Wild Girl

by Patricia Reilly Giff

A contemporary and irresistible story from Patricia Reilly Giff

Lidie lives in Jales, Brazil, where she’s free to ride, to be a wild girl, and to dream of going to live with her father and older brother, Rafael, in New York City. Finally Lidie is 12—time to leave Brazil for New York.

Meanwhile, a filly is born and begins her journey to a new home. As Lidie’s story unfolds, so does the filly’s.

Lidie’s father runs a stable at a famous race track, and Rafael is training to be a jockey. As much as they want to make Lidie feel welcome, they still think of her as the little girl they left behind. They don’t even know what a strong rider she is, and that she’s determined to befriend and ride the wild filly her father has just Wild Girl.

Genres: Horses, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Middle Grade, Fiction, Family, Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 11, 2009

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to have discovered this writer and this wonderful, Wonderful book! A young girl joins her family in another country after some years separation. Nothing is the same except for her love for horses. Then she and Wild Girl meet!
Watching the recent amazing Kentucky Derby and thinking of my dear brother-in-law who trained thoroughbreds made this a very special book for me
But it is a special book about family, loneliness, and connection. And love.

[tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing story in such a small amount of pages

[Stina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant to get this book. I dislike horse racing, and this is a book about the daughter of a racehorse trainer and a racehorse to-be. She wants to be a jockey. Her brother is a jockey. It takes place on a racing farm. They go to the races. Obviously, this book didn't really scream "take me!"

But I kept seeing good reviews. The book was cheap, and short, and minus the racing bit, the story really did sound interesting! So I gave it a shot. I'm so glad I did. The story is short and sweet, and even though it's set in the racing world, I wasn't too bothered by that aspect. The characters are wholly believable, and I had some empathy for Lidie and her experience with a new country and new language - some of my family is from Russia so the pains of language barriers are quite familiar. I loved the scenes written from Wild Girl's perspective. These scenes are in third-person and they are brief enough that you get the sensations and it's over before it gets too deep in anthropomorphism. Nothing really feels too unrealistic, overdone or cliche. I briefly thought that the emphasis on Lidie and pink was a little too heavy-handed but by the end of the book I didn't care. The ending was feel-good and made me smile without being sappy.

Was it deeply meaningful and soul-moving? No. But it's a mid-grade book that I'm reading as not-a-middle-grader and I have no complaints. It's a solid book that I enjoyed, and it was well worth my time and money. I definitely recommend it to anyone (regardless of age) who likes horses and wants a quick and easy read.

[Kat V · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a GREAT book. It’s well written and has a great story. I highly recommend it for immigrants. One of the best kids books I’ve read. 4.3 stars

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story about learning to follow your dream. Lidie moves to New York from Brazil, to live with her father and brother whom she hasn't seen in several years. They still think of her as a little 7 year old girl, who likes Snow White, while she has moved on to be a horse crazy young woman who can ride just like they can and dreams of becoming a jockey. Her father is a racehorse trainer and her brother is training to be a jockey, but they won't include her in any of the racetrack business. She has trouble fitting in because of the cultural and language differences in her new school, but also because she can't communicate well with her family. There are interweaving chapters from a filly's point of view as she is weaned, comes to the farm and learns to trust people. I enjoyed this story, but I think Pam Munoz Ryan's Paint the Wind is much better done, for the horse parts and for the family dynamic. I didn't understand why the men in the story were so dense--in weekly phone calls home, they never learned that she rode a horse every day??-- and I wanted to learn more Portugese from the story, but there were mostly just phrases like "she said in her native language" instead of giving actual Portugese words. Good concept but needed more work.

[Jeannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, my rating is probably a little harsh, but it drives me nuts when writers choose characters from other countries and seemingly do no more research than look up a few foreign words and foods. Aside from that complaint, (or perhaps as a part of that) the main character seems through most of the book to be more bratty than wild, and the outcome is too pat. But hey, I'm not the target audience, and although I haven't anything against horses, stories about them wouldn't necessarily be more first choice. So, we'll see what students think; it is a quick and fairly engaging book, so you never know. In the meantime, I'm off to find more info on Brazil...

[Ash24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my closest friends gave me this book as a gift and its really good.

[Ca1t!Y# · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a slow start but once you get into it is is good.

[Kailee Tetrault · Rating 4 out of 5]

found this book from middle school and it was so precious. so glad I picked it up :)

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Wild Girl in my local Little Free library and knew it would make for a great Saturday read when I wanted something YA and softer than my usual reads.
I don' giveaway spoiilers in my reviews. This is the fist Patricia Reilly Giff that I've read.
I loved Wild Girl. Not only because I love horses but I knew it would be an uplifting story.
It's about a young girl named Lidie who joins her father and brother in America. They are a family who cares for horses for a living and as a hobby. Lidie learns many new things about herself as well as her brother and father.
I love how the filly had her own chapters interspersed throughout Wild Girl. I think they were my favorite chapters.

[Memrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lidie is a not-so-average girl. She has lived with Tio Paulo and Titia Lusia in Jales,Brazil. When Her mother died her father, the horseman, and brother Rafael moved to NYC without her when she was seven. In NYC the horseman could train racehorses. Ever since that day Lidie has hoped and dreamed that one day, some day the horseman and Rafael will come get her and take her to their home in New York. Finally Lidie is twelve and the day has come for her to pack up and move to the horseman and Rafael's house on a race track where the horseman works as a trainer. She quickly finds out that New York City is filled with new challenges and new surprises like her own horse, but when A spunky young filly named Wild Girl comes into Lidie's life every thing changes. Can these two wild girls make it in New York?

I love this book and would highly recommend it to any girl who loves horses and wants a new favorite book!

[Paige Lent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Name: Paige Lent
Date: 10/21/16
Assignment: Book plug

Book title: "Wild Girl"
Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Just imagine riding a horse. Feeling free and wild. This is exactly how 12 year old Lidie felt when she went to her father's house. The move was difficult for her. She moved from Brazil to New York. After Lidie's mother did when she was only seven, life has been difficult. After finally adjusting to her father's farm, Lidie began to ride his horses. Then, both Lidie and her father went down to South Carolina and picked up a new filly named Wild Girl. Lidie helped trained her, and became the filly's "person". Having a ride of her lifetime, Lidie was loving New York and the filly. How will the book end? Read it to find out! I'd recommended this book to anyone who enjoys realistic friction books and books about animals.

[Kiara Lafromboise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was interesting. This girl named Lidie lives in Jales, Brazil. She loves to ride horse all the time. But her dad moved to New York City with her brother Raefael. Her dad said that he would bring her to New York City until he gets enough money and buys a house which he does and paints her room Snow White and the seven dwurfs. But she was living with her aunt and uncle. She sad when she has to leave because she gonna miss her horse. But when she gets to New York City she get's to pick out her own horse even though she has never had a horse, even though she has been riding since she was little her dad taught her. But I really think who like riding horse this would be a good book for you!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good. It reminds me of me trying to prove myself as not a little girl anymore to my family. It was also funny in some parts. This book is about a girl who moves from South America to New York to live with her dad. When she gets there her room is pink, she goes to school where no one speaks spanish, and she knows how to ride horses, but her brother and dad don't know that. She tries to prove to her brother and dad that she is not little anymore. If you want to see the outcome then I suggest you resd the book.

[*LadyElk#30!*(KD) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is definetly for people @ a 3rd-6th grade reading level. this book show s the life of a girl that moves from brazil who faces the hardships of a new life ina america where you only know youre brother and father, and end up wetting your pant on the first day of sixth grade! but the book also tells about a horse and her journwey through life with an erge to run and run until you cant feel your legs moving underneath you.

[Grace Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giff is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her poignant stories, rich imagery, and strong characters make for a memorable read. Lidie is young and relatable but also opens a readers eyes to the struggles of immigration. Giff takes us there in this book - the wind in her hair, the sting in her eyes, the salty on her lips.
I loved it.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, insightful and heartwarming story for young adults, and a pleasant, short read for horse loving adults. Offers good lessons on adapting to changes, and learning to communicate with family and those around you.

[Lucky · Rating 3 out of 5]

not too excting but real good

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always had this book, but never read it. I took it upon myself to start it one day when I was bored. Turns out, it's not that a bad book, but a little bit boring. Patricia Reilly Giff wrote "Wild Girl". It is about a girl, Lidie, who likes horses and goes live with her father in America, who runs a stable. When a horse arrives for Lidie's father to train, she starts to connect with the horse. I found it for more of an early teen or preteen book. I read it because it's horse themed. You wonder, will she get what she wants? Will this horse help Lidie get to prove who she is? I find this book a little bit boring and not as exciting as more longer and heavier books. All in all, I would really only recommend this book to younger kids who are interested in horses. I would not recommend this book to anyone else.

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. Especially because it was based on a girl who came from and different country. That struggled to fit in but still tried. Even if she wanted to give up. What she really loved helped her in the strange place.
I think the story was great. It needs a little more detail and information. It needs to be more specific so you know what they are talking about. Other then that the book was great. I liked this book because i didn't know how to talk english when i started school and this book remind me of that. Also because i know her struggle and not knowing the language.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The duel perspectives made this book great. I could feel all of Lidie's emotions. The way her father and brother had tried to prepare for her was heartwarming, but she had changed so much in the five years since they had left. The struggle that comes with being in a new place is felt by Lidie and the filly. I can feel it too as each chapter draws the emotions out of me. The way Lidie was able to tap into Wild Girl's needs was lovely. and I found the ending between Pai, Rafael, and Lidie to be perfection as well. What a beautiful little story.

[Christine VanHalder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book! I was a bit disappointed that it ended so abruptly. It surely had one more short wrap-up chapter. It felt like it needed more to end it. It just hung, left off. Not really an ending. But very enjoyable.

[Kb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this YA novel with the Lovies. Another great horse story. Also a good reference point for what it would be like to enter a new country as a ‘tween. New language. New place to live. New unknowns and new authority figures. Lots to miss from home too. Good talking points for young readers.

[Mia Phlegar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not one of my favorites but it was about a girl living far away from her dad and brother but then goes to visit but they don't know the new her.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story about a girl leaving her native country to join her brother and father in America. Some of my 4 th graders would love it.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could tell this was an award-winning author by reading this book. There should have been more awards given to Wild Girl than she received. I recommend this book to everyone ages 11+.

[Lwikle2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about a young girl, a broken family and a horse. I would recommend to YA readers who may be struggling with fitting in to a new environment.

[Mary E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

poignant; realistic; horse lovers delight

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for young girls who love horses.

[Crystalpixel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short and sweet book,not the most exciting, but still good