• Age: 14 to 18
• Grade: 9 to 12
• Reading age: 7 to 10

Bullied in foster care and then by his adoptive mother's boyfriend, Seth decides to head out on his own. Brooke thinks she might be pregnant and, instead of facing her controlling mother, she runs. The strangers meet in a wilderness park on Vancouver Island, where basic survival is a challenge. As they work together to find food, water, and shelter, they find the strength to take control of their own lives.

A past winner of the Open Space Emerging Writers' Competition and a finalist in Paragraph's Short Fiction Contest, Jodi Lundgren has published in literary magazines such as Trivia, Paragraph and subTerrain, as well as in the anthology Beyond Bedlam. Her critical writing has appeared in Canadian Literature, Matrix and Essays on Canadian Writing. She is currently working on a novel for young adults.

Jodi Lundgren's profile page

"This book runs with themes of self discovery as well as coming of age . . . The lessons contained in the characters' stories can readily be applied to numerous situations, and are certainly useful, especially during the volatile, emotionally charged teenage years. As it's a short book it could be a good choice for classroom reading in middle school and or high school."

NetGalley Reviewer

"I thought this book took on some very real challenges that teenagers face today. Lundgren has created two really likable characters in Seth and Brook. They are easy to relate to and the story is very engaging. Lundgren is very direct with her language and does not shy away from some of the more difficult topics, but at the same time she is very sensitive in how she describes some of the more distressing scenes . . . I would recommend this book to anyone with middle-school aged teenagers. The writing is not difficult to read and the story is of a good length. An enjoyable book."

NetGalley Reviewer

"A story of give and take, engaging themes of courage, trust, and growth. Brooke is a strong character, and it's refreshing to read about a girl becoming a woman whose self-determination arises from something other than sexuality and a heterosexual relationship. Seth's discomfort with Brooke's potential pregnancy, and the idea that she is contemplating abortion, echoes Canada's social discomfort with this topic and could generate valuable discussion in a classroom setting."

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"At times, Gone Wild reminds me of the William Bell YA novel Crabbe, which is enjoyed by students and is commonly used in English classes in my school board. Both novels present a not-so-typical person vs. nature conflict, involving young people who learn many lessons about survival, trust, and self-reliance during their time in the wilderness."

<em>CM Magazine</em>

"Moved along by the alternating points of view, the pace is so quick that I cant picture even the most reluctant reader getting bored with it. Recommended."

CM Magazine

"The characters are interesting with real problems that middle school and high school students will find relevant. This would be a good choice for students who are reading below grade level. I can see it used in a literature group because it has good opportunities both for predicting what will happen next, and it should spark lively classroom discussions."

Educator

"Lundgren's sure hand guides Seth and Brooke toward hope and healing and avoids the trap of sentimentality. A breath of fresh air lifts these familiar themes."

Kirkus Reviews

"I think this would be a good book for upper middle schoolers into high school. It would appeal to struggling or unmotivated readers especially because of the length and vocabulary . . . I would recommend for a high school or middle school teacher for their classroom."

Educator

"Lundgren explores on a profound level the ability of the university to bring into our lives the people we need most to help us go on. Similar in theme to Cheryl Strayed's Wild, Lundgren brings to a teen audience a quickly paced story about the resorative power of nature, and the capacity for solitude and connection to prove clarity

National Reading Campaign

"The low reading level will appeal to struggling teens who want quick reads about characters their own age dealing with problems."

School Library Journal

"A short and interesting novel about a pair of teenagers who meet on a trail along the Vancouver coastline . . . Jodi Lundgren takes a wise and understated approach to telling this story, and the relationship that develops between Brooke and Seth feels natural and tense."

Educator