Out of the Wild (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: pumpkin spell, apple coach, thorn barrier, Sleeping Beauty, Sarah Beth Durst, Grand Canyon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–6—Like a television show that loses steam in its second season, Durst's sequel to Into the Wild (Penguin, 2007) seems less fresh and therefore not as much fun as the original. Once again, 12-year-old Julie struggles to control the fairy-tale world imprisoned under her bed. Most of her family has escaped the nightmarish, repetitive life of fairy tales and are happy to try to exist in the real world, but when The Wild spits her father out, his unfamiliarity with life outside jeopardizes the future of the world. He's Rapunzel's prince and only knows about rescuing princesses, so Julie must protect him as she tries to attend to her friendships and a budding romance. Even readers who relished the first book will probably find this one stale.—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
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Review

This puzzle-like yarn seamlessly spans time and space, reality and fantasy. Fairy-tale-savvy readers will enjoy the inside jokes and be impressed by the overall intelligence of the writing. -- Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (June 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595141596
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141590
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,068 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively and suspenseful, August 6, 2008

By	Kidsreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Julie Marchen is an ordinary 12-year-old. That is, if an ordinary 12-year-old has Rapunzel for a mother, Puss-in-Boots as an adopted brother --- and has successfully defeated the dark forces of the Wild, a fairy tale enchanted forest that wants to take over the world and change everyone into mindless characters forever looping through fairy tale plots. Julie is so relieved to have the Wild safely contained under her bed and life back to normal.

Unfortunately, all that changes when Puss-in-Boots and his girlfriend chase three blind mice through the house. One mouse accidentally falls right into the green vines of the Wild beneath Julie's bed. The Wild engulfs him, making Julie and her mother, Rapunzel, crazy with fear. After all, the Wild now has a fairy tale character --- and it will grow. But instead of growing, the Wild tosses forth a person they both know. It's Julie's dad, Rapunzel's prince, who Julie regretfully had to leave in the Wild when she defeated it.

Julie is stunned and thrilled. But Rapunzel, who hasn't seen Prince in five centuries, is shocked speechless. Joy finally dawns, but Rapunzel won't let herself cry because she wept at the end of her fairy tale. If she was in the Wild, her tears would trigger an eternal cycle of living through that story again and again and again.

The family's bliss doesn't last long, however. They ride (Prince has problems fitting his sword into their Volkswagen) to the downtrodden Wishing Well Motel, home to Rapunzel's witch mother, Dame Gothel. Grandma is no longer evil, although she's cantankerous. She's also puzzled. Why would the Wild release Prince...or anyone? Before she can do more than voice her concerns, Bobbi, Cinderella's fairy godmother, comes rushing in with the news that Sleeping Beauty is in terrible danger. The princess is napping, and her thorns are growing out of control.

Julie's dad is a prince who can never resist helping a damsel in distress. Bobbi informs him that Sleeping Beauty's own prince refuses to awaken and rescue her (because he's "moved on"). Dad is outraged. Despite Rapunzel and Julie's warnings that he will not only fuel the Wild by acting out part of the Sleeping Beauty tale but he also might give away the family's secret identity, he charges off to wake her. Very soon, however, a princess is kidnapped and evil spells have been cast. Before you can say "Bibbity bobbity boo!" Julie is flying off (by broomstick and by bath mat) on an urgent quest across the country. Can she save her family and the world just one more time?

OUT OF THE WILD continues the promise of its predecessor, INTO THE WILD, complete with fairy tale characters as we've never seen before author Sarah Beth Durst introduced them to us (for instance, Jack of beanstalk fame lives with a talking, cooking cow and Gina, the former giantess). Julie is a spunky, self-deprecating, courageous and hilarious protagonist. She also struggles with issues regarding boys and family that any girl can relate to. The plot is lively and suspenseful, with a surprise twist that leads to a heartwarming, thought-provoking conclusion, giving us a great read that is magical on many levels.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As wonderful as the first!, July 21, 2008

By	Woglet (South Jordan, UT USA) - See all my reviews

I adored Into the Wild, and was just as thrilled with the sequel. Really, it's a continuation of the first story, with revelations about exactly who and why someone released the Wild in the first book, and a very satisfying conclusion. I adore all the characters, and am terribly impressed with Durst's encyclopedic knowledge of fairy tales. Goodness! I fancied myself a fairy tale fan, but this book proved how little (and how affected by Disney!) my fairy tale skills are! A fun, fun book!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, June 27, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

Life is starting to get back to what Julie Marchen is used to. The Wild is safely contained and back under her bed. Most of the fairytale characters, and the humans who took their places for a time, seem to be readjusting as well as can be expected. Until everything changes.

While attempting to escape from Puss and Boots, one of the Three Blind Mice gets sucked into The Wild, and Julie and her mother expect the worst. Instead of growing larger, The Wild spits out Julie's dad!

Julie is thrilled and her mother is just plain shocked. Everything will be perfect now! Except for her dad constantly running out to rescue damsels in distress, and his inability to function under the radar in the regular world, and his refusal to trust Julie's grandmother. (So what if she used to be evil? She's not anymore!)

Apparently there's a difference between choosing to escape from The Wild and being forcibly removed from it. And it's beginning to seem like The Wild knew what it was doing. Every time Prince, the name Julie's dad chose for himself, performs a fairytale-like act (which would be just about everything he does), The Wild grows.

Now it's up to Julie and some strange, some new, mostly completely unexpected friends to save the world. Again.

I loved this book even more than the last title, INTO THE WILD! This one is non-stop from page one. I felt almost breathless reading it! And nearly as exhausted at the end as I imagine Julie was. As unreal, and hilarious, as pretty much all of the situations are, you still feel like you're right there experiencing all of it.

Happily ever after is a dangerous concept.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman