Two friends atone and heal in this endearing, lighthanded redemption story. Lorentz could easily have gone too whimsical or preachy, but the right balance is struck in this cozy book about finding friendship and contentment.

Once again, Dayna Lorentz hits it out of the park with this heartwarming YA novel about a boy named Gabe and a coyote named Rill. Much like in her other recent, awesome book Of A Feather, the narrative style features alternating chapters voiced by these two main protagonists, one human, one animal. I absolutely love this narrative progression.

And again, like in Of A Feather, there is something to be learned beyond just the fascinating details shared about coyote life. The restorative justice system is fleshed out as Gabe learns how to restore the damage his actions have caused his local community. I wish and hope that the restorative justice system works as well in real life as it does in this fiction!

I enjoyed this book. Ideal for upper key stage two or lower key stage three. The messages portrayed are clear and the story of redemption for children to understand is laid out well. I think the lessons learned are well demonstrated.

This graphic novel was hilarious and well-drawn, definitely worth the money and the hype, and I hope will be successful!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a wonderful story about restorative justice and how taking responsibility for your actions can be life changing. What a fantastic book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. It is such an amazing and inspiring book. I love the lesson but also the broadness of the solution. Reading this has made me think about expanding my solutions to problems as well by including and accepting help from others.

Wayward Creatures is a really interesting dual narrative between a boy who is facing a lot and lashes out as a result- resulting in a lot of unintended consequences- and the coyote who his actions directly affect. I wasn't sure I would enjoy a novel written half in the point of view of a coyote, but it worked much better than I thought! More importantly, this novel is a really good depiction of how challenging middle school and family issues can be, without ever talking down to the intended readers or assuming they know more (or less) than they really do. The discussion of a restorative justice program was pitch-perfect- it doesn't mean that someone is absolved, but has the chance to seek absolution and forgive themself as well as seeking forgiveness. I would absolutely hand this to an upper elementary or middle school student and think that the gentle prose and really interesting perspectives would go over well. Four stars (maybe 4,5 if I were more of the target audience... and it did make me sniffle!)

I was late to get to this one but had to come back and share a quick, positive review. I have purchased it for my elementary library and already know a few students in particular who I feel will thoroughly enjoy it. With my library budget being what it is (dismal), purchasing a book speaks volumes. Highly recommended for elementary and middle school libraries.

Wayward Creatures is a very sweet and endearing read. It will be a great addition to my library and classroom libraries.

A heartrending story of the law of unintentional consequences. Gabe is at that age where everything around him is changing, his family is too busy for him, his friends are growing apart from him as their lives change, and Gabe is feeling very neglected and alone. One seemingly innocuous act affects not only his life, but the lives of people and animals around him. My heart just broke for Gabe and those affected by his bid for attention

I work as a wildlife rehabilitator when I'm not selling books and WAYWARD CREATURES had so many notes about the human-animal relationship that rang true. Rill and Gabe's relationship is heartfelt as they find ways to grow together. Lorentz's writing is lulling and pulls you in. Definitely one I will recommend.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. They become unlikely friends when a lonely and somewhat lost boy meets a displaced, lonely, and somewhat lost coyote.

A heartrending story of the law of unintentional consequences. Gabe is at that age where everything around him is changing, his family is too busy for him, his friends are growing apart from him as their lives change, and Gabe is feeling very neglected and alone. One seemingly innocuous act affects not only his life, but the lives of people and animals around him. My heart just broke for Gabe and those affected by his bid for attention.
Great addition to a library. Readers of books such as Pax, or War Horse, to name a couple, will appreciate this story. Well written tale sure to make an impression on those who read it.

This is a sweet, thoughtful story about a boy and a coyote pup and the actions that lead them to cross paths. The story is set into motion due to a forest fire caused by a mistake made by the main character, Gabe. I really appreciated the way the author dealt with Gabe's angry and the side characters he encountered as he made reparations for his actions. The story of Rill the coyote was also endearing and interesting. Any middle grader with a love of animals would be sucked in by this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in return for a fair and honest review.

I don't always like books with animal characters. They can give the animals too much human personality. Lorentz has kept Rill fairly true to her animal reality. While she "talks" with other animals, most of her behavior is true to her species. and her story is mostly meant to reinforce the messaging we see in Gabe's plot, how a single bad decision made in a moment of frustration can send us down a spiral of bad behavior. And how when people see that "bad" thing, it colors all future interactions. It's compelling reading and is well balanced with ideas of true justice.

Oof, this one tugs at the heart strings. This was a beautiful story about Gabe who gets himself into trouble trying to impress his friends and that trouble has some large consequences. This story made me ugly cry, Gabe does such a tremendous job of growing and learning throughout this story. I love how all of his actions have a ripple effect.

I think this book would be a great addition to any library and I have already told my colleagues and customers about how amazing this story was. I cannot wait to read more books by Dayna Lorentz.

This is a very cute read. It has a lot of heart to it and is definitely one that I could bring into the classroom. There is a lot that you can take from this beautiful story, and I would absolutely recommend it!

This is a beautiful story about how one boys misguided actions impact his entire community. Gabe, a seventh grade boy, feels alone. His family life is chaotic and his former best friends have made new friends through a soccer league. When trying to gain back his friends by impressing them with stolen fireworks, Gabe accidentally starts a forest fire. His friends flee and Gabe is left alone to face the fallout of his actions. While completing community service, Gabe's path crosses with that of a young coyote, named Rill, who was injured from the fire and is also alone. The game warden ends up taking Rill away and Gabe, feeling responsible for Rill's predicament, works to get her freed. In a touching story about restorative justice (making things right), Gabe learns that he is not alone and that he has the power to make a change for the better.

I recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students to help teach about anger management, restorative justice, and the connection between self and others. The story of Rill, built into the novel with alternating chapters between Rill and Gabe, helps to draw attention to the fact that human choices impact the lives of animals. It shows that all animals have an important place in nature that humans need to respect.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #ClarionBooks for an ARC of #WaywardCreatures by #DaynaLorentz in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Wayward Creatures by Dayna Lorentz.

Rill is a coyote who is a year older than all her brothers and sisters and feels like she has to be in charge of everything about them. Gabe is newly in middle school and his family and everyone around him seems to be ignoring him. When Gabe sets off a firework at Rockridge Park to impress his friends little does he or Rill know how much this will affect them.

I am not the target audience for this story, however, I found it enjoyable. The parts that I often don't find enjoyable as an adult, where teenagers feel misunderstood by everyone, still took place in Wayward Creatures but the book is fast-paced and Lorentz has excellent character growth so it never feels like Gabe isn't making progress out of those feelings.

I really enjoyed the overall theme of restorative justice and responsibility and how your actions have consequences whether you think about them or not. This was a great book and I think it would make for a great read aloud to draw all students in and have some great discussions.