Author: Richard Roberts
Publication Date: October 2011
Length: about 344 pages (ebook)
Wild Children is almost like a collection of related, longish short stories. It is divided into acts, which follow different characters, though there's overlap between them. In each act, we learn the stories of children who became wild children. It's said that becoming a wild child is punishment for sinning, and the type of animal they become and the degree of the change depends on the type and severity of their sins, but it's the big, powerful church saying that, and it's not clear how much of what they say is true.
Some of the main characters include Bray, a Donkey Girl who can't accept her lot in life; Hind, a Donkey Girl who seems strangely satisfied with her life as a rich man's pet; Coo, a Dove who provides spirtual guidance to other wild children; Jinx, a Cat who falls in love with a Donkey; Left and Right, twin wild children; and Elijah, probably my favourite, a religious man who is convinced that the church is right, until he starts turning into a wild child and everything he believes is brought into question.
What was interesting in this book was the philosophical aspect, the exploration of what it means to be a wild child. Along the way, many characters answer this question, and all have different answers. This was an interesting and unique read.
4 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
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