Twelve-year-old
Willa and her twin brothers have survived with their father in the
Alaskan wilderness for five years. But Willa knows this can't go
on--they must escape.(goodreads summary)
For the past five years, twelve year old Willa lives with her dad and ten year old twin brothers in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness. Choosing to live life off the grid, her dad moved the family there after the death of her mother. At first, it seemed like happy times as they built their homestead with a flourishing garden and learned various survival skills. But as the years pass, life is becoming harder and Willa's dad more withdrawn. The thoughts of survival are a continuous worry for her. She misses her old life of fruits and vegetables from the local market, attending school and having a normal life of a twelve year old girl. Hunting has been unsuccessful and food is becoming more scarce. Willa is concerned there is not enough rations to last the upcoming harsh winter. When her dad travels to town for supplies he tends to be gone for longer amounts of time bringing back alcohol upon his return. He seems to be drinking more which is making him distant and at times violent towards her brothers. Longing for a better life and having fears of not making it through the upcoming winter gives Willa the courage and strength to escape with her brothers to Fort Yukon for help.
Winter is right around the corner and there is no better time for an Alaskan adventure and survival story. It is told from Willa's viewpoint and she makes for a believable character. There were times I felt she seemed older and to mature for a 12 year old girl living in the middle of nowhere but I guess under the circumstances why would she not be. She is also unaware of the changes happening to her body for a girl her age which are mentioned various times in detail throughout the story which cause her concern. After her dad goes on a hunting trip, she decides it is a good time to embark on a risky and dangerous journey to Fort Yukon. Along the way they encounter loosing supplies, tangling with a bear and
the risk of frigid temperatures and storms. The kids were taught many
survival skills from their dad that came in useful on their trip. Planning their escape was a huge undertaking but Willa was aware of the many dangers they could face. Especially traveling down the river on a makeshift raft with two ten year olds and a wolf pup who did come to their rescue when needed. She strongly felt they would not survive through the winter and feared for her brothers lives if she had not taken the chance. There were a couple of times the children second guessed their adventure due to the fear and devotion to their father. But Willa's courage and strength kept her strong knowing that a different outcome awaits if they did not go to the nearest town for help as soon as possible. She was a level headed character, caring, ambitious and saw things a lot more realistically than her dad who was suffering from grief and depression. She also knew her dad needed help too. The writing depicted the Alaskan wilderness and cold well enough to visualize the extreme and harsh environment the kids lived in and faced. The siblings determination for survival keeps them going in search of a new life. The story moves along nicely with a few thrilling action parts making it an anticipating page turner. It was a short and easy read (under 200 pages) making this a good choice for reluctant female readers when it comes to adventure or survival stories. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 11 and up.~
Title: Running Wild
Author: Lucy Jane Bledsoe
Pub. date: September 2019, Margaret Ferguson Books
Genre: realistic fiction
Hardcover, 195 pgs.
