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by Alex Mallory
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: July 8, 2014
The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving— that’s all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he’s the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger…
Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy— he’s stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion.
Thrust back into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he’s not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it.
As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade’s past tear them apart?
A YA Tarzan retelling.
Cade is my favorite part of this book. His character is so interesting and I love that even though he has a Tarzan vibe he’s not raised by wild animals. I love this modern twist on the character and it made me really like the story. He has basic knowledge of the world but for him coming out of the woods is like entering his own version of Wonderland. His parents had lied to him about most things. They told him the world had been wiped out and now he has to deal with the fact that they have lied to him as well as how to live with this new realization. So much character development!
Dara is a stubborn and curious girl. She has grown up with her father running the sheriffs office so of course some of it is inherited. I liked that she dedicated herself to helping Cade even if it made her reckless at times. It’s kind of like she felt lost but then found her purpose.
I was getting so ticked at the Police Department, seriously you are more focused on your lunch then a tip about a boy that has made national headlines. Come on. All those people should be fired. Seriously I was yelling at them in my head.
I loved the relationships in this book. The fact that Dara and Josh are falling apart and that Dara and Cade are building up. Sofia’s friendship with Dara that turns into friendship with Cade. Even the strained relationship between Dara and her sister Lia. There were so many different types of relationships represented in the book. It made it even more interesting to read.
Ya there is romance but it’s subtle and sweet. It develops throughout the book. No dying love proclaimed an instant. More attraction develops out of fascination. Then we move through the stages.
Like I mentioned I really liked the plot and how things played out. Cade is indeed a man of mystery but not just to the world but to himself too. I liked how we go along with the process of finding out who he really is along with the characters. There is nothing I like more than a little mystery.
So for a retelling I thought this was very creative and a good read. If you are looking for an updated version of Tarzan, I would recommend Wild.
So this playlist was a little harder. I felt like I couldn't find all that I was looking for to sum up the book. It is mostly songs about Josh/Dara or Cade/Dara. I did put a song called Wild because I felt like I need one.:)
Alex Mallory is a pen name for YA author Saundra Mitchell. She’s a big fan of reading, history, camping and competitive M&M sorting.
She once crossed a dilapidated train trestle in the middle of the night, 200 feet above the Wabash River, in a futile attempt to prove her love to someone who had no idea she existed.
1) She lived to tell about it. 2) It didn’t work. 3) She doesn’t recommend it.
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