Wildoak by C. C. Harrington

Abstract

Reviewed by: Wildoak by C. C. Harrington Natalie Berglind Harrington, C. C. Wildoak. Scholastic, 2022 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781338803860 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781338803884 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 In 1963 London, eleven-year-old, animal-loving Maggie speaks with a stutter, and rather than sending her to an institution, her parents ship her off to her grandfather in the Cornwall countryside hoping that the air will cure her. A warm-hearted man who patiently waits for Maggie to finish talking no matter how long it takes, Grandpa Fred is nothing like Maggie's parents, and she settles comfortably into his care. In an alternating perspective, readers are introduced to Rumpus, a snow leopard sold in a department store who wrecks his new owner's apartment and is released into Wildoak Forest outside Fred's home. Maggie has always found talking to animals easier than talking to humans, so when she meets Rumpus, she's immediately enamored, and their connection thrives. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before Rumpus is spotted, especially with haughty capitalist Lord Foy intending to bulldoze the forest for a copper mine. Harrington humanizes Rumpus with compassion but not preciousness, inviting readers to acknowledge his wildness but still recognize his shared experiences with Maggie. Beyond the well-integrated themes of environmentalism and animal conservation, the resonating factor behind the story is Maggie's connection to Rumpus, making this an easy readalike to Pennypacker's Pax (BCCB 2/16) or Earle's When the Sky Falls (BCCB 4/22). An author's note includes information and resources on reforestation, conservation of big cats, and people with stutters. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois