Rewilding

by Lisa Gerlits, Savanna Durr (Illustrator)

Overview

Joy, an eleven-year-old often called "Bruiser" by her dad, isn't as tough as she appears.

With her dad gone and her mom falling into depression, the responsibility of managing the household and caring for her younger brother, Ian, falls on her small shoulders. She struggles with the reality of wearing old clothes that no longer fit and constantly dealing with Ian's hunger. Joy lives in fear that the school counselor might contact Child Protective Services due to their situation.

One day, a baby bird falls from its nest, reminding Joy of her dad's warning, "You don't know your own strength." Desperate for help, Joy strikes a deal with their quirky neighbor, Ezzie, known as the "Ark Lady." Through this new relationship, Joy, Ian, and her friend embark on a journey to restore the garden. In the process, they discover the concept of "rewilding," which brings unexpected beauty and healing. This experience leads Joy to question her father's views, opening her eyes to new possibilities and strengths within herself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798991123709
Publisher:	Red Chair Press
Publication date:	08/05/2025
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 9 Years

About the Author

Lisa Gerlits is an award-winning author, muralist, and children's art teacher. Her debut novel, A Many Feathered Thing (2020), won the Oregon Spirit Book Award. She lives with her husband and three kids in Silverton, Oregon.

Savanna Durr is an illustrator based in Richmond, VA. She primarily illustrates digitally and focuses on creating representation within her work in the hope that others can look at her art and see themselves.

Editorial Reviews

"A realistic portrayal of a tween doing her best to hold her fractured family together; a poignant must-have for all middle grade collections."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2023-05-01
A young girl examines her role as a middle child on a trip to the beach with her chaotic family in Prior’s novel for young readers.

Emma isn’t big, and she isn’t little: She’s right in the middle, with two brothers, one older and one younger. When she and her family go on vacation to the beach, Emma decides she’s no longer interested in squishing between her siblings in the car with none of the privileges of her older brother, nicknamed Big, and none of the coddling of her younger brother, known as Little. No, Emma is going to be big simply by acting as if she’s grown up, even if it means abandoning her best friend and fellow middle child, Wes the Best, while on vacation. She puts on lipstick and speaks like adults she’s seen on TV, but her mature act ends in disaster. Next, Emma tries a new tack and decides to pretend to be little instead; that doesn’t go according to plan either. Emma is at a loss as to what she should do next when assistance with her “dilEmma” comes from an unexpected corner. The solution is fairly simple and predictable, but it teaches a valuable lesson about embracing one’s personality and learning to appreciate what makes one unique, and it holds together well. That said, the story could have used some fleshing out, as its length is awkwardly short for the presumed 6- or 7-year-old audience, who may already be gravitating toward longer books, such as the Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi Michiko Florence or the JD the Kid Barberbooks by J. Dillard. Kissi’s full-color cover and black-and-white cartoonlike illustrations depict Emma and her family as Black.

A straightforward, if perhaps overly simple, early chapter book about middle childhood.

Kirkus Reviews