over the past couple of years. As Dara is exploring and taking pictures of their surroundings, she starts to hear things move and she feels as if she’s being watched. When she tells Josh, he doesn’t believe her and says that she must be paranoid. But when someone leaves a necklace with a handmade pendant at their campsite, Dara knows that someone else is in those woods.
Cade is seventeen and has spent his entire life in the woods. His mother and father have long since passed away and he’s been on his own for years. He knows that the human race has died out and he is one of the few people left in the world. His mother told him all of this before she passed away. He must stay away from every human he encounters because they are infected and they will infect him too. But when he sees Dara long golden hair, he can’t stay away. He’s never seen anything like it. He has to get to know her. When he secretly follows her and the other boy back to their camp, they discover a bear has rummaged through their food, and he’s still there. Cade swings through the air on a vine to rescue Dara and then takes on the bear.
When Cade’s chest is slashed by the bear, Dara and Josh do the only thing they can think to do: take him out of the woods and get him to the hospital. Once the media is alerted of the Primitive Boy who lived in the woods, they are relentless. Stalking Cade and Dara’s family, they make life hard for Cade, who already struggles to live with the new inventions and technology of a world he didn’t even know existed.
I thought the overall story was very good. I really liked Cade and his relationship and feelings for Dara. I liked the storyline of Cade’s mother and her work with diseases being the reason they left to live in the woods. I thought it was a very original story and well thought out. One of the things didn’t really like about it was that there was a lot of current slang and current pop culture things that were mentioned. In a couple years, those will no longer be relevant and the book will be considered outdated. Also, a lot of the pop culture things that were mentioned, I didn’t even understand. I was too “old” to get it. The book isn’t ageless or timeless, and it was kind of annoying to read. Also, I HATED Dara’s sister. She was a horrible horrible person and her character wasn’t very well developed. She was just a mean person for absolutely no reason. I don’t care what “phase” someone is going through, no one is ever that rude to their siblings for no reason.
Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Mediocre
Recommendation: Recommended as Optional purchase
Level: High School (Grads 7-10)
Cade is seventeen and has spent his entire life in the woods. His mother and father have long since passed away and he’s been on his own for years. He knows that the human race has died out and he is one of the few people left in the world. His mother told him all of this before she passed away. He must stay away from every human he encounters because they are infected and they will infect him too. But when he sees Dara long golden hair, he can’t stay away. He’s never seen anything like it. He has to get to know her. When he secretly follows her and the other boy back to their camp, they discover a bear has rummaged through their food, and he’s still there. Cade swings through the air on a vine to rescue Dara and then takes on the bear.
When Cade’s chest is slashed by the bear, Dara and Josh do the only thing they can think to do: take him out of the woods and get him to the hospital. Once the media is alerted of the Primitive Boy who lived in the woods, they are relentless. Stalking Cade and Dara’s family, they make life hard for Cade, who already struggles to live with the new inventions and technology of a world he didn’t even know existed.
I thought the overall story was very good. I really liked Cade and his relationship and feelings for Dara. I liked the storyline of Cade’s mother and her work with diseases being the reason they left to live in the woods. I thought it was a very original story and well thought out. One of the things didn’t really like about it was that there was a lot of current slang and current pop culture things that were mentioned. In a couple years, those will no longer be relevant and the book will be considered outdated. Also, a lot of the pop culture things that were mentioned, I didn’t even understand. I was too “old” to get it. The book isn’t ageless or timeless, and it was kind of annoying to read. Also, I HATED Dara’s sister. She was a horrible horrible person and her character wasn’t very well developed. She was just a mean person for absolutely no reason. I don’t care what “phase” someone is going through, no one is ever that rude to their siblings for no reason.
Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Mediocre
Recommendation: Recommended as Optional purchase
Level: High School (Grads 7-10)
October 6, 2015
http://badbirdreads.com/review-wild-b...
2.5 stars
At A Glance
I am so conflicted.
The Good
I have a lot of crap I can say about this book but for some dang reason I kind of enjoyed it. Yeah, it’s slow, yeah, it’s too long, but I just sat back and let the story flow, and it wasn’t half bad. After finishing Wild, I was going to give it 3 stars because it was a good relaxing, fluff book. But after a couple days I started getting annoyed about a lot of stuff that you will read about in The Bad. If I had written the review the second I put this book down, it would have been 3 stars. I know, it’s stupid but true. The more time I think about a book, the more critical I get. And it’s only been two days!
Well, enough of that. I loved the concept: a retelling of Tarzan. I really liked Cade. He felt true to a boy living in the wild but with basic knowledge of what the real world is like. His internal monologue was so heartbreaking. I wanted him to fit in so bad, but I could tell that wasn’t going to happen. I do feel like he could have tried harder, but what are you going to do? What’s done is done.
I loved reading about Cade in his natural habitat. Very fascinating stuff. Him in the real world was pretty fun at times. The ending wasn’t perfect, but we get a preview of a maybe hopeful future.
The Bad
The pacing was so slow, I think I might have grown a few gray hairs while reading. So much could have been cut from this book, like half of it. A lot of unnecessary scenes.
The writing is very descriptive, which was nice in the beginning, but as the long ass story went on it was too much.
The characters were just okay. Dara was not the best main character. She was whiney and unrealistic in her thinking.
A lot was set up but nothing ends up happening. And this book is over 400 pages, so that really sucked. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen. I feel like I wasted my time.
The Snuggly
The romance was slow as all get out. I did like Dara and Cade together though. She really understood him. Very YA when it comes to sex, which means there is none.
Final Thoughts
I can’t bring my self to recommend this book to anyone. It’s just too dang long and drawn out. But it definitely had potential. I think if there was a second book, I could see things getting interesting, but I have a feeling there’s not. Not really recommended.
Quotes
The bear growled, trying to shake off the blow. Oddly human, it pawed its own ear. The boy struck again. Roared again. ANd although he grew paler by the moment, he did not stagger.
Terror ran through Dara. He saved her and he was going to die.
“What the hell? Dara, we’re leaving. Let’s start getting this stuff together.”
Dara surprised herself when she said, “No.”
“Wait, what?”
“No,” she repeated. Tugging the necklace away from him, she tucked it in her pocket. “I’m not afraid. I’m curious. I mean, if he wanted to hurt us, he could have slit our throats last night while we were sleeping.”
2.5 stars
At A Glance
I am so conflicted.
The Good
I have a lot of crap I can say about this book but for some dang reason I kind of enjoyed it. Yeah, it’s slow, yeah, it’s too long, but I just sat back and let the story flow, and it wasn’t half bad. After finishing Wild, I was going to give it 3 stars because it was a good relaxing, fluff book. But after a couple days I started getting annoyed about a lot of stuff that you will read about in The Bad. If I had written the review the second I put this book down, it would have been 3 stars. I know, it’s stupid but true. The more time I think about a book, the more critical I get. And it’s only been two days!
Well, enough of that. I loved the concept: a retelling of Tarzan. I really liked Cade. He felt true to a boy living in the wild but with basic knowledge of what the real world is like. His internal monologue was so heartbreaking. I wanted him to fit in so bad, but I could tell that wasn’t going to happen. I do feel like he could have tried harder, but what are you going to do? What’s done is done.
I loved reading about Cade in his natural habitat. Very fascinating stuff. Him in the real world was pretty fun at times. The ending wasn’t perfect, but we get a preview of a maybe hopeful future.
The Bad
The pacing was so slow, I think I might have grown a few gray hairs while reading. So much could have been cut from this book, like half of it. A lot of unnecessary scenes.
The writing is very descriptive, which was nice in the beginning, but as the long ass story went on it was too much.
The characters were just okay. Dara was not the best main character. She was whiney and unrealistic in her thinking.
A lot was set up but nothing ends up happening. And this book is over 400 pages, so that really sucked. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen. I feel like I wasted my time.
The Snuggly
The romance was slow as all get out. I did like Dara and Cade together though. She really understood him. Very YA when it comes to sex, which means there is none.
Final Thoughts
I can’t bring my self to recommend this book to anyone. It’s just too dang long and drawn out. But it definitely had potential. I think if there was a second book, I could see things getting interesting, but I have a feeling there’s not. Not really recommended.
Quotes
The bear growled, trying to shake off the blow. Oddly human, it pawed its own ear. The boy struck again. Roared again. ANd although he grew paler by the moment, he did not stagger.
Terror ran through Dara. He saved her and he was going to die.
“What the hell? Dara, we’re leaving. Let’s start getting this stuff together.”
Dara surprised herself when she said, “No.”
“Wait, what?”
“No,” she repeated. Tugging the necklace away from him, she tucked it in her pocket. “I’m not afraid. I’m curious. I mean, if he wanted to hurt us, he could have slit our throats last night while we were sleeping.”
April 30, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The pacing was slow in this retelling of Tarzan — very, very, very slow. However, it was altogether enjoyable.
Opening Sentence: There’s a secluded camp deep in the heart of Danielle Boone National Forest.
The Review:
Wild was a modern retelling of Tarzan. Cade lives in Danielle Boones National Forest, living off the land, parents both dead, the only thing left from them is their warning to never trust outsiders. Beyond the forest is riddled with disease, they had said. But his strength on this lasting rule flickers when two campers, Dara and Josh, enter . . .and he might just be a little too interested in Dara.
Cade as a character was well done. He was executed smoothly, though there wasn’t much character development. Other than the obvious “learning about the human world”, etc, his main goals stay around the same, with little change. I understand Cade’s motives, true, but I did not identify with him as I did Dara. Dara is from our modern day America, with similar likes and dislikes. As well as that, his thought process isn’t as complicated as Dara’s is, which I appreciate when character’s POVs are too close it gets confusing.
I would like to mention an issue that bothered me completely throughout the book. The. Pacing. Was. So. Slow. We have 500 pages and in the span of them we discover Cade is from the forest, he goes back to civilization, and the ending (which I won’t spoil). The plot was stretched like a rubber band so that many a time I would be frustrated and put down the Kindle. I wanted some real action. Not only that, but the romance between Dara and Cade really began to happen in the last 75 pages, and before then all that happened was some touching of the hands and other tiny gestures. I did enjoy their relationship, and the connection was palpable as I read. However, I had trouble staying hooked with this problem.
And finally, to wrap up, I’ll talk about the writing style. I actually loved the way that this book was written, and the sentences are fresh and unique. I enjoyed how everything was described, and I especially enjoyed hearing how Cade lived in the wild. It made me want to try camping — up until the part about a bear attack. Third person omniscient can be an extreme mistake for certain authors, but for Wild, it definitely worked. Altogether I enjoyed the plot and romance, but mainly had a problem with the pacing. If you were interested by Hatchet by Gary Paulson or Tarzan, than I definitely would recommend this to you!
Notable Scene:
The bear growled, trying to shake off the blow. Oddly human, it pawed its own ear. The boy struck again. Roared again. ANd although he grew paler by the moment, he did not stagger.
Terror ran through Dara. He saved her and he was going to die.
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Wild. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: The pacing was slow in this retelling of Tarzan — very, very, very slow. However, it was altogether enjoyable.
Opening Sentence: There’s a secluded camp deep in the heart of Danielle Boone National Forest.
The Review:
Wild was a modern retelling of Tarzan. Cade lives in Danielle Boones National Forest, living off the land, parents both dead, the only thing left from them is their warning to never trust outsiders. Beyond the forest is riddled with disease, they had said. But his strength on this lasting rule flickers when two campers, Dara and Josh, enter . . .and he might just be a little too interested in Dara.
Cade as a character was well done. He was executed smoothly, though there wasn’t much character development. Other than the obvious “learning about the human world”, etc, his main goals stay around the same, with little change. I understand Cade’s motives, true, but I did not identify with him as I did Dara. Dara is from our modern day America, with similar likes and dislikes. As well as that, his thought process isn’t as complicated as Dara’s is, which I appreciate when character’s POVs are too close it gets confusing.
I would like to mention an issue that bothered me completely throughout the book. The. Pacing. Was. So. Slow. We have 500 pages and in the span of them we discover Cade is from the forest, he goes back to civilization, and the ending (which I won’t spoil). The plot was stretched like a rubber band so that many a time I would be frustrated and put down the Kindle. I wanted some real action. Not only that, but the romance between Dara and Cade really began to happen in the last 75 pages, and before then all that happened was some touching of the hands and other tiny gestures. I did enjoy their relationship, and the connection was palpable as I read. However, I had trouble staying hooked with this problem.
And finally, to wrap up, I’ll talk about the writing style. I actually loved the way that this book was written, and the sentences are fresh and unique. I enjoyed how everything was described, and I especially enjoyed hearing how Cade lived in the wild. It made me want to try camping — up until the part about a bear attack. Third person omniscient can be an extreme mistake for certain authors, but for Wild, it definitely worked. Altogether I enjoyed the plot and romance, but mainly had a problem with the pacing. If you were interested by Hatchet by Gary Paulson or Tarzan, than I definitely would recommend this to you!
Notable Scene:
The bear growled, trying to shake off the blow. Oddly human, it pawed its own ear. The boy struck again. Roared again. ANd although he grew paler by the moment, he did not stagger.
Terror ran through Dara. He saved her and he was going to die.
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Wild. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
September 14, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
16-year-old Cade lives in the forest; his parents are dead, and he believes that there are very few surviving humans on the planet due to the virus that caused his mother to hide them in the woods.
When a girl and boy (Dara and Josh) come camping in the forest, Cade is intrigued by the fact that they don’t seem to be sick.
Is it true that there are few surviving humans left? And will Cade always live in the forest?
This was an okay story, but I felt that it was quite slow, and not a lot happened.
Dara was an okay character, but she did seem to like sticking her nose in where it wasn’t wanted! It was admirable how she tried to help Cade, but I didn’t really see how they could ever really be together if Cade didn’t want to leave the forest.
The storyline was okay, but considering how long this book was, not a lot happened! The story was pretty slow, and it seemed to go on, and on, with very little actually happening in terms of plot development.
There was some romance, but it was pretty thin on the ground really. A couple of times a friend calls Cade Dara’s ‘boyfriend’, but nothing ever happens between the pair.
The ending was okay, but again, not a lot happened before we got there, and the ending was fairly tame. We didn’t get a solid happily-ever-after, and it’s left to the readers imagination to consider what might happen between the pair (if anything) in the future.
Overall; quite a slow story, and not very much happened,
6.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Cade lives in the forest; his parents are dead, and he believes that there are very few surviving humans on the planet due to the virus that caused his mother to hide them in the woods.
When a girl and boy (Dara and Josh) come camping in the forest, Cade is intrigued by the fact that they don’t seem to be sick.
Is it true that there are few surviving humans left? And will Cade always live in the forest?
This was an okay story, but I felt that it was quite slow, and not a lot happened.
Dara was an okay character, but she did seem to like sticking her nose in where it wasn’t wanted! It was admirable how she tried to help Cade, but I didn’t really see how they could ever really be together if Cade didn’t want to leave the forest.
The storyline was okay, but considering how long this book was, not a lot happened! The story was pretty slow, and it seemed to go on, and on, with very little actually happening in terms of plot development.
There was some romance, but it was pretty thin on the ground really. A couple of times a friend calls Cade Dara’s ‘boyfriend’, but nothing ever happens between the pair.
The ending was okay, but again, not a lot happened before we got there, and the ending was fairly tame. We didn’t get a solid happily-ever-after, and it’s left to the readers imagination to consider what might happen between the pair (if anything) in the future.
Overall; quite a slow story, and not very much happened,
6.5 out of 10.
May 22, 2016
The Wild is a retelling of Tarzan which made me really eager to read this as soon as I saw this because I rarely see a retelling of Tarzan. And man, this book is one of the best retelling books that i've ever read.
.
1.) I like how the author put a twist to the story by shoving Cade which was by the Tarzan to the real world in which he experienced a very hard time because he was chased by social workers, NBI and paparazzis.
.
2.) although its a 450 page book, I still felt that it should be longer because there are still some issues that was not solved.
.
3.) the writing style. I tend to hate books that have a very descriptive writing because it bores the hell out of me but when I came across this. All I want was to let them devour everything they see nor feel and describe it to me.
.
4.) I know this book was somehow commented by some reviewers as a slow-paced book but for my opinion, its one of the books that seriously drag me inside the book for me to escape the cruel world of us.
.
5.) the characters. Seriously, Cade was just so adorable and sexy at the same time. Ha! And Dara, well, sometimes, she gave me a little vibe of Jane but hey, she's a pretty good heroine. A+ for characters.
.
6.) the thing that I love the most was that Cade who grew in the wilderness along with her parents had managed to be intellectually smart. Sure, he doesn't have any idea on how to use a freaking tablet or a stove nor how to shave his face but come on, those are easy to learn.
.
.
*sigh* how I wish Alex Mallory write more retelling books.
.
1.) I like how the author put a twist to the story by shoving Cade which was by the Tarzan to the real world in which he experienced a very hard time because he was chased by social workers, NBI and paparazzis.
.
2.) although its a 450 page book, I still felt that it should be longer because there are still some issues that was not solved.
.
3.) the writing style. I tend to hate books that have a very descriptive writing because it bores the hell out of me but when I came across this. All I want was to let them devour everything they see nor feel and describe it to me.
.
4.) I know this book was somehow commented by some reviewers as a slow-paced book but for my opinion, its one of the books that seriously drag me inside the book for me to escape the cruel world of us.
.
5.) the characters. Seriously, Cade was just so adorable and sexy at the same time. Ha! And Dara, well, sometimes, she gave me a little vibe of Jane but hey, she's a pretty good heroine. A+ for characters.
.
6.) the thing that I love the most was that Cade who grew in the wilderness along with her parents had managed to be intellectually smart. Sure, he doesn't have any idea on how to use a freaking tablet or a stove nor how to shave his face but come on, those are easy to learn.
.
.
*sigh* how I wish Alex Mallory write more retelling books.
January 17, 2014
Modern day Tarzan!!! This is so GOOD!!! You MUST READ IT!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!
*MC’s Corner*
• Cade screams Primitive Boy!!! He’s so cool!
He’s fascinated by the modern technology, kiddy toys, and food. Oh!! He love’s bacon. (ME? NO! I H-A-T-E BACON! It’s disgusting!). He’s still scared about almost everything. He just want Dara, there’s a weird part where it’s kinda I-want-to-mate-her thing.
• I also like the he knew the alphabet, and other normal things that you can teach kids. Then he knew those scientific stuffs. It’s so cool.
• The whole time reading I was asking myself. What happened? Why is he stucked in the middle of nowhere? I don’t get it. Is jungle the best place a plague is coming?
• I really liked the first part. The part where Cade’s parents are talking. I think Cade’s dad doesn’t agree with his wife that much but he just let her. Why? It’s still a mystery. (This is my opinion only)
• The last part is so cool. The only thing I don’t like about Cade is his hair, but it stucked in my head and I want to cut it myself. I think the part Cade went to the mountains but not as a Primitive Boy, he went there blending with the citizens and he got a haircut. *sigh*
• Is this a sequel? PLEASE tell me it is!!! I love it! I want more Primitive Boy!!!
@gleekidMC
ARC provided by HarperTeen & Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!
*MC’s Corner*
• Cade screams Primitive Boy!!! He’s so cool!
He’s fascinated by the modern technology, kiddy toys, and food. Oh!! He love’s bacon. (ME? NO! I H-A-T-E BACON! It’s disgusting!). He’s still scared about almost everything. He just want Dara, there’s a weird part where it’s kinda I-want-to-mate-her thing.
• I also like the he knew the alphabet, and other normal things that you can teach kids. Then he knew those scientific stuffs. It’s so cool.
• The whole time reading I was asking myself. What happened? Why is he stucked in the middle of nowhere? I don’t get it. Is jungle the best place a plague is coming?
• I really liked the first part. The part where Cade’s parents are talking. I think Cade’s dad doesn’t agree with his wife that much but he just let her. Why? It’s still a mystery. (This is my opinion only)
• The last part is so cool. The only thing I don’t like about Cade is his hair, but it stucked in my head and I want to cut it myself. I think the part Cade went to the mountains but not as a Primitive Boy, he went there blending with the citizens and he got a haircut. *sigh*
• Is this a sequel? PLEASE tell me it is!!! I love it! I want more Primitive Boy!!!
@gleekidMC
ARC provided by HarperTeen & Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!
June 1, 2015
Dara and Josh decide to go camping instead of on a trip with their mates to sunny Florida. They need some time together because lately their relationship hasn’t been as smooth as it’s always been.
But when something raids their food supply and then Dara senses someone is watching them, the tension between them rises even more.
Josh wants to leave if there is some nut job watching them, but Dara isn’t scared of the boy she sees. Sure, he looks a bit weird covered in skins and with dreadlocks down his back, but he spoke to her, offering her fish for their dinner.
Tensions rise even further when they encounter a wild animal...
I really liked this story (being a Tarzan fan). It is like a much expanded Teen version of my Herrick series, only set in the USA instead of New Zealand.
I also enjoyed the steadily building angst between Dara and Cade, with Dara's boyfriend floundering on the outside of their connection. Great story telling.
But when something raids their food supply and then Dara senses someone is watching them, the tension between them rises even more.
Josh wants to leave if there is some nut job watching them, but Dara isn’t scared of the boy she sees. Sure, he looks a bit weird covered in skins and with dreadlocks down his back, but he spoke to her, offering her fish for their dinner.
Tensions rise even further when they encounter a wild animal...
I really liked this story (being a Tarzan fan). It is like a much expanded Teen version of my Herrick series, only set in the USA instead of New Zealand.
I also enjoyed the steadily building angst between Dara and Cade, with Dara's boyfriend floundering on the outside of their connection. Great story telling.
July 30, 2014
Did not finish at page 181. I did not really enjoy this like I thought I would. For starters, this book dragged on forever getting no where. I was almost halfway through the book when something finally happened. I couldn't connect with the main character Dara. They all pretty much lacked any personality. Plus I really hated that Dara and her boyfriend, Josh knew they weren't going to be with each other after high school, yet they kept telling themselves that it was for the best of them to stay together until then. All the while they were always arguing and at each other's throats. I really didn't understand that and it was really annoying. I may one day continue the story at a later time because there were some interesting parts. Just not any time soon.
Read
December 21, 2015DNF at 29%
This book was kind of a risk for me. I don't love contemporary stuff, but I do love retellings, and I was quite familiar with Tarzan going into this book, so I hoped I would like it. I didn't. This had all the trappings of the contemporary stuff I don't enjoy - a slow pace, characters that aren't outstanding, and a plot that doesn't really interest me. To tell you the truth, I wasn't exactly sure where this book was going, and I wasn't so interested to find out. The only thing I really liked were parts of Cade's backstory and life, and there wasn't enough of that to keep me invested.
This book was kind of a risk for me. I don't love contemporary stuff, but I do love retellings, and I was quite familiar with Tarzan going into this book, so I hoped I would like it. I didn't. This had all the trappings of the contemporary stuff I don't enjoy - a slow pace, characters that aren't outstanding, and a plot that doesn't really interest me. To tell you the truth, I wasn't exactly sure where this book was going, and I wasn't so interested to find out. The only thing I really liked were parts of Cade's backstory and life, and there wasn't enough of that to keep me invested.
May 7, 2015
Goodness I loved this book despite the ending (indeterminate). It was so cute and the author writes so well and it was an absolute delight to read! This is the longest books I've read in a while but I read strait through it since I couldn't put it down! It was delightful and wonderful all around! The only complaint I have is its a little slow in some parts (it takes about 100 pages to get out of the woods). But slow books don't trouble me at all! It was wonderful!
Want to read
March 9, 2017A retelling of Tarzan!!! I knew we were due for one soon. WANT.
July 3, 2014
Between 3.5 and 4 stars. Good story, but a bit underwhelming.
January 17, 2015
Ok I admit it, I skipped around, a lot! So, maybe it was a good book in the in-between pages I didn't read, but I doubt it.
July 25, 2014
A sweet collision of boy and girl, "he's from the woods, she's from the world." Ms. Mallory's modern-day Tarzan retelling is set in Kentucky—a totally enjoyable read for a new generation.
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