About the Author
Christina grew up in the UK. She spent her summer holidays in Cornwall where she loved to climb trees and run barefoot along pebbly beaches. She loves the natural world and believes that stories, much like the roots of an ancient forest, are capable of connecting readers and listeners in essential ways. Wildoak is her first book. She graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English Literature and has since worked for a newspaper, taught literacy to children with learning differences and studied printmaking. She now lives in Maryland with her family and a dog who loves to eat manuscripts. You can learn more about her work at ccharrington.com
Product Description
When the fates of a snow leopard, a child, and an ancient forest collide, the unimaginable can happen. Perfect for fans of Pax and The One and Only Ivan.
**Winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Book Award!**
* "Nuanced and empowering." - Publisher's Weekly, starred review
* "Memorably atmospheric." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Immersive." - The Horn Book
“Vibrant, emotional storytelling.” ― School Library Connection, highly recommended
Maggie Stephens's stutter makes school especially hard. She will do almost anything to avoid speaking in class or calling attention to herself. So when her unsympathetic father threatens to send her away for so-called "treatment," she reluctantly agrees to her mother's intervention plan: a few weeks in the fresh air of Wildoak Forest, visiting a grandfather she hardly knows. It is there, in an extraordinary twist of fate, that she encounters an abandoned snow leopard cub, an exotic gift to a wealthy Londoner that proved too wild to domesticate. But once the cub's presence is discovered by others, danger follows, and Maggie soon realizes that time is running out, not only for the leopard, but for herself and the forest as well.
Told in alternating voices, Wildoak shimmers with beauty, compassion, and unforgettable storytelling as it explores the delicate interconnectedness of the human, animal, and natural worlds.
Review
Praise for Wildoak:
Winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Book Award
* "Themes of compassion and conservation form the heartbeat of Harrington's eloquent 1963 England-set debut...Both character arcs sparkle with life thanks to Harrington's poignant, immersive prose...nuanced and empowering." - Publisher's Weekly, starred review
* "Harrington packs her memorably atmospheric debut with compelling issues, but her sharply felt portrayals of two vulnerable youngsters of different species bonding as they find their ways in hostile worlds will make the deepest impression. Tugs on ethical sensibilities and heartstrings with equal strength." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Harrington humanizes Rumpus with compassion but not preciousness, inviting readers to acknowledge his wildness but still recognize his shared experiences with Maggie. Beyond the well-integrated themes of environmentalism and animal conservation, the resonating factor behind the story is Maggie's connection to Rumpus, making this an easy readalike to Pennypacker's Pax or Earle's When the Sky Falls." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Maggie’s deep connections to animals and the natural world are her greatest strengths, enabling physical bravery and creative problem-solving. The theme of diverse varieties of communication braids the narrative together and deepens its impact. Generous back matter alerts readers to resources on stuttering, big-cat conservation, and reforestation efforts worldwide. Chapter decorations and the occasional pen-and-ink illustration add to the richness of this immersive experience." - The Horn Book
“A poignant story about finding your voice and standing up for those who are unable to stand for themselves. . . . By the end, readers will have fallen in love with Rumpus and be cheering as Maggie takes a stand to save him. . . . Echoing the vibrant, emotional storytelling of classic
