Zoe’s sick and tired of being under the microscope. The worst thing about being a kid according to Zoe is, “people twice my size with half my brains get to run my life.” (72). Now Zoe is stuck with weird uncle Henry, heart surgeon turned metal sculptor. Zoe’s crazy, negligent mother has finally left her for good--she died. Zoe is used to being left and she knows that it is only a matter of time before Henry does as well. In the meantime she attempts to tame a feral cat, Mr. C’mere, and cleans up a rustic cabin deep in the Carolina woods. Zoe is harassed at school by the son of the mayor. Then she begins suspecting intruders are spying on her in her cabin. Some of her mother’s crazy ex-boyfriends turn up on Uncle Henry’s doorstep. So, too, does a wild boy and his deer, a very unusual and beautiful white deer that the mayor wants to kill and mount on his wall.
Carmichael knits together all the threads in this magical tale with an artist’s eye. The voices are magical, unique, and very real. The characters are unlike any we’ve met before and yet they are people we have always known. Wild Things is an unexpected treat filled with atmosphere, voice, and the music of language beautifully and carefully crafted! This is also that rare book that spans a wide variety of ages and interests. While the galley claims that this book is for ages 9-11, I can easily picture much older readers loving this exceptional book.
