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Trusting Yourself
Rewilding follows a 12-year-old girl who finds solace in nature while struggling to keep her and her brother’s difficult home life quiet. Where did the idea for this book come from?
It started when a fledgling scrub jay landed in my woodpile. I knew there was a story in my family’s experience of trying to care for the bird. We made many of the mistakes that Joy eventually makes in the book. As Joy’s journey with nature and rewilding started to bloom, the darker challenges of her life also began to surface. At that time, I had a number of friends who were wrenching themselves out of gaslighting relationships. I began to wonder about Joy and what lots of kids deal with every day. I began to ask how do you solve a problem with no good answers? Where do you turn?
Is there anything from your own life that helped inspire your characters’ traits and dialogue?
One of my favorite artistic pursuits is collage. So often my books feel like little scraps of experience pieced together to create something new and cohesive. I have a few wild and wise older women in my life who helped inspire the character of Ezzie. And Joy’s younger brother, Ian, is absolutely modeled after my daughter, Mieke, who is full of exuberant energy and big feelings. She’s now twelve, but when I started writing the book, she was about Ian’s age. She liked to climb and jump on everything. I’m happy to report that she still does.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The theme of trusting yourself is very dear to me. So many of us grow up looking to others to tell us how to think and feel about ourselves. We look to others to see if we measure up, if we’re doing things the right way. But really, each of us is the expert on our own selves. We need to learn to listen to our inner voices.
Also, nature. It has always seemed to me that we humans are not here on this planet to dominate and control, but to care for and nurture and celebrate our home.
What is one thing you hope young readers take away from Rewilding?
I hope they see bits of themselves or others they know. I hope they find understanding and compassion for themselves and others. I hope those glimpses inspire them to look more closely at the world around them. Maybe that’s three things. Or maybe it’s all part of one big thing.
With her dad gone and her mom falling into depression, the responsibility of managing the household and caring for her younger brother, Ian, falls on her small shoulders. She struggles with the reality of wearing old clothes that no longer fit and constantly dealing with Ian’s hunger. Joy lives in fear that the school counselor might contact Child Protective Services due to their situation.
One day, a baby bird falls from its nest, reminding Joy of her dad’s warning, “You don’t know your own strength.” Desperate for help, Joy strikes a deal with their quirky neighbor, Ezzie, known as the “Ark Lady.” Through this new relationship, Joy, Ian, and her friend embark on a journey to restore the garden. In the process, they discover the concept of “rewilding,” which brings unexpected beauty and healing. This experience leads Joy to question her father’s views, opening her eyes to new possibilities and strengths within herself.
Rewilding
At its heart, Rewilding is a tender, poignant middle grade novel about twelve-year-old Joy, who finds herself juggling way more than any kid should. While taking care of her younger brother Ian and hiding their struggling home life from nosy adults, Joy stumbles into something unexpectedly healing: nature. Between dodging Child Protective Services and trying to keep her family from falling apart, she begins to rewild a neglected yard and, in the process, slowly begins to rewild herself.
Joy’s narration is painfully real, funny in all the right ways, and completely heartbreaking when it needs to be. Right from chapter one, when she eavesdrops on a conversation between the school counselor and her brother, we’re dropped into a world where Joy is already carrying the emotional weight of an adult. “Big clumsy Joy strikes again,” she says after barging into Bertie’s office, and that moment hits like a brick. She’s trying so hard to hold things together that you want to jump into the story and tell her she doesn’t have to. But that’s the thing, she does have to. No one else will.
The themes Gerlits weaves through the story of neglect, gaslighting, mental illness, and body image are handled with honesty and subtlety, but they never weigh the book down. Joy’s relationship with her own body, for instance, is explored quietly and compassionately. She’s constantly aware of her size, of how her clothes don’t fit right anymore, of how people react to her strength. And then comes the moment when Joy discovers a baby bird in the woodpile and makes the quiet but profound decision to care for it. The scene is deeply moving. When she gently says, “You trust me,” to the fragile creature in her hands, it becomes a powerful symbol of her own longing to be trusted, needed, and capable. For a brief instant, everything else in the story seems to pause around that simple, tender exchange.
But what I loved most was the metaphor of rewilding. Not just the literal ecosystem restoration Joy does in the ARK yard, but the way she’s unknowingly restoring herself. Her home life is rough. Her mom is barely functioning, her dad is unreliable, and her little brother is too young to understand the danger they’re in. Yet Joy never gives up. She mows the lawn, feeds her brother, protects her mom’s dignity, and tries (with mixed results) to raise a bird. The passage in which Joy resolves to clean up the yard to prevent others from suspecting neglect is among the most emotionally wrenching in the novel. It reveals a fierce, protective love intertwined with a desperate desire to maintain control over an unraveling situation. The moment is rendered with striking authenticity and emotional depth.
Rewilding isn’t just a story for kids. It’s for anyone who’s ever tried to make the best of a messy situation. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt unseen or overwhelmed or not strong enough, only to discover they are. I’d recommend this book to middle grade readers who like realistic stories with heart, but also to adults who remember what it was like to be young and scared and brave all at once. This book doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but it also offers hope in the shape of a baby bird, a patch of wildflowers, and a girl who learns she really does know her own strength.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0DZCJYQHW
Forever Boy
Michael J. Bowler’s Forever Boy offers a captivating blend of mystery and the ordinary in this coming-of-age novel, centered on Isaac, an outsider in ninth grade, and his encounter with the enigmatic Drágan. From the moment Drágan steps into Isaac’s school, it’s clear he’s no typical student. His appearance is striking, as though plucked from a high-end fashion catalog, and his demeanor hints at wisdom far beyond his years. He moves through life with an independence that is both alluring and unnerving, a mix that makes him as intriguing as he is unsettling. As Drágan reveals his many layers, one can’t help but wonder: is he a hidden blessing, or a lurking curse?
Bowler masterfully balances the supernatural elements with the mundane realities of high school life, crafting a narrative that’s both engaging and easy to follow. The language is straightforward, making the novel accessible to a wide readership. However, while its simplicity widens its appeal, it may not fully resonate with a younger teenage audience who might crave more age-specific dialogue. Still, this clarity is a strength, allowing the story’s deeper themes to shine through. The chapter titles are a clever touch, offering hints about what’s to come and keeping the pacing smooth, helping readers anticipate the twists and turns ahead. At its core, Forever Boy explores familiar coming-of-age themes—school cliques, bullying, friendship, and identity—but with an added layer of complexity. Bowler doesn’t shy away from tackling heavier subjects like sexual assault, addressing them with sensitivity and purpose. This thoughtful approach gives the story emotional depth, elevating it beyond a typical high school narrative.
The slow-burn romance, a refreshing change from more fast-paced teen love stories, adds a realistic touch, grounding the supernatural elements with a sense of authenticity. Bowler has a gift for weaving together a diverse cast, ensuring that each character contributes meaningfully to the plot. While Drágan stands out as the focal point, the supporting characters are equally well-developed, adding richness to the narrative. Character growth is pivotal in a coming-of-age story, and Forever Boy excels in this area. Each transformation feels genuine and relatable, echoing the significant personal changes that define adolescence. Readers will likely find reflections of themselves in these characters, making their journeys all the more impactful.
Forever Boy is a combination of accessible language, emotional depth, and well-rounded characters, making it a standout read. The novel thoughtfully navigates the complexities of teenage life, weaving in themes of growth, friendship, and self-discovery with care. Its universal themes will resonate with a broad audience. For those who enjoy character-driven stories with a dash of mystery and emotional resonance, Forever Boy is a book worth exploring.
Pages: 294 | ASIN : B0DDFB1Z2R
LITERARY TITAN 