Into the Wild
Sarah Beth Durst
Hardcover
(Razorbill, June 21, 2007)
The Wild is a fairy-tale world -- at least it was until the fairy-tale characters escaped -- but lately it's just a mass of hungry vines stuffed under Julie's bed. Julie, her mom Rapunzel (yep, that Rapunzel -- think long hair, tower, prince), and her brother Puss-in-Boots (okay, he's a cat) do their best to keep it hidden and under control. But Julie's sick of living with the Wild -- it eats her jeans and sneakers whenever it wants! Junior high is tough enough, even with a normal family. When someone makes a dangerous wish that sets the Wild free, it grows and grows and quickly begins to devour Julie's entire Massachusetts town. The Wild is hungry, and this time it wants its characters back for good. Julie must venture deep into the Wild and outsmart wicked witches, feisty giants, and super-cute princes in the ultimate quest to save her family. She fights her way to the heart of the fairy tale and discovers she must risk everything or lose her chance to live in the real world... and if Julie can't find a way to defeat the happily-ever-after, she'll never see her family again. Sarah Beth Durst weaves a postmodern fairy tale that's fresh, funny, and sweetly poignant.