Wildoak by C.C. Harrington – Book Review

Title: Wildoak Author: C.C. Harrington Publisher: Scholastic Press Release Date: September 20, 2022

Maggie’s stutter is debilitating. She does whatever she can to avoid speaking in public. At school, after even more drastic actions, her father threatens to send her to an institution for “treatment,” the medical intervention of the 1960s. Instead, Maggie’s sympathetic mother arranges for her to spend several weeks in Cornwall with her grandfather. She hopes the fresh air will help Maggie overcome her speech impediment. At the same time, a young snow leopard, Rumpus, is gifted to a wealthy Londoner incapable of taking care of a wild cat. Both Maggie and Rumpus find refuge and each other in Cornwall’s ancient forest, Wildoak. It is there their stories intersect. They all, including the forest, face impending dangers that will overwhelm without extraordinary action. For Maggie, the moment demands she speak up, if she can.

C.C. Harrington’s Wildoak is an incredible narrative highlighting the natural world’s beauty and its inextricable link to humans. It’s an impressive debut novel for Harrington with exquisite prose. She naturally depicts the connection through the alternating perspectives of Maggie and Rumpus. The evolution of their stories will endear readers to their hopes and empathetic to their plights. Wildoak’s ending, while hopeful, remains grounded in the common perspective that sees nature as a resource for taking. Maggie’s arc is also realistic, avoiding magic cures or treatments for her speech impediment. Rather, she must muster courage. Summoning the internal strength to find her voice in service of others, Maggie shows readers that it is truly hard being human. Main (human) characters present as White.

Wildoak will find many fans in education. Many other books focus on nature, conservation, and an uncertain future in the face of humans’ impact on the planet. Wildoak deserves a spot on the bookshelf next to them. Meanwhile, educators will find plenty of opportunities either to connect it to those other works in book studies or build a cross-curricular unit on conservation, climate, and humans’ relationship with nature. Maggie’s compelling story will engage young readers from the first page to the last, and Wildoak should prove to be a gem of the times.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Scholastic Press, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of nature, conservation, and humans’ impact on nature.
• Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of books that focus on nature, nature-human relationship, or fantasy.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Conservation Efforts
• Natural World & Balance
• Speech Impediments & History of Medical Care

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with Wildoak. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• Willodeen by Katherine Applegate (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
• Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
• Pax by Sara Pennypacker (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)

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