Overview
When thirteen-year-old Joan moves to California in 1972, she becomes friends with Sarah, who is timid at school but an imaginative leader when they play in the woods, and after winning a writing contest together they are recruited for an exclusive summer writing class that gives them new insights into themselves and others.Synopsis
It’s 1972. Twelve-year-old Joan is sure that she is going to be miserable when her family moves. Then she meets a most unusual girl. Sarah prefers to be called “Fox,” and lives with her author dad in a rundown house in the middle of the woods. The two girls start writing their own stories together, and when one wins first place in a student contest, they find themselves recruited for a summer writing class taught by the equally unusual Verla Volante. The Wild Girls brilliantly explores friendship, the power of story, and how coming of age means finding your own answers.
Children's Literature
This wonderful story takes place in the 1970s and centers around Joan, a twelve year old whose family has just moved to California from Connecticut. Joan is a curious and unusually sensitive child. One day while exploring the new area she has moved into, Joan comes upon an unusual girl about her own age who lives with her father, a writer of science fiction books, in a ramshackle house deep in the woods. The two girls begin writing stories together, and when one of them wins first place in a student writing contest and the two concoct a unique presentation at the writing ceremony, they meet a kindred spirit by the name of Verla Volante who recruits them for a summer writing class. The story unfolds showing clearly the sensitivity and knowledge of the creative process by the author. The story is powerfully written, showing the similarities yet differences between the girls that bind them together. They are able to see the connections between their own lives and the problems they have to handle and the creative process of observation in their writing. The story flows smoothly and keeps the reader riveted to each chapter. Well-written, unusual and absolutely perfect for children who may not quite fit in with the normal crowd. Reviewer: Joan Elste
Editorials
VOYA
Moving is difficult to do at any age but especially for a young girl of twelve in the 1970s. Joan is sure that she will hate California after living in Connecticut, and it is not as if her parents are getting along any better or her older brother is suddenly being nice. Things start to change when Joan meets Sarah, a girl who calls herself Fox and lives in the middle of the woods in a rundown house with her tattooed, biker father. Joan ponders the difference between Fox in the woods and Sarah in school, leading Joan to take a look at truth and being true to oneself. The girls become involved in writing, taking part in a summer workshop lead by quirky instructor Verla Volante. Self-discovery and a better understanding of the adults in their lives emerge from their writing. Students will be captivated by the characters in this masterfully crafted story that handles coming-of-age issues beautifully. The strongest message is about writing; the process is modeled through Fox and Joan's dialogue. The girls face the dilemma of writing what the teacher wants to read or writing about what they want to communicate, telling a story in an acceptable way or as they want to tell it. The cathartic effect of journaling and writing is explored, showing how putting feelings on paper can help clarify thoughts or allow feelings to be released. Readers will want to write more. Reviewer: Susan AllenChildren's Literature
This wonderful story takes place in the 1970s and centers around Joan, a twelve year old whose family has just moved to California from Connecticut. Joan is a curious and unusually sensitive child. One day while exploring the new area she has moved into, Joan comes upon an unusual girl about her own age who lives with her father, a writer of science fiction books, in a ramshackle house deep in the woods. The two girls begin writing stories together, and when one of them wins first place in a student writing contest and the two concoct a unique presentation at the writing ceremony, they meet a kindred spirit by the name of Verla Volante who recruits them for a summer writing class. The story unfolds showing clearly the sensitivity and knowledge of the creative process by the author. The story is powerfully written, showing the similarities yet differences between the girls that bind them together. They are able to see the connections between their own lives and the problems they have to handle and the creative process of observation in their writing. The story flows smoothly and keeps the reader riveted to each chapter. Well-written, unusual and absolutely perfect for children who may not quite fit in with the normal crowd. Reviewer: Joan ElsteSchool Library Journal
Gr 5-9 Told by Joan, a recent transplant from Connecticut to Northern California in 1972, this tale embodies the transformative power of both the written word and friendship. While trekking through the woods near her house, the 11-year-old stumbles upon Sarah, who calls herself Fox. The two girls become inseparable companions in exploring the outdoors and their imaginations. They overcome disparities in background: Joan has a more traditional suburban life with a mother who tries to compensate for a sour, unhappy father; Fox lives with her father, a science-fiction author, in a run-down house, and prefers to believe that the mother who abandoned her years ago did so because she was transformed into a fox. Joan can't penetrate Fox's outsider persona at school, but away from class, they compose a contest-winning story of two girls questing in a magical forest. Their read-aloud performance at a San Francisco ceremony, wearing full lipstick war paint to make them feel suitably wild, gains them admittance to a summer writing program at Berkeley. Their avant-garde instructor urges them to pay attention and ask questions, helping them become stronger writers and more confident people, able to deal with difficult family challenges. Supporting characters are fully formed and intriguing. Murphy evokes her setting with skill and plays out themes of creativity and self-expression with grace and intensity. Readers will applaud the metamorphoses of Fox and Joan, who come to understand themselves and others through their art.-Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA