Review Detail

I really appreciate what Stoke Books is doing. They are putting together high-interest stories for struggling readers. Being a teacher that works with lower level readers in a middle school setting, I can advocate for this need!


It's very important to grab the reader's attention from the first page. It's even more vital when that reader typically does not like to read (or want to read). Wild Song starts off with action, which is a great hook. While it is certainly geared towards female readers, it could also work for students interested in Shakespeare. Wild Song was a loose retelling of The Tempest.


The plot and characters are pretty straight forward. There isn't a lot of depth or character building. That may bother some readers, but if you keep it in context of the intended audience, then it makes sense. Struggling readers do not have the stamina for pages upon pages of descriptive writing and character building.


I have to say that Wild Song is not my favorite Stoke Book so far, but it wasn't bad. I think it will have a limited appeal because of the setting and characters. Boys will probably not run to this one, but I can picture several of my female readers enjoying it