I decided to help out with this blog tour because I have a 12 year-old boy who I thought would enjoy the book. I'll share his thoughts here as well as mine.

We both loved the way this book started out fast. It starts with a dog, who doesn't even know she's a dog, on the run, trying to figure out what's going on. She's got super strength, the mind of a human, but no clue where she's from or how she got this way. She wants to communicate and has a feeling it's possible, but can't quite figure out how to make that happen.

Chance was a boy that tugged at my emotions. He's in a group home because his mother is an addict and I wanted him to have his life straightened out for him so bad. When he met Chance it took him on an adventure that I think he kind of needed. Not that he needed more danger in his life, but an adventure and new friends definitely took his mind off of his reality.

My kid liked the mystery of Wild's backstory. She kept having flashbacks to confrontations with a soldier and also being with a small girl with pink tennis shoes. He loved the intrigue in not knowing what Wild's real backstory was.

They eventually team up with a hacker named Junebug who figures out how to talk to Wild and gives them a place to hideout. The rest of the book is a wild (lol) ride where so much more is going on that what we ever thought.

I think the best part of this story is that there's no downtime. It's a book you want to read in one sitting because STUFF IS ALWAYS HAPPENING. Also, as with any book that features a dog, I was scared to death that something would happen to her!! I mean, rationally she's the main character, so she was going to be fine-- but I've been fooled before!!!

OVERALL: We thought this book was fun and a WILD ride. We think you should take a CHANCE on this book if you like adventure and animals. Okay, I'm done pun-ing you to death!!

I have this book the stars, but if I would have been a middle grade reader, it would have been much higher. Middle school readers are going to love this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Wild & Chance

Author: Allen Zadoff

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

Genre: MG Sci-Fi

Recommended Age: 10+ (some adult topics mentioned like drug abuse, slight violence, some scary moments)

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 256

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Sit. Speak. Survive the chase.



A girl wakes up trapped on a sinking ship with no memory of who she is and nothing but her instinct to survive. She fights her way to freedom, only to discover two incredible facts: She is a dog, and she can understand human speech. She soon befriends a thirteen-year-old boy named Chance who gives her a name of her own-Wild.



But Wild and Chance find themselves running for their lives, pursued by relentless Animal Control officers. Joined by a mysterious hacker girl named Junebug, the unlikely trio fights for survival while trying to solve the mystery of Wild's extraordinary strength, superintelligence, and high-tech collar.



Equal parts heart-pounding action and heartfelt journey, Wild & Chancegrabs the reader from page one and never lets go.

Review: I thought this was a very cute book overall. I loved the inner voice of the dog and I loved the story. I thought the book did well to tackle big issues that, unfortunately, children are facing. The characters were all well developed, the world building was fantastic, and I absolutely fell in love with how easy the writing felt and read.

The only issues I had with the book is that I thought that sometimes, like when talking about the mother’s drug addiction, that the book was a bit too adult for some middle graders, but these are very important issues that effect children and I think they need to be discussed.

Verdict: It was a great read!