Wayward Creatures

About the Author
Dayna Lorentz is the author of Of a Feather, the Dogs of the Drowned City trilogy, and the No Safety in Numbers trilogy. She has worked in and around the foster care system, most recently as a law clerk in the Vermont family courts, but she only just started exploring the sport of falconry. Dayna lives in Vermont with her husband and two children.
"As a story about community, healing, and family—both human and animal—this is one of the best."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review. In this heartfelt animal friendship story, a troubled young boy befriends a wayward coyote after a forest fire changes both of their lives. Perfect for fans of A Wolf Called Wander and Pax.
Twelve-year-old Gabe doesn’t know where he belongs anymore. His family is caught up in their own lives and his friends barely have time for him now that they’re stars on the soccer team. In a desperate plea for attention to impress his friends after school, Gabe sets off fireworks in the woods near his house and causes a small forest fire that destroys several acres of land.
In the chaos of the destruction, a coyote named Rill—tired of her family and longing for adventure—finds herself far from home. Already on animal control’s watch for wandering into a backyard and snapping at a child, Rill crawls into a cave, where she nurses her wounds alone.
Gabe and Rill’s paths irrevocably cross when Gabe is tasked with cleaning up the forest through the court's restorative justice program. The damage to the land and both their lives is beyond what the two can imagine. But together, they discover that sometimes it only takes one friend to find the place where you belong.
From School Library Journal
Gabe usually feels like an outcast at school, so when an old friend suggests they hang out, Gabe's in good spirits. But his friend brings class show-off Taylor, who starts to grate on Gabe's nerves. Gabe makes some bad decisions, including shoplifting fireworks and shooting them haphazardly outside, resulting in a forest fire. The fire quickly gets out of control and Gabe is caught and taken to the police station. He must face a community board and commit to restitution and community service. As Gabe's story unfolds, readers learn more about a coyote named Rill who was severely burned during the fire and is hiding in a cave, gathering her strength to find her family. Meanwhile, Gabe and his family are finding it difficult to get along as he distances himself from those who love him. Gabe encounters the coyote during his community service and desperately wants to help, bringing her food and water. As he cares for Rill, Gabe starts to understand how much the land means to people, and attempts to restore the forest and his fractured family. Overall, this book has excellent messaging about navigating friendship challenges, dealing with hard consequences, and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people. Gabe is cued as white. VERDICT A solid addition to middle grade collections; best suited for animal lovers and students interested in realistic fiction.-Erin Olsenα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.