Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You

A house was once built in the “shade of ancient redwood trees, by a creek, not far from the ocean.” It was a place of comfort and protection for a young girl, filled with games, laughter, and memories. It was a place of discovery for the girl, where she learned and experienced life’s most precious moments: her first steps, her first sleepover, and her first holiday gathering. However, when a strong thunderstorm sends her beloved home into flames, it raises an important question: what makes a home when one’s home is gone? 

Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You is an emotionally gripping tale about a young girl’s relationship with her cherished home in northern California. Told by an omniscient narrator, the book follows the life of a nameless, young girl and her coming of age inside her family’s house. The girl is depicted as a typical youth, enjoying both the woodsy outdoors and the comfortable confines of her house with excitement and joy. Although the readers aren’t given any dialogue or exposition about the girl, they can deduce the girl’s bubbly personality through her activities and expressions. And many of her activities, such as swinging off tree branches in the forest, can be relatable for many readers, connecting them with experiences that characterized their own childhood. 

The heart of Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You lies within its heartwarming message about home and family. Although not overly explicit, the book teaches readers that one’s home doesn’t necessarily mean one’s physical place of residence. In the case of this young girl, her home was her family and the experiences that characterized her life. For example, the narrator quotes, “You are made of hardwood and stone, bright stars, and the wind’s song,” suggesting that these aspects of her time in California comprise who she is just as much as her home. The book challenges readers to reflect on their own lives and the moments and things that made their home and childhood so special.  

The short story features colorful, full-page illustrations that reflect the wonder and imagination of a young child. Although the art style is simplistic, it complements the text by depicting the true meaning and emotions of the story. While the illustrations don’t actually depict the wildfire, the topic of losing a home to a natural disaster can be stressful for some kids. However, the book’s positive view of the disaster can spark uplifting and profitable conversations. Alongside this message, each page typically contains three to four simple sentences in small paragraph form, and at the end of the book, an author’s note explains the true-life events that served as inspiration for the story. Overall, Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You is a beautiful and compelling children’s book whose message will warm the hearts of many readers. 

Sexual Content 

• None

Violence 

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

• None 

Language 

• None 

Supernatural 

• None

Spiritual Content 

• None