DeFelice, Cynthia. (2011). Wild life. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

This intermediate level book is about a 12-year-old boy, Erik, who finally gets his hunting license. He gets to go hunting with his friend, Patrick, Patrick’s dad, and their dog, Hot Spots. However, his parents get deployed overseas, which forces him to move to North Dakota with his grandparents. When Erik finds a dog, Quill, but is told he is unable to keep her, he runs away. Throughout the story, Erik learns how to survive on his own in the wild as well as the importance of family. This book should have won the Young Hoosier Books Award because of its modern-day survival and adventure twist to it. Oftentimes, survival and adventure books are what captivate young boy readers’ attention and love for reading. Therefore, it is highly important to have good quality books within this category. The adventure and modern-day survival twist within the pages of this book are relatable and engaging for young male readers. Hidden within such adventure and fun are important family and moral lessons. Therefore, this book should have won the award.

Book Cover