Walk the Wild Road

by Nigel Hinton

Leo took one step forward and then stopped. This was it-the road away from everything he knew. He could turn back. But then who would save his family from starvation? No, Leo was their last hope. He must go on...

The journey is not easy-he'll have to sleep on the streets, steal food, and even fight off greedy soldiers. Along the way, Leo discovers the kindness of strangers and the loyalty of friends. But he also learns there are some people you just can't trust, especially when you're on the wild road to America.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Nigel Hinton was born and educated in London. After two years in advertising, he worked as an English teacher for nine years. His first novel, Collision Course (winner of the Dutch Silver Pen Award) was written as a result of a challenge from one of his pupils. He began teaching part-time and also worked as a professional actor before concentrating on his writing.

Nigel is the ever-popular author the Beaver Towers series of stories for primary school readers (which has been adapted for TV), and, for secondary school readers, he wrote the Buddy trilogy. His novel The Finders won him the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Award.

Reviews

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nigel Hinton heard how his grandfather left Poland and tried to help his family. He also left trying to get money for his family and looking for a better life for himself as well. This book also takes place during one of the world wars.This book is also one of the best sellers and is a great book to read and also is a great historical fiction book. This book is a good book that will fill you with some suspense and take u on a wild journey. I think that this is one of Nigel Hinton's best books.

[Alyssa]

I don't know why but I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I can appreciate that it was good but I just came off a book that I love so I guess this was just okay in comparison. I actually never finished this book so for all I know it could have become amazing in the last hundred pages. I didn't hate it that much I just found it slow paced and I just bought some new books so I am itching to read them instead.

Despite all this I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a short book with chapters that can easily be read in a sitting.

[Charlie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.This book is very involved into survival. The book starts with Leo (the main character) who was very poor. He worked in the fields of his home working on crops. He came to the point in his life that he was so poor that he had to go out in the field instead of going to buy food. Leo had to go into the woods to find food. He found a pig that was in the wolf gangs house and fields. He stole one and walked home until he saw the Wolfgang. This part of the book connected to my thinking because i could not imagine taking a pig and getting caught because there family is starving. I don`t want to spoil the rest of the book for you. This is an amazing book because you get hooked to it and don`t want to put it down.

[Jonathan Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start of by saying wow. This book was just an emotional rollercoaster for me, as I cannot believe how much raw emotion was displayed in this book. The journey our main character goes on is truly incredible, and the conclusion is one that will honestly make you feel sad and happy all at once. From the unfortunate start, to the challenges our characters face, this book truly does it all. There are so many different aspects to this story, as we get to see the best in humans, the worst, and we also get to peer into what a country is like at war. And when you're all alone. And when you think everything is going to be okay when it suddenly goes wrong. Everything about this book was amazing, and however sad I might have gotten reading it, it was still a very good read.

[Caleb Wojcik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nigel Hinton’s Walk The Wild Road is a exciting adventurous novel. This story take place in Europe, with a boy named Leo who tries to go to America to make money for his family and he meets some interesting people and friends on the way like Tomasz who is also on the journey to America so they decide to travel together.

Aventure, people need to be a little adventurous in order to get from the middle of Europe to America. Leo is adventurous person who wants to get to America and finds some creative ways to get there. Aventure is shown through the raft that he rides down a river with to get closer to America.

[Nate Collette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book because there wasn't very much action in the book. I would recommend this book to some who likes on going books about one main character and his friends. The main characters name is Leo. He learns that he is the last hope for his family for food because his family is in starvation.

[Payton Heaward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a really really good book. Not only did it have a great story but everything went together well, except for one part....The ending. The end was very emotional (which isent bad) but it just diddent go the way I had hoped, And the character wasent acting like he had through the rest of the book. Overall I'd say it was a nice book but it defiantly wasent without its flaws.

[BellaBoppers · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really good quick read. Very fast-paced, a little unbelievable at times. I honestly did not expect Tomasz to die. But that's just how it goes.

[Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book but it was super sad towards the end!!

[Trevor Kopp]

good

[Scott Geddes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a young adult historical fiction set in 1870. Leo lives in a small village in Polish part of Prussia on the eve of the Franco-Prussian war. In this coming of age story Leo is forced to run away from home and he decides to go to America. Along the way he meets some people who try to help him and others who would cheat him. The plot and characters are believable. It was an enjoyable read but did have some mature content. Leo faced indentured servitude, beatings, alcoholic characters, stealing, death of a friend, disease and robbery. Themes that can be discussed when reading the book.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walk the Wild Road is a middle grade historical adventure set in 1870 Prussia (now Poland) during the on set of war with France and follows one young boy's incredible quest to reach America. While a work of fiction, the novel was inspired by how the author's own grandfather made his way to the United States.

Leo is a very shy, yet caring and courageous young character who has to rely heavily on his likability and sweet face to get food and shelter as he travels across Prussia. The things he has to endure while traveling are truly heart-breaking, from being beaten, to illness and almost death. It's hard for me to even imagine any 12 year old boy from today surviving what Leo goes through. His most remarkable trait is that despite everything he goes through, Leo holds on to the hope of a better life for himself and the family he had to leave behind.

I found the pacing of the novel to be quite slow. This made the beginning a real struggle for me to get through. However, once Leo meets Tomasz I felt the story really picked up. I thought the very short chapters helped keep a rhythm, fluidity and real sense of tension to the story that might have gotten lost with longer ones.

I really enjoyed the friendship between Leo and Tomasz because they helped keep each others spirits up and balance each other out. Tomasz is a very upbeat and outgoing character which helps to bring Leo out of his shell. He's also a fast talker, weaving elaborate stories very easily, in the hopes of finding him and Leo jobs, food and places to stay. While each boy's life is vastly different from the young boys of today, I still think they're easy to relate to. Neither one is perfect and both make bad decision but they're dreams of a better life are real and encouraging.

The historical backdrop of the oncoming war was quite fascinating and added a deeper sense of danger. Also great detail is given to the poverty, religious tension and desperation of the citizens of Prussia during the late 1800's making you fully understand why Leo and Tomasz would seek to leave it behind and travel to America. Although the novel doesn't have a perfect ending, its still a very good one and fits very well into the overall theme of hope which runs throughout the story.

While the slower pace of the novel was a struggle for me at times, I still really enjoyed the characters and historical aspects of the book. I think Walk the Wild Road would be a perfect fit for boys who enjoy reading middle grade adventure or historical fiction books. As well as for adults who like those same genres.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danger lurked around every corner. In a family of 9 children, Leo must leave. The parents bare the children, but watch them suffer. Running away seems like the only way to keep from getting whipped any harder at Leo’s newest work. He must walk the wild road. The people Leo meets, and the things he experiences are things that are so unimaginable, yet so vivid. I loved Walk The Wild Road, and believe it is perfect. Life truly is about following your dreams. The plot always kept you wondering, and I could never put it down. It was fairly slow at first, but once it gained speed, it was great. I really liked it.

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/22/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...

Walk the Wild Road is one of the best middle grades novels I have read in some time. It will also appeal to young adult readers and historical fiction fans. Nigel Hinton draws upon his family history to create the story of Leo, a young boy living in Prussia in the late 1800's, who is forced to leave behind his family and home after he fights with the son of a wealthy landowner. This book is one of adventure and hope. I was in awe of Leo's strength - I doubt I would have been able to survive the hardships he has to face. Walk the Wild Road is the Odyssey for middle grades readers.

The book not only teaches readers about history, but it is a strong commentary on the struggles between the rich and the poor. I was fascinated by the way people treated Leo simply because his family did not have money. I would like to believe that the world has evolved past that point, but sadly class discrimination is still something that runs rampant throughout the world today. This book could send a strong message to kids living in poverty. Leo does not let his financial situation or family history deter him from going after his dreams. Walk the Wild Road is certainly a pull yourself up by the bootstraps kind of tale.

I also enjoyed that Nigel Hinton used the story of his grandfather to craft Leo's story. Fiction that is inspired by fact has always been something I find myself gravitating towards. Hinton's writing flawlessly flows across the page and enchants the reader. I felt like I was standing right beside Leo throughout his journey. The plot is not sanitized - Hinton explains things - even the unpleasant ones - like they truly would have happened. Girls and boys alike will enjoy reading this one. I highly recommend it!

One Last Gripe: I wanted to know what happened to the doctor and Klara

My Favorite Thing About This Book: Leo's persistence

First Sentence: Leo was the first to see the storks.

Favorite Character: Leo

Least Favorite Character: Wolfgang

[Alison (AlisonCanRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walk The Wild Road takes us to a world that most of us can barely imagine. Where class is everything and the aristocracy can essentially sentence someone to death for petty wrongs and grudges. Where drought and famine force loving parents to sell their children to keep the whole family from starving. Where the hope of a better life in America is worth risking you life for.

Leo is a young boy (about 12) in Prussia (now Poland) in 1870. He is the oldest child of a large family of poor farmers. Years of bad harvests leave his parents with no choice but to put the oldest children to work. Leo quickly makes a grave, albeit well-intentioned, mistake that has him fleeing the Baron's house to escape imprisonment and death. He decides to head for America where he can make his fortune as a free boy.

If only he can survive the journey out of Poland. The book takes Leo through one danger after another. He's too young to do this on his own, so he has to rely largely on luck and the kindness of others. the author does a good job of showing how many people can be cruel, but even more are kind and helpful. Leo is lucky to find a plucky friend in Tomas. As lighthearted as Leo is serious, Tomasz pushes him to take chances and Tomasz's confident front opens doors Leo would otherwise never find.

This would be a great book for middle school boys. The story moves quickly. Danger is not sugar-coated. Leo faces real risks and people he knows get hurt. With Tomasz, the book has some light, funny moments that break up the tense, serious plot. There's no romance in this book, which is a pleasant chance. It's a classic boy's adventure story.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Nigel Hinton grew up hearing how his grandfather left his large, poor family from Poland at the age of 11 to seek his way in the world. His book, Walk the Wild Road, fictionalizes the family legend and imagines what could have set a boy off into the world on his own.

Leo’s family is desperately poor, and when his mom becomes pregnant with a new baby, all the older children must look for work. But times are hard, and there is not much work to be found. Leo’s younger sister finds a place in a tavern, and Leo hears of a job at the manor. But when the landlord’s cruel son accuses Leo of a crime that will send him to jail with hardened criminals, he takes to the road instead, hoping to better his life and send money home to his family.

The country was preparing for war with France in 1870, and Leo meets with a suspicious population and hardship on the road. Then he meets Tomasz, who is making his way to America. The two boys journey together, buoying each other up through the hardships they encounter.

Walk the Wild Road is an adventure story with a heart. Leo always wants to do the right thing, but hunger and exposure sometimes compel him to steal food and sneak lodging. He meets people who are kind beyond his expectations, and others who are cruel without reason. He learns that hardship is easier to face in the company of a friend, and he never gives up hope for a better future. Hinton does a nice job transferring this story from family lore to a tale that will resonate with teen boys and girls.

[Ashley - Book Labyrinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Walk the Wild Road’ is a perfect middle grade adventure novel. Nigel Hinton uses straightforward language to tell Leo’s story, but he focuses on very serious subject matters. Right from the beginning Leo’s conditions of living are pretty devastating and his situation is quite drastic. The story is about Leo’s journey and about his survival. There are plenty of scary and sad situations described throughout the book, but there are fun and sweet moments as well.

The book features a whole cast of interesting and lovable characters that Leo meets along the way, including Bel the dog who is a lovely animal companion. The great thing about this book is that while it is an adventure story it also delves deeper into really important issues like war, nationalism, religion, and poverty. It doesn’t do this in a heavy way, though, and it doesn’t try to teach a lesson. It’s just a part of the story: a part of Leo’s reality. I definitely enjoyed reading about Leo’s journey and I appreciated that while the ending was bittersweet it also showed a lot of hope for Leo’s future. I would definitely recommend this for young boys who like adventure and survival stories, but also for readers of all ages who appreciate a layered story of "daring and adventure", as the cover says.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard not to like young Leo. When the ten-year-old boy rescues two lambs, he is caught, whipped, and ready to go on trial when a kindly neighbor helps him escape. He can't go home because his family will end up being held responsible so he sets off across Poland in 1870 to reach a ship where he can hire on and head for America. Once there, he plans to send his money back home to help his family. But Leo's road is not exactly a straight one, and he ends taking several detours and becoming friends with a street-wise boy named Tomasz and a loyal dog that he names Bel. Based on the author's family history, this story is filled with so many moments of joy and hope as well as periods of risk-taking as to be almost unbelievable. As Leo learns that there are many kind-hearted citizens in his country, he also realizes that the lure of money can cause others to betray a boy's trust. I'm curious to find out what happens to him next.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many times as I read this book, I wondered why I put it in historical fiction. So much of the tale does not depend on history and is absorbed in survival and adventure. The main characters are easy to love and cheer along the way. There was one moment when I thought I would have to write an angry letter to author when a "pat" ending was starting to surface, but thankfully there was another twist in the tale. The author is a great story teller.
BOOK TALK: Punching the nobleman’s son was not the smartest thing Leo ever did. His family was without money or food and Leo was to work for the nobleman's son to help support his parents and siblings. Prison would be his next stop and that was no help. Leo fled. Fled town and headed out of the country to the sea. Sailing to America might be his salvation, but getting there might kill him.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walk the Wild Road is a fantastic historical fiction/adventure book. The main character Leo has to go trough a lot before he finally gets what he wants. It’s really heartbreaking to read his story. Especially when he finds a friend and then something bad happens. Not going to tell you much about it, but it's so sad. I was crying a lot when it happened. Walk the Wild Road is such a great book and you should def. put it on your tbrlist.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adventure-historical fiction novel based on the author's family history. At times riveting, sad, funny, and heartwrenching, this is a truly great example of historical fiction. All of the characters are so achingly real. There are important themes discussed here, such as war, classism, poverty, universal goodwill, religious prejudice, and persuing our dreams with resilience.

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great middle grade reader like every other reviewer has said. Overall the book was happy and optimistic, but it had plenty of reality within the adventures too. I love the friendships that Leo develops, the family he comes from and the ability to overcome obstacles. Lots of great discussion themes in this little classic.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a student recommend. It takes place in one of the slavic countries back when people were oppressed, forced to leave their homes to find work, and moving en masse in search of food. Wait! That was today! Maybe that's why this book appealed. It was full of ingenuity--desperate people coping with desperate times.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the book had many incosistencies and did not seem very historically accurate.