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A review by hickorynut
Wayward Creatures by Dayna Lorentz
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is much deeper than it may appear on the surface, delving into the nuance of restorative justice, wildlife regulation, community repair and building, and the rippling effect of struggles of families affected by layoffs and income struggles.
Gabe is an immature, angry middle school boy who is lost in the world, his family life tense and full of anger and resentment. He has no understanding of how to process his emotions and his distracted family do not guide him. Desperate for attention, he grabs some fireworks from a local store to set off in an effort to impress a group of boys who he was once close with. But the fireworks spark a real fire, burning acres and acres of park woodland.
This follows as Gabe navigates his role as the sole person taking responsibility for the fire. He is brought into a restorative justice program in which he must admit his mistake and acknowledge the consequences, and then work with the community to set things right. Through this process Gabe begins making connections and learning emotional regulation, and his family life begins to repair itself as they all work together for a greater cause.
It also follows the side story of Rill, a young coyote who is injured in the fire and is secretly cared for by Gabe. Eventually she is taken by animal control and he fights with his newfound community to ensure her survival. Rilla's place as a coyote, commonly seen as an outcast and pest, mirrors Gabe's initial feelings of his own place in the world.
This stresses the importance of facing one's mistakes and acknowledging the consequences and committing to fixing things as best as possible. Both Gabe and Rill restore bonds with their community with a greater understanding of the systems we are all a part of.
Gabe is an immature, angry middle school boy who is lost in the world, his family life tense and full of anger and resentment. He has no understanding of how to process his emotions and his distracted family do not guide him. Desperate for attention, he grabs some fireworks from a local store to set off in an effort to impress a group of boys who he was once close with. But the fireworks spark a real fire, burning acres and acres of park woodland.
This follows as Gabe navigates his role as the sole person taking responsibility for the fire. He is brought into a restorative justice program in which he must admit his mistake and acknowledge the consequences, and then work with the community to set things right. Through this process Gabe begins making connections and learning emotional regulation, and his family life begins to repair itself as they all work together for a greater cause.
It also follows the side story of Rill, a young coyote who is injured in the fire and is secretly cared for by Gabe. Eventually she is taken by animal control and he fights with his newfound community to ensure her survival. Rilla's place as a coyote, commonly seen as an outcast and pest, mirrors Gabe's initial feelings of his own place in the world.
This stresses the importance of facing one's mistakes and acknowledging the consequences and committing to fixing things as best as possible. Both Gabe and Rill restore bonds with their community with a greater understanding of the systems we are all a part of.