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Jackie's Wild Seattle: A Heart-Stopping Wildlife Adventure for Kids (Ages 8-12) About Two Siblings and a Summer of Rescue
Heart-stopping adventure on the wild side of Seattle! How do you rescue a coyote trapped in the elevator of a downtown office building? How do you save an injured seal at the bottom of a cliff with the tide coming in? Fourteen-year-old Shannon and her younger brother, Cody, are about to find out as they spend a summer of breathless, sometimes reckless, often hilarious adventure visiting their uncle Neal at a wildlife center called Jackie's Wild Seattle.
When Uncle Neal is injured, it's up to Shannon, Cody, and Sage, the rescue dog, to keep the circle of healing unbroken.
When Uncle Neal is injured, it's up to Shannon, Cody, and Sage, the rescue dog, to keep the circle of healing unbroken.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
15 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Will Hobbs
31 books171 followersWILL HOBBS is the author of seventeen novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason's Gold, were named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. ALA also named Far North and Downriver to their list of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of the Twentieth Centrury. Ghost Canoe received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1998 for Best Young Adult Mystery.
In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A graduate of Stanford University and former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since 1990. He lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado.
Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.
In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A graduate of Stanford University and former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since 1990. He lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado.
Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 28, 2017
If you have readers that like Pax, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc... I think they will like this book. It is about a wildlife rescue with some secondary story lines. Cody and Shannon's parents leave for the summer to go to Pakistan and Afghanistan to help with the Doctors Without Borders program. (On the few correspondence we see between the parents and the kids-- this is what interested me the most.) Then, we learn about Neal and Tyler who play roles throughout the book. In short, if you are an animal lover, I think this book would appeal to you. I did not feel like the "secondary story lines" developed that much more to take the text to a deeper level. Tyler's story line is worth exploring more and would have captured my interest. I did not feel a sense of urgency to keep the pages moving until the last one hundred pages. I worry, with it being only 200 pages, that reluctant readers will want to abandon the book if they don't stick with it.
August 31, 2008
This was a really good animal rescue book. Very interesting and adventurous!
August 16, 2022
For purposes of full disclosure, I am an adult, a retired English teacher, and I much preferred reading the REAL story of Sarvey Wildlife Center, volunteer Jeff Guidry (the "Neal" character), and his eagle Freedom ("Liberty"). Some of the circumstances of Hobbs' book are over-reaching: BOTH of the kids' parents agree to go work with Doctors Without Borders in dangerous Pakistan and Afghanistan? (This book was published just one year after 9/11); "Time heals all wounds" (194) when one of the kids sees the NYC skyline where the Twin Towers once stood?; a kid is handed a pocketknife and instructed how to administer a Caesarean section to an unborn fawn whose mother had been killed?
Unbelievable, overly-dramatic, and agenda-driven. Of course, humans have driven out nature with development, and, of course, Doctors Without Borders is an amazing, significant program. However, this novel for children was not plausible. Again, please consider reading _An Eagle Named Freedom_ by Jeff Guidry--his story is REAL.
(I gave the extra "star" for this line: " ... Mr. Jackie and I split over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't" (31). )
Unbelievable, overly-dramatic, and agenda-driven. Of course, humans have driven out nature with development, and, of course, Doctors Without Borders is an amazing, significant program. However, this novel for children was not plausible. Again, please consider reading _An Eagle Named Freedom_ by Jeff Guidry--his story is REAL.
(I gave the extra "star" for this line: " ... Mr. Jackie and I split over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't" (31). )
August 14, 2019
Another great read by Will Hobbs.
Shannon and Cory have come from New Jersey to spend the summer in Seattle with their Uncle Neal. Things are different from what Shannon recalls of her uncle. He now drives an ambulance for a wildlife rescue center called Jackie's Wild Seattle.
The kids go out with him to rescue all sorts of animals until Uncle Neal gets injured from a red tailed hawk. Shannon also becomes interested in a boy, Tyler who also works at the center for 4 hours every day. Jackie explains that besides helping the animals, she also helps troubled teens.
Shannon realizes that her uncle is harboring secrets of his own and Cory is having nightmares about 9/11 and is sure there will be new disasters at every turn.
This is a great little story based on a rescue place up in Seattle and also about kids ad adults who have problems and to overcome them. Hobbs has done it again with a wonderful story.
Shannon and Cory have come from New Jersey to spend the summer in Seattle with their Uncle Neal. Things are different from what Shannon recalls of her uncle. He now drives an ambulance for a wildlife rescue center called Jackie's Wild Seattle.
The kids go out with him to rescue all sorts of animals until Uncle Neal gets injured from a red tailed hawk. Shannon also becomes interested in a boy, Tyler who also works at the center for 4 hours every day. Jackie explains that besides helping the animals, she also helps troubled teens.
Shannon realizes that her uncle is harboring secrets of his own and Cory is having nightmares about 9/11 and is sure there will be new disasters at every turn.
This is a great little story based on a rescue place up in Seattle and also about kids ad adults who have problems and to overcome them. Hobbs has done it again with a wonderful story.
July 28, 2024
This is a good page-turner for tweens, especially if they are from the Puget Sound area. It was fun to picture all the places they went. I also recommend this for animal lovers, as they rescue/rehab critters of all kinds. Reading about animal abuse and child abuse was rough, so read it with your kids.
August 4, 2017
Truly enjoyed Jackie's Wild Seattle. Don't miss the author's notes at the end, which will refer you to
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/... and the Sarvey Wildlife Center at: http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Default...
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/... and the Sarvey Wildlife Center at: http://www.sarveywildlife.org/Default...
June 12, 2017
life at a wildlife refuge; Uncle has cancer, boy doing comm. service has abusive dad
July 29, 2021
i liked the storyline, didn’t get boring.
August 2, 2022
Great book for lovers of animals of all kinds.
January 20, 2024
Enjoyed this audiobook I borrowed from the library. Good narration. A fun book about saving wild animals in Seattle. Told from a kid’s perspective. Easy fun read.
September 2, 2024
Great for pre-teens. Kept my attention.
March 21, 2008
Author: Will Hobbs
Title: Jackie’s Wild Seattle
Genre: animal
Publication Info: HarperCollins. New York. 2003.
Recommended Age: 9 and up
Plot Summary: Shannon and Cody have to spend the summer with Uncle Neal in Seattle while their parents, both doctors, travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan to help treat refugees. The kids are unsure of their uncle at first, not having spent much time with him before. They quickly warm up to him and to his schedule. Uncle Neal drives an ambulance and rescues wounded animals all over the Seattle area. He lives with Jackie, who owns the wildlife rescue center called Jackie’s Wild Seattle. The center is large and holds all types of birds, rabbits, squirrels, a bear, and a mountain lion, which are all recuperating from their injuries. The kids help their uncle save many animals and actually take over his job when a hawk nearly takes off his left thumb. At the hospital, Shannon overhears that Uncle Neal had been treated with chemotherapy and is to go back in for testing in about a month. Neither she nor her parents knew that Neal was diagnosed with cancer. They knew he wasn’t working at Boeing, but they thought that he had been laid off with a large number of workers after 9/11. Shannon does not divulge that she knows his secret, but she is concerned for his health. Neal has gotten close to a baby bald eagle, which is not usually something he would do. The eagle is in bad shape and will have to be euthanized. On the day that is to happen, the eagle stands on his own, a sign that he is finally getting better. Neal decides to train the eagle to take into schools in the area. The day of Neal’s biopsy, the eagle puts his wings around Neal’s shoulders to comfort him. Neal is in remission, but there is a chance the cancer will come back someday. For now, everyone is happy that he isn’t suffering, and that the circle of healing continues.
Personal Notes: I haven’t always been a fan of animal books, but this novel hits several of my interests. I am from the Seattle area and loved reading about the Space Needle, the rain, the woods, and the city names. My mother is also a cancer survivor, so I could relate to the feelings other characters had toward Uncle Neal. This book surprised me and made me cry several times.
Evaluation: This is a great book for animal lovers and young readers. It is very clean, with no swearing or romantic stuff. I would without hesitation suggest that my students read it on an individual basis.
Title: Jackie’s Wild Seattle
Genre: animal
Publication Info: HarperCollins. New York. 2003.
Recommended Age: 9 and up
Plot Summary: Shannon and Cody have to spend the summer with Uncle Neal in Seattle while their parents, both doctors, travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan to help treat refugees. The kids are unsure of their uncle at first, not having spent much time with him before. They quickly warm up to him and to his schedule. Uncle Neal drives an ambulance and rescues wounded animals all over the Seattle area. He lives with Jackie, who owns the wildlife rescue center called Jackie’s Wild Seattle. The center is large and holds all types of birds, rabbits, squirrels, a bear, and a mountain lion, which are all recuperating from their injuries. The kids help their uncle save many animals and actually take over his job when a hawk nearly takes off his left thumb. At the hospital, Shannon overhears that Uncle Neal had been treated with chemotherapy and is to go back in for testing in about a month. Neither she nor her parents knew that Neal was diagnosed with cancer. They knew he wasn’t working at Boeing, but they thought that he had been laid off with a large number of workers after 9/11. Shannon does not divulge that she knows his secret, but she is concerned for his health. Neal has gotten close to a baby bald eagle, which is not usually something he would do. The eagle is in bad shape and will have to be euthanized. On the day that is to happen, the eagle stands on his own, a sign that he is finally getting better. Neal decides to train the eagle to take into schools in the area. The day of Neal’s biopsy, the eagle puts his wings around Neal’s shoulders to comfort him. Neal is in remission, but there is a chance the cancer will come back someday. For now, everyone is happy that he isn’t suffering, and that the circle of healing continues.
Personal Notes: I haven’t always been a fan of animal books, but this novel hits several of my interests. I am from the Seattle area and loved reading about the Space Needle, the rain, the woods, and the city names. My mother is also a cancer survivor, so I could relate to the feelings other characters had toward Uncle Neal. This book surprised me and made me cry several times.
Evaluation: This is a great book for animal lovers and young readers. It is very clean, with no swearing or romantic stuff. I would without hesitation suggest that my students read it on an individual basis.
July 26, 2014
Summary: While their parents are working for Doctors without Borders Shannon and her brother are sent to Seattle to live with their Uncle Neal. When they arrive in Seattle they discover that Neal has become a full time wild animal rescuer and that they will be living at the sanctuary for the animals. As Shannon spends an unforgettable summer helping wild animals to heal she realizes that at Jackie’s place it is not only animals that get healed.
Review: This is a heartwarming story without being over sentimental. It is full of interesting characters from the gung-ho Uncle Neal, who has a secret, to the mysterious boy named Tyler that no one likes. There is also young Cody who at seven witnessed 9/11 and now has an obsession with disasters. Shannon who is fourteen can come across as maybe too insightful and mature about things but, that can be explained by her parents work and the responsibilities she has to assume. The story also remains realistic in the fact that sometimes no matter how hard you try animals die. Then there are other times when miracles do come true.
One slight problem was there was a bit about rock climbing that got so technical I couldn’t follow it. The round up was not quite complete enough for me. I was also a little shook up when they left the dog and raccoon in the car.
Quotes:
“Obviously, teenage girls weren’t the sort of wildlife Neal was familiar with. He was going to treat me like I was fragile when I was anything but…”
“Without bumper stickers, wisdom itself would be impossible.”
“In a heartbeat, all four baby raccoons were on Uncle Neal – one on each shoulder, one on the back of his neck, one on the top of his Mariners cap. I would have laughed, but he was doing seventy and we were in heavy traffic, right in the middle of the bridge.”
“Curious, I glanced back at him and took in his off-balance stance, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans, head cocked at a proud, skeptical angle, eyes that in the brief second he looked my way were appealing for help or hope or I couldn’t tell what, maybe understanding.”
Review: This is a heartwarming story without being over sentimental. It is full of interesting characters from the gung-ho Uncle Neal, who has a secret, to the mysterious boy named Tyler that no one likes. There is also young Cody who at seven witnessed 9/11 and now has an obsession with disasters. Shannon who is fourteen can come across as maybe too insightful and mature about things but, that can be explained by her parents work and the responsibilities she has to assume. The story also remains realistic in the fact that sometimes no matter how hard you try animals die. Then there are other times when miracles do come true.
One slight problem was there was a bit about rock climbing that got so technical I couldn’t follow it. The round up was not quite complete enough for me. I was also a little shook up when they left the dog and raccoon in the car.
Quotes:
“Obviously, teenage girls weren’t the sort of wildlife Neal was familiar with. He was going to treat me like I was fragile when I was anything but…”
“Without bumper stickers, wisdom itself would be impossible.”
“In a heartbeat, all four baby raccoons were on Uncle Neal – one on each shoulder, one on the back of his neck, one on the top of his Mariners cap. I would have laughed, but he was doing seventy and we were in heavy traffic, right in the middle of the bridge.”
“Curious, I glanced back at him and took in his off-balance stance, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans, head cocked at a proud, skeptical angle, eyes that in the brief second he looked my way were appealing for help or hope or I couldn’t tell what, maybe understanding.”
March 20, 2014
Do you wanna read a book where you're always turning the pages, and can never put down? Well Jackie’s Wild Seattle just might be the right book for you. The realistic fiction story seems very real and touches into real events that have happened. This example of 9/11 and Shannon and Cody’s fear of it is very real life and can be related to by many types of people. By going to live with their uncle, they not only witness a completely new perspective of nature, which they did not get much of living in NYC, but also learn to cherish and love it.
I recommend this book to you if you are okay with emotional stories. This book is very emotional, because Shannon and Cody tell their perspective of 9/11. This is emotional because 9/11 was a sad day and a lot of people were depressed which is a very deep emotion. The book is filled of great characters and a realistic plot that not only does a great job of putting you in the time period but also shows great authors craft. The author also shows the book progressing by mysterious to build suspense just like the incident.
I recommend this book to you if you are okay with emotional stories. This book is very emotional, because Shannon and Cody tell their perspective of 9/11. This is emotional because 9/11 was a sad day and a lot of people were depressed which is a very deep emotion. The book is filled of great characters and a realistic plot that not only does a great job of putting you in the time period but also shows great authors craft. The author also shows the book progressing by mysterious to build suspense just like the incident.
March 14, 2014
Do you wanna read a book where you're always turning the pages, and can never put down? Well Jackie’s Wild Seattle just might be the right book for you. The realistic fiction story seems very real and touches into real events that happened. This example of 9/11 and Shannon and Cody’s fear of it is very real life and can be related to by many types of people. By going to live with their uncle, they not only witness a completely new perspective of nature, which they did not get much of living in NYC.
I recommend this book to you if you are okay with emotional stories. This book is very emotional, because Shannon and Cody tell their perspective of 9/11. This is emotional because 9/11 was a sad day and a lot of people were depressed which is a very deep emotion. The book is filled of great characters and a realistic plot that not only does a great job of putting you in the time period but also shows great authors craft. The author also shows the book progressing by mysterious to build suspense just like the incident.
March 14, 2014
Do you wanna read a book where you're always turning the pages, and can never put down? Well Jackie’s Wild Seattle just might be the right book for you. The realistic fiction story seems very real and touches into real events that happened. This example of 9/11 and Shannon and Cody’s fear of it is very real life and can be related to by many types of people. By going to live with their uncle, they not only witness a completely new perspective of nature, which they did not get much of living in NYC.
I recommend this book to you if you are okay with emotional stories. This book is very emotional, because Shannon and Cody tell their perspective of 9/11. This is emotional because 9/11 was a sad day and a lot of people were depressed which is a very deep emotion. The book is filled of great characters and a realistic plot that not only does a great job of putting you in the time period but also shows great authors craft. The author also shows the book progressing by mysterious to build suspense just like the incident.
I recommend this book to you if you are okay with emotional stories. This book is very emotional, because Shannon and Cody tell their perspective of 9/11. This is emotional because 9/11 was a sad day and a lot of people were depressed which is a very deep emotion. The book is filled of great characters and a realistic plot that not only does a great job of putting you in the time period but also shows great authors craft. The author also shows the book progressing by mysterious to build suspense just like the incident.
March 7, 2016
I thought that this book was okay. I think that because in the beginning the author threw too many details at us and so many events ,which made you not know what was going on. After the first few chapters it started to get easier to understand and not as busy. My favorite part was in the end. I liked when Uncle Neal wrote a letter to Cody and Shannon saying that he had so much fun with them and was coming to visit for Christmas! I also liked when Cody made up his own bumper sticker! I recommend this book for people who like animals! The one thing I wish the author did was make the beginning.
July 12, 2012
Time: A few years after 911
Place: Seattle, WA (doy)
199 pages
This book had a great story/concept. I loved how this rehab center for animals accepted any injured or abandoned creature. Even mice! I loved the "stay for the summer" scenario too. Some good twists to add some interest (maybe too many though).
Unfortunately, I thought the story's writing lacked luster, patience, and genuine emotion. The worst part was the cover's scene - it was filled with intensity, hope and interest, but the scene happens right away (killing an animal!) and the entire episode is just dismissed in a couple sentences. Boo.
Place: Seattle, WA (doy)
199 pages
This book had a great story/concept. I loved how this rehab center for animals accepted any injured or abandoned creature. Even mice! I loved the "stay for the summer" scenario too. Some good twists to add some interest (maybe too many though).
Unfortunately, I thought the story's writing lacked luster, patience, and genuine emotion. The worst part was the cover's scene - it was filled with intensity, hope and interest, but the scene happens right away (killing an animal!) and the entire episode is just dismissed in a couple sentences. Boo.
November 23, 2016
It had been a few years since I read a Will Hobbs book but this one did not disappoint. There was so much going on that kept it topical despite being published in 2003. Their parents are overseas helped Doctors without Borders so a brother and sister go west from NJ to Seattle to spend summer with their uncle. He helps a wildlife rescue and refuge so the kids get to help with this too. The younger brother is still reeling from witnessing the 9/11 attacks in NYC. All of the information about how wild animals are rescued and released into the wild was fascinating. All in all, an excellent title for older kids and younger teens.
September 22, 2009
This book is so so cute! I highly reccomend it to everyone,it has funny charecters, an interesting plot and great writing! It is about two kids fourteen year old Shannon, and her little seven year old brother Cody stay a whole summer in Seattle, Washington with their uncle Neal. He works the "ambulance" (his old rusty truck) for Jackies Wild Seattle, a sanctuary for injured wild animals. My favorite charecter in this book is Cody, because he reminds me alot of my younger cousins and has an energectic, bouncy personality.
August 6, 2007
This is one of my favorite books!! I am a librarian, and when my students ask me for a good book, I always recommend this one. I met Will Hobbs at the Missouri Association for School Librarians Conference in April 2006. He autographed my copy of the book. He also said it is based on real characters and events. Enjoy!
December 25, 2008
This book was very good. I don't think the cover does it any favors though. It's hard to tell enough of the story to get kids interested though. Actually the most interesting aspect of the story is that it was partially based on a true story. It just shows how amazing animals are and how much we have to learn from them.
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April 6, 2011This book was a great short book. It had a main character names jackie which was a teen girl that loved animals and found every oppertuinty to be with them. I would recommend this book to higher elementary students and lower middle school students. This book kept me interested had a great plot with a small amount of suspense and had very good visuals in it.
January 23, 2014
I was stunned to find the world Trade disaster referenced in this book, it was my first time coming across it in a kid's book.
Then they way they treated the subject and the healing process as a whole was very touching and inspiring. There is so much we cannot control in this world but as shown in this book the power to heal is within us all.
A wonderful and surprising read.
Then they way they treated the subject and the healing process as a whole was very touching and inspiring. There is so much we cannot control in this world but as shown in this book the power to heal is within us all.
A wonderful and surprising read.
March 7, 2016
This is a good book in the begging it was a little boring, because they where naming the animals but after that is was goo it had a lot of action that was what I liked about it. I wish the author skipped the part on naming the animals. But my favorite part was when, was when they figured out that he had cancer.
November 14, 2017
What was intended as a throwaway, is now a favorite. It takes place soon after all, and two kids are shipped off to their uncle while their parent's work with Doctors without boarders in the middle east. Unbeknownst to the kids, the uncle rescues and rehabbs animals at a place called Jackie's Wild Seattle.
"The two most common elements int he universe are Hydrogen and Stupidity."
"The two most common elements int he universe are Hydrogen and Stupidity."
August 8, 2008
I thought that this book was good because I personally love animals and I could really see myself in this young girls place. Another thing I liked about this book was that it had sad parts in it but she had to learn how to deal with them even while she was working at the animal rescue center.
August 20, 2008
Really cute book for older elementary kids or younger middle school. My mom gave a copy of this to my boys but I am the only one in the house who has read it. Again, I like that it is set in the Seattle area and the places are familiar.
December 19, 2008
Hobbs writes one from a female perspective! My daughter Charlene loved it, especially as animals galore are rescued. Pretty moving stuff, actually. Several tough dilemmas are deftly handled by a master storyteller.
December 26, 2008
This book was recommended to me by Kaitlyn...thanks, Katy! I love animals (I cried for days after I ran over a baby bird in my car) and reading about a rescue facility was just right up my alley-it made me want to start a rescue mission of my own!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews