Wild Boy: A pacy mystery adventure story set in the smoggy underworld of Victorian London, perfect for fans of detective fiction aged 9, 10, 11, 12

Wild Boy #1

by Rob Lloyd Jones

A fiendishly pacy mystery-adventure story for 9+ readers, set in the seamy, smoggy underworld of Victorian London.BEHOLD THE SAVAGE SPECTACLE OF THE WILD BOY – ONE PENNY A KICK! Wild Boy has been covered in hair since birth; he’s the missing link, a monster, a sideshow spectacle. Condemned to life in a travelling freakshow, excluded from society and abused by his master, he takes refuge in watching people come and go at the fair – and develops a Sherlock Holmes style talent for observation and detection. But when there’s a murder, suspicion turns on Wild Boy, and he and the feisty redhaired acrobat Clarissa Everett find themselves on the run from a London-wide manhunt. Together, the detective and the acrobat must solve clues to identify the real killer, confronting the sinister underside of scientific advancement and the darkness of Wild Boy’s own nature.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Rob Lloyd Jones was born in San Francisco but grew up in London. He studied Egyptology at University where he learnt hieroglyphics, and often goes on digs with the Egypt Exploration Society. He is a senior editor at Usborne, for whom he has written over thirty books – mostly historical non-fiction, but also adaptations of classics such as JEKYLL AND HYDE and THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Rob is also a volunteer reading helper at a primary school in Clerkenwell and wrote episodes of the children’s TV show ‘Bernard’s Watch’ for Carlton Kids. He lives in south London with his wife Sally, and 14-month-old son Otis.

Reviews

[✦BookishlyRichie✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!

American Horror Story: FREAKSHOW meets Sherlock Holmes!!

Murder, mayhem, mystery, action, friendship, and batshit craziness! I will now need a copy of this for my shelf because it was awesome. I loved the 1800s carnival/fair atmosphere and this was definitely a dark Middle-Grade read. The writing was incredible and the author did an amazing job at reeling you into the story and making you feel as if you were right there in 1800s London, walking on cobblestone streets, and inhaling the sweet scents of the fair, the sludgy sewage, and the singed hair of Wild Boy. I swear Wild Boy is like a young version of Sherlock from the Elementary TV series and I found that extremely exciting.

If you're looking for something fun, dark, funny, mysterious, and full of action, check this one out. :)

- Richard

[Jx PinkLady Reviews ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter needed to read a mystery novel as part of a school project so, on the recommendation of my son, we chose, 'Wild Boy.'

A few more thoughts to come

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Londres, 1841. El pequeño Wild Boy, un niño cubierto completamente de pelo, es recogido del hospicio en el que fue abandonado por un personaje sin escrúpulos que regenta un puesto en la Parada de los Monstruos de un circo. Aquí tendrá que vivir en pésimas condiciones, maltratado dentro y fuera del escenario. Sólo disfruta durante el tiempo en que puede observar a la gente que visita el circo, desarrollando un don que ya poseía antes en potencia, el de la observación y la deducción. Pero su vida no tardará en complicarse aún más, cuando sea acusado injustamente de asesinato.

‘Wild Boy, el Chico Salvaje’ (Wild Boy, 2013), de Rob Lloyd Jones, es una magnífica novela de aventuras de corte juvenil, aunque no por ello escatima al lector las partes más crueles y despiadadas. Tiene algo de Charles Dickens, y mucho del Sherlock Holmes de Arthur Conan Doyle, ya que de un simple vistazo, Wild Boy es capaz de saber la profesión y hábitos de cualquiera, así como seguir pistas. La edición está muy cuidada y es de agradable lectura. Sin duda, una novela muy recomendable.

[Ethan Blight · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite books from back in the day when I was just a small boy. Shorter than I remember but still fantastic, a great era and characters even though the story is a bit predictable. If you want a short lil mystery I say go for it x

[Audrey Laurey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. Especially anyone who has considered joining a circus, enjoys a heartfelt mystery, or has felt like an outsider. I cannot get enough esoteric historical fiction.

This book is fast paced and deals with a lot of deep issues; Such as loss, insecurities, fear, not feeling like one belongs, etc. Which is interesting since this book is classified as junior fiction.

There is violence, suspense, and most importantly an emphasis on the different sides of a spectrum. I would recommend this book to readers 7th grade and up, especially if one considers themselves to be a reluctant reader.

Le sigh.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4,5*

This was fantastic. Review to come xx

[Kat (Lost in Neverland) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abandoned at birth and given to a freakshow at 8, Wild Boy has learned to never trust anyone and to consider himself a monster.
It's 1841, London, England. A boy covered from head to toe in hair is forced to perform in front of vicious crowds. In order to keep himself going, Wild Boy watches people. He sees things about them that no one else does, and in time develops a useful skill of deduction. He can learn facts from a person with a single glance, with subtle hints and clues on their clothes or movements.

When there's a murder in the fairground, Wild Boy is blamed and forced to go into hiding. With his deduction skill under his wing and Clarissa the circus acrobat, who was accused alongside him, he sets out to solve who the real killer was and clear their names.

It had so much potential.
Starting out strong with unique, engaging characters, the story keeps you entertained with its easy, readable writing. Both Wild Boy and Clarissa were complex, interesting characters (and I shipped them like you wouldn't believe).

Its intended audience was YA, I believe, even though the main characters were very young, at 11/12 years old.
However, it read more like a middle grade, albeit a disturbing one.

I knew who the killer was less than halfway through the book. After that, the story followed one predictable action after another, down to the typical 'damsel in distress' and 'dramatic killer reveal' dialogue and scene.

For murder mysteries to hold your interests, they can't be predictable. It ruins the fun of guessing.

It was enjoyable but predictable. I recommend anything by Agatha Christie if you're looking for something unpredictable and historical murder mystery.

[Daniel Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I loved this book. I really liked how ever chapter ending ended on a cliff hanger that made you wanting to read more. If I had to change one thing about the book, it would be the ending. Not the twist with Sir Oswald since that was AMAZING. But removing the final chapter (or last three pages or so) I personally liked it when it was just Wild Boy, Clarissa, and Marcus on the bridge just relived everything was over. But then they basically sequel baited with hinting at WB and Clarissa joining the Gentlemen. But even with that, I truly loved this book. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Edit: I’m actually changing my score on this book. It’s the first time I’ve done this and I have my reasons. The more I thought about this book the more I realized I knew where the story was heading. I still stand by my decision that the book should have ended on the bridge and let the book not turn into a series. Eventually I might read the rest but this would work better as a stand alone book. It’s really good but the more I think about it, the more I see that I saw where the story was going. Still a must read in my opinion.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mi me ha encantado a pesar de ser infantil-juvenil.
Una historia muy bonita.

"Ni paga, ni vacaciones... sólo comida, techo y trabajo. En algunas ocasione desearás estar muerto. En otras te sentirás como si ya lo estuvieras. Te escupirán, te pegarán sin parar... Esa es mi oferta. Tómala o déjala."

Este es el primer contrato de trabajo que acepta nuestro protagonista tras ser sacado de un hospicio londinense. Todo a cambio de poder observar el mundo; por respirar algo más que no fueran las cuatro paredes de su prisión inicial.

¿Puede un bicho raro, un monstruo, llegar a ser algo distinto? Aquí radica la esencia de este precioso cuento infanto-juvenil que recomiendo a todas las edades.

Más información, próximamente en el blog:

http://francisforcoppola.blogspot.com...

Os encantará¡¡¡¡

[Teresa V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Boy me ha parecido un libro increíble, lleno de misterios, pistas, muertes, malos, mentiras y muchos secretos. Va acompañado de una pluma y una ambientación única y espectacular. Unos protagonistas a la altura de la novela: sencillos, reales, bondadosos y aventureros. Cada página te envuelve el misterio que no te dejará escapar y las ganas de saber quién se esconde bajo todo lo que está pasando hará que pases las páginas sin darte cuenta. Pese que algunas cosas me parecieron previsibles, el libro me ha encantado de principio a fin y lo he disfrutado enormemente.

Reseña completa: http://within-books.blogspot.com.es/2...

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read. I think it's a chapter book for younger readers, but it doesn't talk down and it's a great, steampunk-ish adventure with Wild Boy as a sort of junior Sherlock Holmes. In the first book -- this one -- Wild Boy makes friends with the acrobat girl Clarissa after they are accused of a gruesome murder. There's a weird machine using that newfangled stuff electricity and lots of secrets and lies. It's a good read for pretty much anyone.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: Action packed with a Sherlock/Victorian twist and a mystery that will have kids wondering when the heck the sequel's coming out.

[Mariano Hortal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publicado en http://lecturaylocura.com/wildboy-el-...

“Wildboy. El chico salvaje” de Rob Lloyd Jones. Sherlock Holmes (nuevamente) como inspiración

Uno se encuentra sorpresas de diferente calibre en todo tipo de sellos; en este caso, en el de Alfaguara Juvenil, se trata de la novela “Wildboy. El chico salvaje” del británico Rob Lloyd Jones, libro que, me temo va a pasar desapercibido a pesar de su indudable potencial manifestado ya en el prólogo con el que da comienzo, ambientado en 1838, en el que un empresario va a buscar a alguien, un chico muy especial, a un orfanato; os dejo con dos textos muy indicativos de los derroteros que va a tomar:
“-He venido a por el chico -respondió el empresario.
Los ojos del ventanuco se entornaron.
-¿Qué chico? Aquí hay docenas de chicos.
El empresario se inclinó hacia delante, mostrando su rostro bajo la sombra de su chistera ladeada. Era una cara horrorosa, surcada por tantas cicatrices que parecía hecha con trozos de piel cosidos entre sí. Tenía marcas de latigazos, cuchilladas y arañazos. Señales de mordiscos, quemaduras y cortes de sierra. Y un largo tajo que recorría su nariz huesuda como maquillaje morado. Se acarició la herida con un dedo mientras se acercaba al ventanuco para gruñir.
-El chico.”
“De los ojos del muchacho rodaron lagrimas que escamparon el vello de sus mejillas. Pero apretó los dientes y aguantó el dolor del pecho.
-¿Veré cosas? -susurró.
El empresario miró a Bledlow, desconcertado por la pregunta.
-Le gusta observarlo todo -explicó el encargado. Es lo único que hace este pequeño animal. Se sienta ahí y mira por la ventana.
El empresario soltó el pelo del muchacho dejándolo caer al suelo.
-Verás un montón, claro que sí -dijo-. Sólo que, donde tú irás, no habrá muchas cosas bonitas.
-¿Una parada de monstruos? -preguntó el chico.
-Una parada de monstruos -confirmó el empresario.”
Aparte de las inevitables resonancias dickensianas, tenemos un chico muy especial, con gran capacidad de observación, y al que recoge un empresario de circo salido de una película que nos retrotrae al “Freaks” de Todd Browning, de rabiosa actualidad actualmente con la cuarta temporada de American Horror Story y su Freakshow.
Estas pistas se irán revelando de manera muy inteligente según empiece a desarrollar la historia Lloyd Jones, ya tres años más tarde (1841) en el Londres victoriano. Nuestro chico, Wild Boy, recibe ese nombre de su condición más animal que humana, recordando más a un oso que a otra cosa. Se convierte en un personaje más de un circo que es un “Gabinete de curiosidades”, con lo cual ya tenemos el lugar en el que se desarrollará la acción y el contexto.
A continuación, sucederá un asesinato de uno de los integrantes de esta “Parada de monstruos”, del que culparán a nuestro protagonista; Wild Boy confrontará al asesino casi por casualidad al encontrarse con él y le hablará de una misteriosa máquina:
“No conseguirás la máquina.
[...]
Trató de que su voz sonara firme, pero había algo en aquella figura que le había provocado un escalofrío por todo el cuerpo, un terror más profundo que cualquiera de los acontecimientos de aquella noche. Quienquiera que fuera, se alegraba de que se hubiera marchado.”
El autor aprovechará entonces la dimensión social para poner de relevancia la típica situación en la que se culpa al que es más raro, extraño, al que puede amenazar el estatus quo de los que se consideran normales y juzgan lo que es normal desde su óptica; esto, de hecho lo está explotando también Ryan Murphy en Freakshow. Donde se desmarca Lloyd Jones es en la otra característica comentada anteriormente, la última por reseñar: su capacidad de observación:
“Le invadió la ira. Sólo porque fuera un bicho raro todo el mundo creía que era culpable. Sin poder controlarse, cogió uno de los cuencos de sopas, lo estrelló contra la pared de la cámara subterránea. Se inclinó sobre la mesa, maldiciendo y tirándose del pelo de la cara.
-¿Has terminado ya de compadecerte de ti mismo? -le preguntó Clarissa.
-no, no he terminado -gritó Wild Boy-. Déjame en paz, ¿quieres?
-¡No voy a dejarte en paz! Mi nombre está también en esa casa, ¿sabes? Y vas a ayudarme a salir de esta.
-¿Sí? Dime cómo.
-Encontraremos pistas que demuestren nuestra inocencia.”
No esconde el británico su adoración por Conan Doyle y su maravilloso personaje, dotando a nuestro peludo personaje de una capacidad de fijarse en los detalles digna del detective de Baker Street; de ahí que decida, junto a Clarissa, la acróbata, intentar desentrañar el misterio detrás de los asesinatos que se van sucediendo a continuación.
Volverá a encontrarse con el asesino y este utilizará su inseguridad para escapar; el caramelo de la máquina que puede hacerle “normal” será un germen que descompensará a nuestro protagonista y le llenará de dudas:
“El asesino entornó sus ojos tras la máscara.
-Es una máquina muy poderosa. Una máquina que te cambia. Imagina algo así Wild Boy de Londres. Imagina una máquina que pudiera volverte normal como todo el mundo.
Wild Boy estaba demasiado sorprendido para responder. Lo que el asesino acababa de decir no era posible, ¿verdad? Él nunca podría ser normal.”
No dejarán de sucederse las persecuciones llenas de acción, aparecerán aliados inesperados, sociedades secretas que esconden más de lo que se dice… hasta llegar a una resolución digna de una mistery novel con nuestro velludo compañero transmutado en un Sherlock Holmes Freak encantador que consigue aceptarse a sí mismo con sus virtudes y sus defectos.
Comienzo de una serie que, al dedicarse a la presentación de personajes, no puede desarrollar a fondo lo que ha presentado, pero que tiene un gran potencial para las siguientes entregas. Mucho más que un entretenimiento, con una resolución sorprendente. Más que recomendable.
Los textos provienen de la traducción de Montserrat Nieto Sánchez de “Wildboy. El chico salvaje” de Rob Lloyd Jones para Alfaguara.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a bit too much violence done to children in this book for my taste, but the book isn't for old ladies, it is for year 6s, and they might love that all the action and adventure come with blood and bruises and cut up corpses.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book out of the Library thinking that the author was the New Zealand writer, Lloyd Jones (author of Mr Pip, and I was surprised to find he'd written a children's book. I was nearly all the way through it before I realised my mistake.
No problem. Rob Lloyd Jones does a great job with his story, and it's such a page turner I read it in one go. (Years ago I remember the thriller writer Dick Francis rather regretfully saying that it took him months to write a book and then his readers would say they'd zipped through it in one day.)

Wild Boy is a terrific read - though quite violent - and at times has echoes of an action movie. The plot is well-crafted with its mystery revolving round circuses and electrical machines and the Tower of London and a bunch of other interesting factors. The characters come across as individuals, and the main one grows considerably through the book. Jones says he loves London, but the picture of it in this book is anything but complementary with its peasouper fogs, filth, dirt and sewerage (above ground as well as below). Admittedly it's set in the late 19th century, but Jones really hammers home the unpleasantness of the place for many people.

There are some grim moments, so it may not suit more sensitive readers.

[Om Manghani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book, and I can definitely see why this one was chosen as a Red Dot. There was a lot of great inner thinking for Wild Boy, and I love how fast the plot played out, and how unexpected it was towards the end.

This book again seems to highlight what it means to be different in today's world, to stand out and to suffer the consequences. It makes me wonder what it means for someone to be different, and why people feel to against being different.

Besides from being different, this book also seems to show two sides to every character, like there are two sides to many people in life. Examples of these are Finch, and Clarissa.

Overall, a nice book to cap off the year, and a good read to anyone. Happy New Year!

[Aryaman Bharath · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be fair if there were half star ratings I would give it a 3.5 stars because first of all it created tension all around and it hooked me in till the last word. Second it had a shocking end which made the book more heart breaking and third, though it did hook me, it had a slow start and the author was describing the setting a lot which made things a bit more boring because I personally like to make a picture with my own imagination and the author this case it like here is how it should look.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had taken this book out again and again and again over the years and never started it. When I finally did start, I couldn't stop! What a fun and quirky story! I think the mystery aspect was a bit....obvious (maybe it wouldn't be for younger readers?) but I didn't mind. It was still super fun. We had this in our children's section, but I'd say it's more for a YA age group or mature children. There are some parts that are a bit violent and gruesome and even I was like "oof that's nasty!" I can't wait to read the sequel and hope the author eventually writes more in this series.

[Felix · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the idea for this book was pretty decent but the reason I can´t give it a good rating is simply because it is too dark and violent. I know that is one of the points of the book but I just don´t like it.
Many of the books I read do have violence, but this book takes it over the top especially since the violence is on children.

[Steph_d · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally read this in a half a day.
The story kept me intrigued the whole time I was reading.
The writing flowed and the story was never made to feel like it was struggling to continue.
I definitely would read the second one

[Rachael Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fab book!
My Year 6 class loved it. Quite gory and full of suspense - just their cup of tea.

[☺Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Boy is a master of observation who solves a murder mystery using the clues around him (along with help from his friends). Wild Boy has had a horrible childhood! He works as a sideshow attraction at a traveling carnival, mistreated first at the orphanage/workhouse where he was abandoned as an infant and then at the carnival by the creep who bought him in order to exploit his status as a freak (Wid Boy is covered in hair head-to-toe). Good story . . .

[Sandra Turton · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5* stars

[Lyndsey O'Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Boy is set in Victorian London, with the young boy covered in hair living in a place where he is constantly belittled and bullied because of how he looks. Instead of rising to the other boys around him, Wild Boy spends his time watching people, learning more about them. One day though, a strange man comes to take him away to a travelling freak show and circus and he has no option but to go with him. He believes it cannot be any worse than what he already has to deal with.

Wild Boy was such a wonderful character. First off, he was abandoned in a London work house and teased beyond belief, then he’s shipped off to a freak show. I couldn’t have felt more sorry for him. It wasn’t his fault he looked the way he did, nor did he have any say over what happened to him. It doesn’t get any better for him either once is he a part of the freak show. He’s alone all of the time, is forced to perform and has no friends which is something he wants more than anything.

It doesn’t take long for the mystery and action to begin in this book, which was a really good thing. Wild Boy manages to stumble across a very important letter which warns of extremely bad things. He, along with acrobat Clarissa, are brought right into the middle of a strange murder mystery and they must both fight to clear their names. I loved the aspects of the circus people, the involvement of an outside organisation and Wild Boy being able to use his special ability to find sets of clues about the murder. This also sparks a strange friendship between Wild Boy and Clarissa as they are forced to work together, even though they dislike one another.

The travelling freak show setting was fantastic, especially when contrasted with the dark, seedy streets of Victorian London. While one setting is colourful, busy and exciting, the other is creepy, dark and quite disgusting. I especially liked Wild Boy and Clarissa’s adventures on the streets of London and where else it led them to. There are dark, damp sewers along with a mansion hiding secret rooms which are filled with bodies and bones. Rob Lloyd Jones certainly makes his world a place to chill you to the bones, and to never want to go there yourself.

Overall, Wild Boy is a fantastic read filled with interesting characters and a great mystery to solve. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Boy is a deliciously chilling look at the seedy underbelly of Victorian England. Abandoned at birth by his parents because of his appearance, Wild Boy, grows up taunted and teased by the other boys in the workhouse where he spent his formative years. At the age of eight he is rescued from the workhouse by a carnival barker and forced to perform in a sideshow. Luckily, for Wild Boy he has found a friend, another performer, named Sir Oswald. When Wild Boy is framed for murder he must use his exceptional powers of deduction to crack the case. What an excellent read! The author does a wonderful job of depicting the wretched conditions of the carnival life as well as the grimy London setting. I enjoyed seeing how Wild Boy's character evolved and became more accepting of himself and thus more self assured. A must read for historical fiction.enthusiasts! 5 stars!!!

[Anthony Burt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off really well - great concept, interesting setting (Victorian England amongst the "freaks" of the circus community) - but I realised by about page 70 I wasn't really engaging with the main character's thoughts/emotions or motive. In fact, I started wondering where the actual impetus for the story was.

Ok, yes, he's a jilted "freak" in the circus, no one loves him, he wants to escape etc, but it just started feeling like yada-yada-yada, heard it all before.

Sorry Rob - perhaps I just wasnt in the mood for this, and it's obviously doing really well for other people as it's won awards and there's a sequel coming out. Sadly, I won't be reading it as I couldn't finish this one.

But I still LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Walker Books I might add. :-)

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild Boy works as a circus freak. He has hair growing all over his body (Hypertrichosis) and is an outcast from society. He's abused by various "masters" and ends up teaming with a girl from the circus, an acrobat, to solve a mystery and a murder they stumble into. Wild Boy has the gift of observation. He sees details and can make connections like Sherlock Holmes.

The mystery and murder has to do with a "machine." We find out just what this machine can do and who is desperate enough to use it and kill for it.

This was a dark and atmospheric story. I may read the second book, Wild Boy and the Black Terror

[Sue Murdoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins with fantastic, evocative description and continues to delight throughout. I felt absorbed into the grimy streets of London and its filthy dank underworld; the harshness of the story's characters living from day to day by the rule of the circus gave a contrasting insight into the world of the Victorian ruling classes, raising the question - just how does a country hold on to power and empire? I loved the Sherlock Holmes feel of a quest and felt that the inner emotional battle Wild Boy experienced trying to overcome 'freak show' prejudice beautifully balanced his character. I'm very much looking forward to the next book!

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story, drawn in by the title and age old concept of a wild boy (I'm a huge Tarzan and Lucan fan). But this was so much more. Set in Victorian London - a popular time and place for novels at the moment, this was part mystery, part thriller and something magical all mixed in. Wild Boy was a likeable albeit angry character (he has every right to be) and the action-packed finale was fabulous. I could almost hear the wheels of the carriage on the cobblestones as it thundered through the streets....
Great read.

[Pam Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was unsure about this book, it had good reviews but the first few pages I wasn't sure, '...a thick fog crept over the city...' but the author quickly found his voice and the story was racing. Wild Boy is a freak but he is likable and convincing character as too is Clarissa, a circus, acrobat girl of some talent and Sir Oswald with his war injuries. What a team.

The tale has strong links to Sherlock Holmes, with adventure, murder and solving of crimes in London.