Family

Eleven year old Zoe doesn't have a family.  At least not anymore.  Her mother has just died after a long battle with mental illness.  Her biological father has never been in the picture, instead Zoe has dealt with a parade of pseudo fathers-aka the men who are dating her mother.

The start of Clay Carmichael's Wild Things shows Zoe coming to live with her Uncle Henry.  Uncle Henry is by all accounts a cool dude.  He is a very good looking surgeon turned artist who lives on the outskirts of town.  Zoe doesn't trust anyone, but she finds herself wanting to trust Henry.

Uncle Henry is just the first of a series of unique and utterly wonderful characters.  My favorite part of this book was that it captured the way very different people can come together in deep, lifelong friendships.  Friends that are really more like family.

In a fun twist this book is told from two perspectives.  Zoe, who is clever, independent and very feisty and a stray cat who hangs around Uncle Henry's house.  The cat is older, more cautious but still curious about all the comings and goings of the house.

Things really get interesting when Zoe finds a cabin in the woods and starts to befriend a boy who is truly wild.  He seems completely at home in the forest and can move as swift and quiet as any animal.  Who is this boy?  More importantly, is this the place Zoe can finally call home?  You'll just have to read it and find out.  Trust me, it is very worth the read.

Finding your family...that's kids stuff.