The Beloved Wild
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Adventure, romance in absorbing historical fiction.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
THE BELOVED WILD tells how Harriet leaves behind the family and home she loves to be a pioneer in the wilderness. Disguised as a boy, Harriet (now Freddy) finds all kinds of freedom. In men's clothes, she can move about much more freely. As a young man, she's free to go wherever she wants and decide for herself what she should do. But even she doesn't know what she should do when Danny, her sweetheart from back home, turns up in the wilderness. She loves home, and she loves Danny, but she loves just being herself even more. Will she be able to forge a life for herself filled with love, but without losing herself in the process?
Is It Any Good?
Melissa Ostrom's young-adult debut paints a vivid portrait of everyday life when our nation was still young, with a relatable narrator, a sprinkling of romance, and a dash of adventure. The Beloved Wild not only captures a time and its values vastly different from our own, but also explores timeless emotions, hopes, and aspirations that come with growing up and feeling ready to start living your own life.
Ostrom's writing is strongest when she's describing the landscape or the activities characters engage in to not only survive but thrive as well. Some of the dialogue doesn't quite ring true, and some words have a pretty modern feel to them. But teens who enjoy historical fiction will enjoy rooting for Harriet as she struggles to avoid society's stifling expectations. The ending leaves the door open for more of Harriet's life, feeling more like a satisfying chapter closing than a final "The End."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Beloved Wild portrays Harriet's character strengths and weaknesses. What do you admire about her? Is there anything you don't like about her?
Why isn't Harriet able to do whatever she wants with her life? How have gender roles changed since the early 1800s? What would your life have been like if you had lived then?
How is alcohol use and abuse portrayed? Are things very different now? In what way?
Book Details
- Author: Melissa Ostrom
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
- Publication date: March 27, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 18
- Number of pages: 320
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 25, 2018
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Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Historical Fiction
Books with Strong Female Characters
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