Wild Born (Spirit Animals Series #1)

by Brandon Mull

Overview

#1 New York Times bestseller Brandon Mull launches Scholastic's brand-new multiplatform phenomenon.

Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts - a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children - and the world - have been changed forever.

Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers . . . and on you.

Part engrossing book series, part action role-playing game - discover your spirit animal and join the adventure in Fall 2013.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545602709
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/10/2013
Series:	Spirit Animals Series , #1
Edition description:	Audio Library
Pages:	3
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Brandon Mull is the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the Five Kingdoms, Fablehaven, and Beyonders series. As a kid, he had a dog, a cat, a horse, some goldfish (won at a school carnival), and briefly a tarantula (captured in his neighborhood). He now lives in Utah with his wife, four kids, and the family dog. Learn more about him at brandonmull.com.

Editorial Reviews

12/01/2013
Gr 4–7—Four very different 11 year olds in a fantasy world named Erdas are called to take the Elixir, a potion administered by the Greencloaks to determine whether the children have special powers and can summon an animal spirit. The ritual is something every child goes through between ages 11 and 12, but very few are successful. When Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan all summon rare and powerful animals, it is a sign that dark forces are about to threaten the stability of Erdas and that they will become part of the forces needed to respond. While the story starts a bit slowly and spends a fair amount of time introducing the protagonists, it picks up when Meilin's city is attacked and she is spirited away. From that point on, the fast-paced action will hold the attention of listeners. Nicola Barber does a stellar job of narrating Mull's tale (Scholastic, 2013). Her slight changes in inflection for each character contribute to the quality of the audiobook. This will be extremely popular in school and public library settings and especially useful for reluctant readers.—John R. Clark, Hartland Public Library, ME

School Library Journal - Audio

★ 01/27/2014
Set in the world of Erdas, this first book in Mull’s new series follows four young children who drink magical Nectar and discover that they have spirit animals—a wolf, a leopard, a panda, and a falcon. As Greencloaks (those in possession of spirit animals), the four children must band together to stop a dark force known as the Devourer that threatens Erdas once again. Expertly narrated by Barber, this audio edition transports listeners to a magical and dangerous world. Barber’s reading is surprisingly understated, but entirely effective. Her subtle characterizations are accurate, believable, and unique. Fun for both young and old, listening becomes a compulsion with Barber at the helm of this wild ride. Ages 8–12. A Scholastic hardcover. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Audio

Mull (the Beyonders books) kicks off the multiplatform Spirit Animals series with an exciting first installment (volume two arrives in January 2014, written by Maggie Stiefvater). In the world of Erdas, 11-year-olds must all drink the Nectar to see if they have the rare ability to summon a spirit animal. Greencloaks, those with spirit animals, are an important order that helped defeat the Devourer hundreds of years ago, with help from four Great Beasts who gave their lives to protect Erdas. Now, there are signs that the Devourer may return; meanwhile, four children from around the world shock themselves and those around them when they summon the four Fallen Beasts. Mull carves out each distinct hero in spare prose that moves the story quickly forward (along with several animal- and superpower-driven action sequences) as Meilin, Connor, Rollan, and Abeke forge relationships with their spirit animals and decide where they stand in the imminent war. Readers eager to spend more time in Erdas (and find their own spirit animals) can do so in an online game that ties into the series. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Spirit Animals

A New York Times bestseller

"Mull kicks off the multiplatform Spirit Animals series with an exciting first installment." —Publishers Weekly

"Mull masterfully draws readers in . . . [they] will have a hard time putting this book down." —School Library Journal

"An insightful look at what it means to be a hero, with the glory it brings and the sacrifice it demands. The accompanying game offers an exciting off-page experience." —Kirkus

From the Publisher

10/01/2013
Gr 4–7—In the world of Erdas, when children turn 11, they drink Nectar in order to see if they will have a spirit animal. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan are chosen, and, with their spirit animals-a wolf, a leopard, a panda, and a falcon-they must summon the Four Fallen, Great Beasts that gave their lives many years earlier to defeat the Devourer. Now the Devourer is back, and the children have to use their animal powers to defeat it. Minions of the Devourer are hot on their trail and will do anything to stop them from succeeding. This story has a well-developed plot and likable, well-rounded characters. Mull masterfully draws readers into Erdas with his fast-paced scenes. His writing is smooth and easily transitions between characters' points of view without causing confusion. Fans of Mull's Fablehaven (S & S, 2007), Peter Lerangis's The Colossus Rises (HarperCollins, 2013), or other page-turning fantasy adventures will have a hard time putting this book down.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

School Library Journal

Nicola Barber provides an engaging narration of the first book in the Spirit Animals series. This book focuses on the children—Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan—who summon the Four Fallen as their spirit animals. The children come from very different parts of Erdas, and Barber provides each one with a distinct accent and cadence. Meilin and Abeke have more confidence, while the boys Conor and Rollan are portrayed with more hesitancy as they struggle to connect with their spirit animals. Barber portrays the Green Cloaks with more authority and sets up the next book in this series with a fine action scene. E.N. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2014 - AudioFile

The appearance of the Four Fallen Great Beasts in Erdas signals the re-emergence of an evil power long forgotten. In the tradition of Erdas, four 11-year-olds are given Nectar, a substance designed to help them call their spirit animals. Conor, an indentured servant, calls Briggan the wolf. Uraza the leopard answers the call of the young warrior, Abeke. Jhi the panda comes to Meilin, the daughter of a Zhongese general. Rollan, a poor street urchin, calls Essix the falcon. With the assistance of the Greencloaks, a powerful but secretive order, the four must learn to bond with their spirit animals, drawing strength and wisdom from their gifts. Their mission is to retrieve the talismans from the other Great Beasts before the Devourer can regain power and destroy the world. Constructed in the tradition of The 39 Clues, this fast-paced new series will be penned by various well-known authors. Unfortunately, flat characters and a predictable plot are evidence that this first installment lacks Mull's usual creativity and humor. A companion website promising a multimedia experience invites readers to be paired with their own spirit animals. Should satisfy readers hungry for a new fantasy series. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews