The Wild Kid

by Harry Mazer, Deborah Lanino (Illustrator)

"Can I go home now?" After his bike gets stolen, twelve-year-old Sammy gets lost in the woods near his home. He stumbles upon the makeshift hideaway of the "wild kid" named Kevin, who has run away from reform school. Will this strongly independent tough let Sammy get home to his family? Can they both survive in the unforgiving wilderness?

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

Harry Mazer is an American author of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his 'realistic' novels. He has written twenty-two novels, including The Solid Gold Kid, The Island Keeper, Heroes Don't Run, and Snow Bound, which was adapted as an NBC After school special, as well as one work of poetry and a few short stories.

Reviews

[Ethan Chester · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book went super fast and was easy to read the only thing that confused me was why the boys name was Sammie.

[Geena · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Written: June 26, 2006] | [Edited: September 09, 2019]

The Wild Kid was something of a strange story for me to read. For starters I was slightly hesitant to read a story centered on a disabled (or mentally challenged) boy named Sammy. I assumed the storyline would make a big deal about his circumstances and over-dramatize the tweenager with Down's syndrome. To my surprise the storyline doesn't even go out of its way to mention he's dealing with Down Syndrome save for maybe three times in the entire span of the book, which surprised me. Books of this nature either go hard on the melodrama (ah-la "what's wrong with my child???") or become too schmaltzy in an attempt to challenge stigmatic culture towards Down Syndrome.

I really enjoyed "The Wild Kid." While the story itself is pretty straightforward, almost to the point where it feels nothing really happens, what the side panel of the cover describes is an apt barometer of what you're getting into. The way the author describes Sammy's escapades through the forest in search of his bike only to end up hostage of "feral" young man named Kevin is truly something that makes the wheels of the imagination turn.

At first, you want Sammy to run away because you really don't trust Kevin (especially with the way he treats the boy at first). However, as the story progresses you find yourself growing used to the harshness of Kevin's character and his strange interaction with the overly trusting Sammy.

The only problem I think I have with "The Wild Kid" are that the paragraphs are constructed in a sort of elementary way, for a younger audience to be honest. But all in all, I enjoyed reading this. A highly recommended story.

[Shirley Smith]

This book was very interesting.
After Sammy bike gets stolen, twelve-year-old Sammy got lost in the woods near his home. He stumbles upon the makeshift hideaway of the "wild kid" named Kevin, who has run away from reform school. Sammy eventually went home to his family he told his family and classmates about Kevin. He waited for Kevin each night to come to visit him. They became friends. Sammy taught Kevin a new way of life.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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This was a good book.

I stumbled across it when cleaning out my mom's attic and since I don't think I ever actually read it, I thought I'd give it a try.

I really liked the focus on ability. Sammie proves himself to be a very capable person. As a self-prescribed "special person", he constantly deals with people telling him what he can and cannot do. I love the way the author showed how a person who is disabled can still take care of himself.

I also really liked that it was in first person so the reader was really put in Sammie's shoes and sees different issues he faced such as bullying and self doubt .

Mostly the book is about friendship and though it is a weird friendship, I think it goes to show that friends can be found in the most unlikely of places.

Overall, a good, quick read. Kind of weird, but full of heart.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a somewhat realistic look at marginalized children; it compares how one child lives with love on thee edge because of Down's Syndrome while the other has chosen to live in a forest because of previous abuse. Told through the simplistic view of a twelve year-old Down's boy, it becomes plausible and leaves you saddened by the lives some have been dealt. I was left wondering where the K-Man nowise, but believing there is good in everyone. Tracy and Mary, you should definitely read it!

[Joshua Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had picked up this book at my local dollar store, years ago when I was younger. I thought it could be a fun read. It started of non chalant with the normal nerdy kid who is not really known, but it takes a turn he gets lost in the woods. Terrified beyond belief he feels that something is watching him, he was right another young boy about his age lived in the woods. From this point the woods boy shows a mean and hateful attitude towards him but,the young boy eventually befriends him. I recommend this book if you want something that's entertaining,funny,and adventurous.

[Eric Leyva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wild Kid is an interesting story for all and especially relate-able to teens and preteens. Sammy's and Kevin's chemistry great. Kevin seems seems like the big brother to Sammy throughout the book. It's a tale loosely based on real world cases of missing children. The story tells an alarming example of what young children would do in order to feel happy. The Story ends in a decent heart warming way but with a few loose ends. I highly recommend this book to any young teen who feels depressed or has feeling of running away because the book has the answer to the problem.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting story about two boys, Sammy and Kevin.
I enjoyed this story of Sammy, a twelve year-old boy with Downs Syndrome who gets lost in the woods and meets Kevin, a boy who lives in the woods. The two become friends as we learn that there is both good and bad in most of us, but mostly good. Will Sammy ever find his way home? Does Kevin really want to live in the woods forever?
I would have loved to learn more about Kevin and what happens to him after Sammy goes home. Give this to fans of Patricia Reilly Giff's books.

[Austinhunter]

I liked this book. I would have liked it more if it had more detail but it was fine the way it was. I liked the storyline of this book because it seemed like it was in the best order it could have been and it seemed like everything was in perfect order. While he is in the wild the author makes you wait for when he gets to go and you are just wanting to know when then at the end it happens not like you think it would. I liked the way the author did that.

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally thought that this book was ok. Just... ok. The story didn't really move forward, it just stayed in one spot for a long time. Mostly the whole book in fact. And I couldn't picture the end. He was just dangling on the edge of a cliff watching things happen? That's impossible! Almost no one can do that. Especially not a young boy that doesn't do much activity. This book just didn't hit me as good.

[Rebecca Early · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a 12 yr old boy. He is riding his bike and he gets lost. He ends up losing his bike and gets lost in the woods near his home. He doesn't know where to go until he finds a small hiding place. He finds out that someone else is with him in that exact spot. However, its a boy who ran away from school. He is the one they call 'wild kid'. He's unsure if they will ever get out of that place or even survive.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is mostly about friendship. The friendship happens between Kevin and Sammy. On the beggining, they hated each other. Kevin hardly even gives sammy any food. But on the end, they become good friends and Kevin helps sammy get out of the forest. I loved the book.

p.s. I still don't get why this book has cursing in it.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was boring. Not a recommendation.

[Alyson Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, but still enjoyable. I only gave it 4 stars because it was so short. I wanted more.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok.
Not my favorite.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting.. didnt have much plot to it