First of all, that blurb completely drew me in. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Van Draanen was able to keep me on my toes.

An intriguing storyline. I think that the way the author has written the story really allows readers to become sucked into the characters lives and ultimate outcome. It was very well written and I enjoyed the mix of drama and romance.

This novel was very vivid in the descriptions, the writing really jumped off the pages and into my

Parents send their teen to wilderness therapy to combat drug use. She learned new skills to cope without drugs and to be self-sufficient in the wilderness. Beautiful journey of her growth.

This book was a 2018 Texas Lone Star Book. Teens and teachers loved this book, and they generally tend to love all books published by Van Draanen. Wren is a troubled teen. She finds herself swept away to a survival camp in the middle of the desert in Utah. Wren doesn't know it, but her life is about to change. We get to experience, through Wren's journey, the powerful transformation from bad decisions, days of loneliness, self-destructive behaviors, and profound bitterness to self-acceptance, courage, and physical and mental strength. Wild Bird brings about a multitude of emotions for the reader, but it's a ride you won't regret.

Great book. I really enjoyed reading about Wren's struggles and how she knows she's not in the same position as most of these other girls, but it's still a hard place to be. Love her relationship with her little brother too.

The Marvelous Site has chosen WILD BIRD by Wendelin Van Draanen as its MARVELOUS YOUNG ADULT NOVEL OF THE MONTH for February 2018. The book review below is a reviewaka based on an ancient Japanese poetry form. (To read more about how to read/write a reviewaka, you can go to http://www.themarveloussite.com/quick-guide-to-reading-a.html)

Wild Bird
by Wendelin Van Draanen
c2017

she’s hit rock bottom:
drastic measures will force her
to reach for her strength

desert survival story
of second chances and more

MM

Loved this. See my book trailer on my blog.

Rehab and reconciliation stories are nothing new. Authors love exploring the roots of addiction. This is a decent one. I liked the survival elements, hackneyed though they may be. The plot is relatively predictable but that makes it easy to read rather than tiresome. In the long run, though, it's reflective rather than reactive which limits it's appeal.

I am unable to provide a review at this time. Unfortunately, I DNFed this book in the first 18%. It just didn't hold my attention. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Wonderful book that had me remembering my angsty teen years. I could see myself in so many of Wren's mistakes. Great book about discovering yourself and where things went wrong. Also how to apply the tools to become the person you were meant to be.

I LOVE Wendelin Van Draanen especially The Running Dream. Wild Bird did not disappoint. It was amazing, full of self discovery, growth and more. A great book.

I hardly ever agree with blurbs, but here we go: Wild Bird is truly Wendelin Van Draanen’s most incisive and insightful book yet.

In the story, we watch Wren tell her story, wrestle with her demons, and come through alive. She’s stripped bare of everything she has until there’s nothing left but her thoughts and people who want to help her get better. I rooted for her as she struggled against her demons and won, even though every step of the way was a huge hurdle.

What really struck me, beyond the flawless flow and plot execution, was how Van Draanen chose to tell the story of an ordinary girl. I won’t spoil anything, but Wren got in with the wrong crowd because she was lonely and didn’t want to be anymore. Period, the end. While the setting of the book is foreign–I doubt very many of us reading have camped out in the desert, let alone been out in the wilderness for 50+ days–the themes and ideas are achingly familiar.

While I was reading, I was reminded of other titles that hold a special place in my heart like Meg Haston’s Paperweight and Leila Sales’ This Song Will Save Your Life.

Like with Paperweight, I loved this story for its brutal honesty told in such clear and eloquent writing, for the way it pried apart suffering in the form of addiction and self-harm, for the positive message that came with getting help, and for the support network that the main character gained in the end.

Like with This Song Will Save Your Life, I became completely engrossed in the main character’s journey to find peace and healing in a new and unfamiliar environment. Neither Sales nor Van Draanen sugarcoats the heartache and struggle that their characters face. There are ugly parts and sad parts, and in the end, all it is is an honest story that makes you feel a little bit less alone in this huge world and gives you the desire to make others feel the same way.

Van Draanen is a great writer, that much is given, but I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this thought-provoking read. Because Wren is only fourteen when we meet her for the first time, stuck between her middle-grade years and YA years, we’re able to see her mature and grow into the person she’ll someday be over the course of the book. I felt that this one truly took advantage of its character’s situation in life, and I was impressed by how well everything came together. Overall, I loved the new approach that Wild Bird took to therapy and reconciliation, and I’ll definitely be recommending this one. 4.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. this would be a great read for junior high students to start learning about what drugs&alcohol can lead to, even in young teens. I felt for Wren and enjoyed reading about her journey, heartbreak and triumphs.
thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.

This was a believable transformation by Wren from angry and resentful to really looking at herself and the things she had done. I want to know more of her story to see if she succeeds after coming home.

wow this book was interesting and dealing with friends and being in a place to get better from drugs. This is one girls journey to finding herself while camping in the desert and dealing with others. I loved the different ways that she grew in the story and with her family. Seriously I finished last night and still thinking over this book.

This is the best book I've read in a while. Heartbreaking and heart-mending. I loved Wren's story - a true coming of age - and ALL of the supporting characters of her family, as well as her desert family.