Into the Wild (Into the Wild #1)

I have been looking for this book for so long. Imagine my surprise when I literally walked by it on a shelf at my library (the same library that said they did not have a copy). I was thrilled! I snatched Into the Wild up so quickly that people looked at me like I was crazy. I also looked for Out of the Wild, but I didn't see it. Small victories, I suppose. I love this book!

Into the Wild was the debut novel of Sarah Beth Durst, which is rather surprising because I found it to be absolute perfection. It was a super fun read. I enjoyed recognizing fairy tales in the book (some were lesser known tales). You could tell that the author spent a lot of time researching to be able to weave the tells seamlessly.

The idea behind Into the Wild was highly original. Because "the Wild" is a sort of fairy tale prison (my interpretation, probably not the best way to describe it), it took a lot to fully develop the concept of a living entity being able to craft stories and capture fairy tale characters. But don't worry, it was done well. The experiences that the various characters faced gave depth to this concept.



The narrator, Julie, was full of wit and charm. She is a great narrator for middle grades readers. She faces the same struggles of feeling like she doesn't belong and longing for a whole family that many readers will be able to relate to her voice.



Simply put, this is another hit by Sarah Beth Durst that I highly recommend. Geared more for younger readers, it will widely accepted by younger readers that enjoy a good adventure or fairy tale.

Reader reviewed by Severa Drabczyk

***This review contains spoilers!!!***


Chris McCandless is my hero. He did what I wish I could do. Though I don't think I'd venture to Alaska the way he did. He changed people's lives and I wish I could, hopefully I will someday. It is quite sad for him and his family the way he died, but to be honest, it was his own fault, he knew of the dangers of what he was doing and I believe he knew he would die out there in the wild, he just didn't know how and frankly he didn't care. He didn't care how he would die, he wasn't worried about it, he just lived his life they way HE wanted to, the way HE dreamed it and for that he is my hero, he did what he wanted to do with his own life and he did do things for other people all the time, one thing he did, was inspire me to follow my dreams. I rate it PG-15 and give it 4 out of 5 stars."

Reader reviewed by Stacey @ book:thirty

One nice thing about having a small, underused library system where we now live: popular books are either right on the shelves, or have a very short wait time. I have seen this book reviewed on many blogs lately, so the cover was fresh on my mind when I spotted it at our weekly trip to the library last week. (A quick word about the cover = ick. Sorry, just my personal opinion, but its really not my favorite. Considering how fun and imaginative the book itself is, I feel the cover could have done it a little more justice.)

Into the Wild is about Julie Marchen, a seemingly ordinary girl, until you consider that her last name means fairytale in German, and , oh, her mother is Rapunzel. Julie and her mother (Zel) live in a suburban Massachusetts town, trying to blend in, even as they have 7 dwarves over for dinner, serve clientel like Goldilocks (now Goldie) in Zels hair salon, and try to contain remnants of The Wild (the magical force that imprisons all fairytale creatures into their never-ending stories) under Julies bed. Five hundred years ago, Rapunzel lead the battle to defeat The Wild, so the fairyland denizens could be free to decide their own fate, to live their own stories. Something goes horribly wrong, though, and The Wild is freed from Julies room and grows to absorb the town and reclaim its former inhabitants.

I love Julie as the heroin of this story - she has a great mix of self-doubt, courage, and resourcefulness. I enjoy the dynamics between mothers and daughters in the story, as we see Rapunzel with her once evil adoptive mother, and Julie try to get her own mother to listen to and understand her. Durst made inventive use of familiar fairytale characters and gave them a modern-day spin. Finally, I think there is a great message in this book, especially for younger readers: a great story awaits you, if youre brave enough to write it.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Julie Marchen is a girl of many secrets, most of them not entirely her own. Firstly, her mother is Rapunzel; yes, the fairytale woman with the incredibly long and beautiful hair who lives in a tower, although now she wears her hair in a short bob and resides in Northboro, Massachusetts. Also, Julies brother is Puss-in-Boots and her grandmother is a real witch (the spell-casting kind). And the worst part? Although Rapunzel escaped from and defeated the Wild long ago, it still exists, and its under Julies bed. Forget monsters under the bed; the Wild is more real and much worse. But no one except for a select few people who escaped from the Wild long ago as Rapunzel had understand the extent of the threat that the Wild poses, that is, until it somehow escapes from Julies room and takes over Northboro. Now, with all the people Julie loves trapped within the Wilds never-ending tales, Julie is going to have to journey into that deep and dangerous forest and outwit the Wild in order to save her family and the town of Northboro.

Into the Wild is an incredibly unique and well-written story that I fell in love with. I am a big fan of fairytales, and the incorporation of this into present day, what we normally call real life, was just a fantastic idea, and one that worked amazingly well. Into the Wild succeeded as a novel on so many levels. Firstly, the characters were well-developed and interesting; even though weve seen most of them in classic fairytale stories, characters such as Cinderella and Goldilocks have been altered to be more human and realistic, making them seem interesting and new. The storyline was so creative, especially with the incorporation of fantasy and reality; the reader can understand Julies everyday problems such as her yearning for her father and awkwardness at school and then theres all the drama that being the offspring of a fairytale character creates. The plot is fresh, fun, action-filled, and never dull, so I was disappointed when I realized that the story was over.

Into the Wild was definitely one of the best and most unique books I have read recently, and one that I most recommend, especially for fans of fairytales or just fast and fun stories. I cant wait to start reading the sequel, Out of the Wild to see the continuation of Julies story.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by Tasha

Julie is just like any other twelve year old girl. She doesn't seem to quite fit in at school, she doesn't get along with her mom, and o, she's Rapunzel's daughter! You know, the Rapunzel with the long golden hair that lives "happily ever after." This makes Julie feel even more of an outcast because of all the secrets she has to keep for her family. The biggest secret being that "The Wild", where all the fairy tale creatures live, is living under her bed. She knows that she always have to be extra careful not to let "The Wild" escape or else once again try to take over the world and recapture the fairy tale creatures who escaped. When someone makes a wish in the wishing well at Julie's Grandma's motel to release "The Wild", Julie's life is turned upside down. Before she even has a chance to do anything her mother and grandma have both been taken up by "The Wild" and Julie is left alone. Julie knows that she must rescue her mother and grandma and head off into "The Wild" accompanied by her brother Puss-in-Boots (yes, he's a cat). As she traipses through "The Wild" she is pulled into multiple stories and even starts to forge her own. While some people think that "The Wild" is all about happily ever afters, Julie is quick to realize that it has alternative motives. Will Julie be able to rescue her Mom and Grandma or will "The Wild" turn her into just another story?



I had heard so many good things about this book that I was just dying to read it. Also it's the ultimate fairy tale, and I adore fairy tales, so yet another reason it was in my "to read" pile. Wow! Why, o why, did I wait so long to read this book? It was fantastic, no phenomenal, just all around great. I got sucked into Julie's story by the end of the first sentence and couldn't tear myself away from the story. I loved how the author took a bunch of fairy tales and pulled them into the story and made them so exciting. I was so envious of Julie through the whole book that she got to go on this amazing adventure with fairy tale creatures and I didn't. The whole story just felt so real and I just couldn't get enough of it. For anyone who loves fairy tales this is a must read, or if you're just looking for an amazing book to read, run to your library or bookstore and pick up a copy of Into the Wild. You will not be disappointed in the least. Truly there aren't many words to describe this book, but I managed to find a few! Also the sequel, Out of the Wild, hits stores June 19, and you know I will be first in line to go get a copy!!

Reader reviewed by Mary

Julie`s not weird she`s just different. And she has good reason to be. After all the Wild lives under her bed. The Wild is the place where fairy tale creatures lived, destined to live out fairy tale after fairy tale. Until they escaped.

Julie`s mom is Rapunzel. The Seven Dwarves are occasional visitors. And Cinderella is occasionally Julie`s driver. Life is strange but good until the Wild escapes. It spreads across the land, swallowing up her town. Julie knows she can`t let the Wild win so she heads in determined to defeat it....


This story has a great plotline and is very well-written. There is never a dull moment. It`s a must read.

Reader reviewed by Alyssa Feller, POD Princess & Graphic Novel Guru

In the darkness, the heart of the fairy tale waited...

Julie is your average, normal, everyday girl. Sort of. Okay, not really. Ever since Julies mom Rapunzel (thats right, THE Rapunzel) escaped from the world of fairy tales, shes been trying to live an everyday life. Shes cut off her hair and runs a beauty salon, trying to keep Julies life as normal as possible. And shes not the only one. All of the escaped fairy tale characters are trying to lay low and keep it real.

Theres just one problem: The Wild still lives under Julies bed. The Wild is the heart of fairy tale, the place where Julies mother and the other characters escaped in order to lead normal lives. There are only remnants of their old constantly reenacted fairy story lives, but Julie has to deal with the fact that The Wild keeps eating her sneakers. And you thought the boogeyman was bad.

When a thoughtless wish helps The Wild escape, Julie is determined to save the people she loves from endlessly repeating the stories they are famous for. She ventures into The Wild itself, hoping to find the wishing well that started it all before its too late. Because if The Wild finds a story for her, she might not ever come out again&

Into the Wild is a thoroughly imaginative debut novel. Rather than simply retelling stories we all know, Durst brings the stories to life, with real people, real settings, and real problems. Julie is a great protagonist, whos greatest strength, surprisingly, is that she is a normal girl. The problems she deals with may be a little strange, but wouldnt you expect that when a forest lives under your bed? Through Julies eyes, Happily Ever After may not be quite so happy, a revelation thats both startling and in a way strangely comforting.

An excellent and absorbing read for reluctant readers, fantasy fans, or anyone really. This is sure to be a fit with most readers, and I eagerly await the next book, due out in June 2008.

Reader reviewed by Jocelyn

I absolutely raced through this bookI couldnt put it down! I hadnt planned on reading the whole thing in one sitting, but thats exactly what I did. The characters, the writing, the uniqueness of the storyI adored it!

Backing up, I should probably tell you what its about, though I could gush for much longer.

When The Wild, the fairy tale world Julies mother, Rapunzel, and the other fairy tale creatures escaped from centuries ago, gets free, Julie loses her mother, her grandmother, and other people she cares about to its never-ending, cruel stories. Julies not going to give up, though; shes determined to save her mother from The Wild once again, to rescue her from endless days trapped in a tower, to rescue her grandmother from being a wicked witch, to rescue the people she cares about. Shes going in, and shes not going to let the Wild find a story for her, if she can help it. Because once shes in the ending of a story, shell forget who she is, and why shes there.

INTO THE WILD is one of the most original fantasy books Ive read in ages. These fairy tales arent what you think they are. Rather than changing a fairy tale like is often done in books, Sarah Beth Durst takes every fairy tale youve ever heard and makes it real, and dangerous. And she does so brilliantly! I cant even find the words Im really looking for to describe how amazing this book is. Run, dont walk to your nearest bookstore or library and get a copy today!

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