Wild Bird

By: Wendelin Van Draanen

Narrated by: Alex McKenna

From the award-winning author of The Running Dream and Flipped comes a remarkable portrait of a girl who has hit rock bottom but begins a climb back to herself at a wilderness survival camp.

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. Eight weeks of survivalist camping in the desert. Eight weeks to turn your life around. Yeah, right.

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.

©2017 Wendelin Van Draanen (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"I read Wild Bird in one long mesmerized gulp. Wren will break your heart - and then mend it." (Nancy Werlin, National Book Award finalist for The Rules of Survival)

"Wild Bird grabbed me by the wrist on page one - it's riveting." (Jenny Hubbard, author of And We Stay, a Printz Honor Book)

"Van Draanen's Wren is real and relatable, and readers will root for her." (Voya)

Fantastic in Every Way - Get it!

Sometimes a book title and blurb are intriguing but fall short. Not this one! This book absolutely delivers and then some. It's inspiring and it makes you think - no matter what age you may be. This review would in no way be complete without mentioning the narrator. Her raspy voice, inflection and cadence simple made the book real. Alex McKenna may be my new favorite narrator (along with Scott Brick). Anyhow, well done to the author and narrator. This book is the total package. I'll be reading more by the author and also the narrator!

owo

OwO is a meme emoticon popular among role-players and furries. It is also well-known from popular copypastas where the writers use baby language to say some rather good stuff.

Yes! You must listen to this book!

This is one of those stories that captures your heart from the very first word. It is beautifully written and the reader is perfect.

Thank you for taking us all on the journey!

As the older sister of an addict, I gained so much insight into the WHY and HOW of my sister’s addiction. She too was young, like Wren, when she started. Today, I am 64 years old and she is 63. Much of her life has been turbulent with years of being clean to back into the awful trap of addiction. I love her so much. Our entire family has been the target and blame of her anger. I have been so resentful as I have tried to be loving, but taken advantage of time and time again. After reading this book, I will be more patient, quiet, while not enabling her. I pray she can find the strength to overcome and be a warrior. Thank you for taking us on this journey!

BEST BOOK

This book was amazing, I think every young adult or teen should read this. Even parents! It was a fantastic book that is funny, makes you think, and just is over all one of my favorites.

inspiring!

Loved it. Excellent narration and character development. Real...a must read for every teenager and parent of teens.

Thought Provoking

So many challenges growing up these days. Mother nature is an incomperable teacher! This story includes some fiction, and some important truth.

Loved Loved Loved

I loved this book so much, I did not want it to end. Perfect Voice. Loved!

everything

I like everything so much it is a very very good deep thoughtful story of wren and I love it a lot

A beautiful story of healing

#mystrangereading Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story was moving, powerful and beautiful. I love how the audible worked in this stories favor because of the story-telling elements in Wren's journey. If you enjoy realistic fiction and stories about healing and finding your true self, this is definitely a read for you!