Scan barcode
sshenderson's review against another edition
5.0
This was the first book I have read by Katherine Rundell, and I was not let down by it in any way. I read the book non-stop until I finished it four hours after I started it. Others have said that it is a gloomy book, and I do agree with that statement. However, I feel that adds to the charm of the book. It truly depicts the confusion and despair of heartbreak and loneliness, but it also shows how a fierce, young wildcat of a girl can overcome it. The simple language of the story makes it seem as if it is coming directly from young Will, and I just love how it describes England as the land of sense and law.This is a beautiful, heat-wrenching story, so do yourself a favor and read it.
klnbennett's review against another edition
4.0
Will is a vibrant happy 8 year old girl, growing up on a remote farm in South Africa. She spends all her time out of doors, with animals, playing in all weather with local boys. Will loses her parents and then her home on the farm and is sent to a boarding school in London, where she can find nothing familiar or comfortable for her, and where none of the other girls can understand this wild african girl.
This story was excellent and I loved Will so much! She is utterly brave and fully herself. I couldn't put it down, wanting to know what would happen to her.
This story was excellent and I loved Will so much! She is utterly brave and fully herself. I couldn't put it down, wanting to know what would happen to her.
frederique's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this, but I HATE the cover. And the title is barely taken from an exchange at the very end of the book; the German cover & [b:Zu Hause redet das Gras|13528931|Zu Hause redet das Gras|Katherine Rundell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1333554255s/13528931.jpg|14804935]title--At Home, the Wind Speaks--is so much better. Even the original British title would probably sell the book better, but I can see why they wanted to avoid the word "savage" (even though the main character is called that by mean girls.) [b:The Girl Savage|9912400|The Girl Savage|Katherine Rundell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353171405s/9912400.jpg|14804935] or [b:The Girl Savage|23621570|The Girl Savage|Katherine Rundell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476844760s/23621570.jpg|14804935]
Anyway, that aside, this was wonderful. There are sort of three distrinct parts: Growing up in Africa, her stint at a British boarding school and some time on the streets of London. The description of Will's life growing up in Zimbabwe is lyrical, funny, gross in bits, and then heartbreaking. Her subsequent time in England is "grizzly" and horrible. The girls at her boarding school are mostly awful, and she runs away. (Although it's hard to imagine a school doing so little to understand and ameliorate such an abrupt change in situation, weather, customs, etc., one could argue that the Captain's awful new bride rushed/botched the transition. However, the headmistress seems very fond of Will, very suddenly, so why didn't she do more from the get-go?)
I found her time on the streets/hiding at the zoo very suspenseful. She's naively trying to figure out how to raise enough money to fly back home, dealing with street punks and freezing/starving/stealing food from garbage cans. You could argue that the eventual resolution is too swift and /or not very satisfying, but I think its brevity adds to its appeal for more reluctant readers, and realistically there isn't much else that could happen... and it's not REALLY completely resolved--but it seems like it's heading in a positive direction.
I like the emphasis on courage, and that there isn't an easy, happy solution. In that way, it reminds me of the great Gilly Hopkins.[b:The Great Gilly Hopkins|163465|The Great Gilly Hopkins|Katherine Paterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443418961s/163465.jpg|1258731]
Anyway, that aside, this was wonderful. There are sort of three distrinct parts: Growing up in Africa, her stint at a British boarding school and some time on the streets of London. The description of Will's life growing up in Zimbabwe is lyrical, funny, gross in bits, and then heartbreaking. Her subsequent time in England is "grizzly" and horrible. The girls at her boarding school are mostly awful, and she runs away. (Although it's hard to imagine a school doing so little to understand and ameliorate such an abrupt change in situation, weather, customs, etc., one could argue that the Captain's awful new bride rushed/botched the transition. However, the headmistress seems very fond of Will, very suddenly, so why didn't she do more from the get-go?)
I found her time on the streets/hiding at the zoo very suspenseful. She's naively trying to figure out how to raise enough money to fly back home, dealing with street punks and freezing/starving/stealing food from garbage cans. You could argue that the eventual resolution is too swift and /or not very satisfying, but I think its brevity adds to its appeal for more reluctant readers, and realistically there isn't much else that could happen... and it's not REALLY completely resolved--but it seems like it's heading in a positive direction.
I like the emphasis on courage, and that there isn't an easy, happy solution. In that way, it reminds me of the great Gilly Hopkins.[b:The Great Gilly Hopkins|163465|The Great Gilly Hopkins|Katherine Paterson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443418961s/163465.jpg|1258731]
just_a_touch_of_bibliomania's review against another edition
5.0
This was a wonderful, emotional, lovely gem of a book. It made me happy and angry and unbearably sad and hopeful and I loved all of it.
kerry123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bequibuho's review against another edition
4.0
Will had a beautiful life with her father on their African farm. Every day was filled with adventure and joy. Her boarding school life in London is just the opposite. She doesn't know how to handle the culture shock.
I have now read all of Katherine Rundell's book! I absolutely love the author's writing style. She writes her female characters with such strong and wild personalities.
I absolutely adored Will. She loved spending time in the outdoors, playing with the wildlife and running with boys. All that personality was almost stifled by the sudden switch in setting.
The second half of this book was hard to read. I felt so bad for Will and how she wasn't adjusting to the new school. But after her adventurous life on the farm and running away from her school the ending just left me underwhelmed.
With the ending being rushed and everything be wrapped up with just too perfect of a bow, I give this book a B.
I have now read all of Katherine Rundell's book! I absolutely love the author's writing style. She writes her female characters with such strong and wild personalities.
I absolutely adored Will. She loved spending time in the outdoors, playing with the wildlife and running with boys. All that personality was almost stifled by the sudden switch in setting.
The second half of this book was hard to read. I felt so bad for Will and how she wasn't adjusting to the new school. But after her adventurous life on the farm and running away from her school the ending just left me underwhelmed.
With the ending being rushed and everything be wrapped up with just too perfect of a bow, I give this book a B.
amyjoy's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my, this book has all the feels. It was beautifully written, and the descriptions of Will's happy days on her farm are so heartbreaking because you know it can't last, but not as heartbreaking as watching her get taken away from everything she's ever known and loved, and while her boarding school isn't nearly as bad as the one in Jane Eyre, you know that to her it's the worst place in the whole world and, boy, can adolescent girls be awful. It was a fast read, engaging and thought-provoking and so lovely, and I look forward to being able to recommend this someday.
katybarlowe's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this little heroine! The descriptions of her life in Africa were so beautiful; I feel like they describe so much of what I'd love to give my children in their childhood.
When she arrived in London, the book started to drag - I just wondered when it would all start to turn up for her again. It certainly ended well though.
When she arrived in London, the book started to drag - I just wondered when it would all start to turn up for her again. It certainly ended well though.
shari_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Astonishingly beautiful in a way most American children don't usually get to see. I love Will fiercely and she will continue to inspire me and will number among the many important friend I have who happen to live on bookshelves.