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Wilder Boys #2
The Journey Home
Two brothers must rely on all their wilderness skills to survive their journey home after reuniting with their father and living off the grid in the second adventure of the Wilder Boys series.
At the start of the summer, Jake and Taylor Wilder set out on the adventure of a lifetime. After seeing their mother loaded into an ambulance because of Bull, her terrifying boyfriend, the boys know they are no longer safe. So they go in search of their father, who has been living off the grid in Wyoming. After jumping trains, hitching a ride with a truck driver, and hiding in the luggage compartment of a tour bus, the boys finally find him in Grand Teton National Park.
Just as the boys are getting used to their father’s lifestyle—and his “my way is the only way” attitude—they learn that their mother is still alive. But if the brothers don’t give back the money they took from Bull last year, she could be taken away from them…for good.
Convinced that their father isn’t going to help, the Wilder boys set out on their own again. It’s a long way from Wyoming to Pittsburgh, and with winter approaching there will be new challenges. But they have to get back. Will the brothers be able to make it back to their mother before it’s too late?
At the start of the summer, Jake and Taylor Wilder set out on the adventure of a lifetime. After seeing their mother loaded into an ambulance because of Bull, her terrifying boyfriend, the boys know they are no longer safe. So they go in search of their father, who has been living off the grid in Wyoming. After jumping trains, hitching a ride with a truck driver, and hiding in the luggage compartment of a tour bus, the boys finally find him in Grand Teton National Park.
Just as the boys are getting used to their father’s lifestyle—and his “my way is the only way” attitude—they learn that their mother is still alive. But if the brothers don’t give back the money they took from Bull last year, she could be taken away from them…for good.
Convinced that their father isn’t going to help, the Wilder boys set out on their own again. It’s a long way from Wyoming to Pittsburgh, and with winter approaching there will be new challenges. But they have to get back. Will the brothers be able to make it back to their mother before it’s too late?
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2016
40 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 26, 2025
4 stars loved it but not as much as the first one :)
July 26, 2023
Emerson and I just love this series and we can’t wait for the next one! If you love adventure and stories about family with a boys Wyoming setting, you’ll love the Wilder Boys books!
April 6, 2025
This was an audiobook that I listened to with my 7 year old. We enjoyed it!
March 29, 2020
When readers met the mother of the Wilder boys in Book 1, it was looking like she was at death's door. Not wanting to be separated as orphans, her sons set out to track down their father, who had abandoned the family years earlier. Now, in this sequel, we find that mom is still hanging on, but just barely.
Coming to the realization that their father doesn't actually have all the magical solutions they'd hoped for, Jake once again fears what reality will bring for him and his younger brother, Taylor. Should they head back to Pennyslvania? What's waiting for them there if they do? Not only do the boys not want to be separated, but now the winter months are settling in, making cross-country travel (of any kind) that much more difficult. Already, since coming to Wyoming, Jake has fallen through a lake. Though he was saved from drowning, he did experience hypothermia. Jake's father is pushing him to hold off doing anything until safer travel plans can be arranged.
Again, some heavy topics addressed here and there, just like in the first book, but still... such a great read! I feel we get to know these characters on such a deeper level in this second book... maybe that sense comes simply from this being a sequel --- the sheer fact that by now we've been with these characters awhile. Regardless, it was great to see the emotional growth of these boys on the cusp of their teen years, trying to make the best of a difficult situation with problematic parents. While the dad took some getting used to (his demeanor came off a little brusque at times), I could appreciate that he does honestly care about his boys and wants the best for them, even if that might mean not having him directly in their lives all the time.
In this sequel's supplemental materials, readers are taught wilderness techniques such as how to identify Polaris (North Star) in the night sky, how to bake berry cobbler in a dutch oven, how to use arrowleaf balsam root, how to identify the deadly variety of parasol mushrooms (some are edible), how to set deer and rabbit traps, and how to build snowshoes and snow caves.
Coming to the realization that their father doesn't actually have all the magical solutions they'd hoped for, Jake once again fears what reality will bring for him and his younger brother, Taylor. Should they head back to Pennyslvania? What's waiting for them there if they do? Not only do the boys not want to be separated, but now the winter months are settling in, making cross-country travel (of any kind) that much more difficult. Already, since coming to Wyoming, Jake has fallen through a lake. Though he was saved from drowning, he did experience hypothermia. Jake's father is pushing him to hold off doing anything until safer travel plans can be arranged.
Again, some heavy topics addressed here and there, just like in the first book, but still... such a great read! I feel we get to know these characters on such a deeper level in this second book... maybe that sense comes simply from this being a sequel --- the sheer fact that by now we've been with these characters awhile. Regardless, it was great to see the emotional growth of these boys on the cusp of their teen years, trying to make the best of a difficult situation with problematic parents. While the dad took some getting used to (his demeanor came off a little brusque at times), I could appreciate that he does honestly care about his boys and wants the best for them, even if that might mean not having him directly in their lives all the time.
In this sequel's supplemental materials, readers are taught wilderness techniques such as how to identify Polaris (North Star) in the night sky, how to bake berry cobbler in a dutch oven, how to use arrowleaf balsam root, how to identify the deadly variety of parasol mushrooms (some are edible), how to set deer and rabbit traps, and how to build snowshoes and snow caves.
December 14, 2019
This is a continuation of the first book but you could read them separately and still understand what is happening. They are better read in order. The book catches you up and makes you feel their frustration about what they have to deal with. Like true siblings they have their ups and downs. I do like how they work together and look out for each other. The added bonus in both books it that their dog is with them in most of their adventures. This book like the last one reminds me of some books I read growing up. I mean who didn't want to run away and live in the wilderness and hopefully taming wild animals as your companion. I think this shows that sometimes that things are not always what you hope but with some help and work you can make things work out.
April 25, 2022
great boys’ adventure
Family, loyalty, and perseverance are at the forefront. Jake and Taylor, teenage brothers, love each other, there mom, and their recalcitrant dad, whom they found in Wyoming after traveling cross country. Now they have to get back to their mom in Pittsburgh. Will they find their mom well? What about their dad in Wyoming? Can the family be healed and the bad guys dispatched?
This is an exciting, entertaining, warm, feel good adventure book with lots of outdoor survival tips included.
Family, loyalty, and perseverance are at the forefront. Jake and Taylor, teenage brothers, love each other, there mom, and their recalcitrant dad, whom they found in Wyoming after traveling cross country. Now they have to get back to their mom in Pittsburgh. Will they find their mom well? What about their dad in Wyoming? Can the family be healed and the bad guys dispatched?
This is an exciting, entertaining, warm, feel good adventure book with lots of outdoor survival tips included.
July 10, 2022
An adventurous sequel to Wilder Boys. My 9 and 11 year old loved this one too. Both of these books are wonderful books on tape for a long 4-6 hour car ride. Some mature themes present in this book too. There are some wonderful themes of devotion to family and reconcilation as well.
September 11, 2022
Filled with implausible turns of events and implausible dialogue. To make matters worse, adults can not be trusted, so kids have to go it alone. But I suppose if they didn't, there wouldn't be a story.
March 8, 2024
Of course, you do have to read the sequel to the first. They do find their way back and meet some good people. The ending is a happy one, but I think I prefer the first book to the second. (3.5 stars)
December 23, 2024
Two brother's out on an adventure together. I think my own boys were taking notes and plotting their escape. They'd probably die out in the wilderness since they don't know jack shit about surviving.
May 10, 2017
This was not nearly as good as the first one. There were exciting parts with Kim but I didn't feel it was as developed as the first book.
June 9, 2020
An exciting adventure even though it is a bit predictable at times.
January 16, 2021
Great Ending: Don't Really Like This Book?!?!
This book wasn't as great as the fist one although the ending was nice, but yeah!
This book wasn't as great as the fist one although the ending was nice, but yeah!
March 7, 2021
Great follow up
Enjoyed first book so continued the story. Suspenseful and action packed, held our attention. Highly recommended, 5 stars for sure!
Enjoyed first book so continued the story. Suspenseful and action packed, held our attention. Highly recommended, 5 stars for sure!
March 31, 2021
pretty much the same journey but in reverse and a nice, wonderful ending
March 23, 2022
So glad I read these books! I thought they were great stories. I would encourage all my boys to read them. A fun adventure story!
Currently reading
June 3, 2022pretty good book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2023
This book was even more far fetched than the first. The story line didn't really work for me.
September 30, 2024
A continuation picking up from the last book. A lot of the misadventure could have been avoided in this one. Still a fun read though.
January 17, 2025
Exciting, adventurous and a lot of heart.
March 22, 2025
I liked it, but I liked the first book better.
June 11, 2016
Here is the thing: I love survival books about people living in the wild, so I'll read basically anything with that premise.
This said, a book must have a reason why people are living in the wilderness, even just "they like it".
There is 0 reason for this book.
Why the protagonists leave their father? Do they really think they can help their mother? How? What is the logic of "let's leave everything and go back to our mother who we left because it was dangerous and guess what it is still as dangerous"?
Also Taylor is... a non entity. He just follow Jake, who doesn't have a brain.
And all that would be two stars.
Why one then?
Because of the portrayal of depression in this book.
Depression is serious stuff and the author, Brandon Wallace, uses it as an useful plot point without any research whatsoever. It didn't bother me too much in the first book that the mother of the boys was depressed and as such unable to help them. That is what depression can do to you.
It does bother me, as somebody who has suffered from severe depression, how in this book the stuff is handled. Basically their mother:
- Seems to get better when the children are elsewhere. Wait what? A depressed woman put in the hospital by her boyfriend finds her children have disappear and... this has 0 repercussion on her mental state? Don't be ridicolous.
- Get better when she gets back to her husband. Which is. Ugh. No. But you see, there was no more reason in the book for her to be a not-entity and as such POOF she is magically cured by her depressive state! This is so much what really happen in real life. Not.
So, one star for me. Horrid book 100% not read.
This said, a book must have a reason why people are living in the wilderness, even just "they like it".
There is 0 reason for this book.
Why the protagonists leave their father? Do they really think they can help their mother? How? What is the logic of "let's leave everything and go back to our mother who we left because it was dangerous and guess what it is still as dangerous"?
Also Taylor is... a non entity. He just follow Jake, who doesn't have a brain.
And all that would be two stars.
Why one then?
Because of the portrayal of depression in this book.
Depression is serious stuff and the author, Brandon Wallace, uses it as an useful plot point without any research whatsoever. It didn't bother me too much in the first book that the mother of the boys was depressed and as such unable to help them. That is what depression can do to you.
It does bother me, as somebody who has suffered from severe depression, how in this book the stuff is handled. Basically their mother:
- Seems to get better when the children are elsewhere. Wait what? A depressed woman put in the hospital by her boyfriend finds her children have disappear and... this has 0 repercussion on her mental state? Don't be ridicolous.
- Get better when she gets back to her husband. Which is. Ugh. No. But you see, there was no more reason in the book for her to be a not-entity and as such POOF she is magically cured by her depressive state! This is so much what really happen in real life. Not.
So, one star for me. Horrid book 100% not read.
April 24, 2016
From the first book, this series had me enthralled. It was such a page turner, I stayed up a little later than usual on the night I finished it. It is a fairly quick read, but I enjoyed it. The reason I gave it 4 stars however, is because I thought the book was a little easy for me, despite all of the plants in the woods they had found, or different materials of which I had never heard of before. The part I like most about this book is probably a copy of Jake's journal, which records everything that they had seen on their excursion. I found this part very helpful, because next time I end up alone in the woods in Wyoming ( which is highly unlikely for me), I'll know what to eat and what not to eat!
May 23, 2016
Definitely going to be a hit with fans of the first book. Even more excitement, even more danger! And an excellent ending to boot.
June 20, 2016
Wow
It's the as heckikiikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkj like woah, no Kim at the end of story? Lick woah, was the heck bro jeez
It's the as heckikiikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkj like woah, no Kim at the end of story? Lick woah, was the heck bro jeez
January 13, 2022
Very good 2nd book to the first one. Must read 1st book
May 19, 2017
Great continuation of the boys' story. Many of my students were excited to see this story continued!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews