Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen

3:47 a.m. That’s when they come for Wren Clemmens. She’s hustled out of her house and into a waiting car, then a plane, and then taken on a forced march into the desert. This is what happens to kids who’ve gone so far off the rails, their parents don’t know what to do with them anymore. This is wilderness therapy camp.

The Wren who arrives in the Utah desert is angry and bitter, and blaming everyone but herself. But angry can’t put up a tent. And bitter won’t start a fire. Wren’s going to have to admit she needs help if she’s going to survive.

In her most incisive and insightful book yet, beloved author Wendelin Van Draanen offers a remarkable portrait of a girl who took a wrong turn and got lost - but who may be able to find her way back again in the vast, harsh desert. (www.amazon.com)

I loved this book. I'm pursuing a career in counseling, specifically with a focus in adolescent addictions, so Wren's story spoke to me and even helped me come to grips with my own past. It's beautifully told and I felt like the story dealt with topics seriously without being depressing or a bummer to read. And - spoiler alert - it has a happy ending! Wild Bird forced me to reconsider my own journey and reminded me that not everyone sees things the way I see them - sometimes the justified decisions I make hurt other people.
Wild Bird invites you into the must vulnerable part of a person's life, asks you to reflect on your own challenges, and reminds you that even in the desert, you're never alone.

Happy reading!

Hannah

nitty gritty:
no swearing. no sex. lots of drug use and discussion of. some aggression and discussion of violence.