Finding another person who understands you and shares in your passions is a gift. That is what the teenage main characters in Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle find when they run into each other at a public part in the Bay area of California. Ana, who is living out of a car with her mother, meets Leandro, a Cuban immigrant facing trauma from losing his family members in their attempt to immigrate to the U.S. , and they feel their "spark" immediately. Their love for animals continues to connect them even more as they work together with a local wildlife organization to help protect the wild animals living and dying in urban areas. Although they both have emotional baggage, they trust in each other to be caring and open about it in their own way. Engle's writing is like floating high in the air and looking down at these two people trying to make sense of their world. As the point of view changes between Ana and Leandro, the reader is given insight to what the characters are and aren't saying to each other. Engle writes both characters with realism and she doesn't shy away from the flaws that make them human. The animals in the story also bring another level of appreciation to the story. A reader can find out more about these wild animals living amongst humans and get involved in the campaigns to make safe routes of passage for these creatures in urban areas.

Engle’s beautiful novel-in-verse tells the story of Leandro, Ana, and Cielo the singing dog. Leandro, now 17, came to America from Cuba on a raft when he was seven, and he has struggled with anxiety ever since, believing it is his fault that his family had to leave Cuba and that his father died, rescuing Leandro when he fell off the raft. Cielo is his constant companion, soothing the fears that plague him.

Ana and her mother are struggling to make ends meet: at the beginning of the story, they are unhoused, living in a car. Ana’s father abandoned them years ago and is now wanted by the FBI for his terrorist actions.

Leandro and Ana both love the beauty of northern California that surrounds them, and they become increasingly interested in rewilding efforts, especially when they become aware of a puma roaming far too close to their neighborhood. As they start a rewilding club at their school, they are drawn closer and closer to one another, falling in love as they research wildlife crossings to reconnect the pumas native to their area that have been separated by freeways.

Engle’s poetry is gorgeous, and her work is infused with her own life experiences as a Cuban-American (as was the case with her memoir-in-verse Enchanted Air). She was inspired by the Wallis Annenberg Crossing near Los Angeles, which broke ground on Earth Day 2022 and will be the world’s largest wildlife crossing. Her novel-in-verse depicts young love, the immigrant experience, the blessings and challenges of family, and a deep concern for the natural world we live in.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

Will also be posted at https://threeheads.works/category/blog/ya-books/ on June 3, 2024.

Just as a note, the formatting of this novel on Adobe Digital Editions made it hard to read, and may have contributed to a lower rating.

I really struggled with this one, mostly because I think I just wasn't sure who the target age demographic for this was. I went in thinking it was middle grade, but it just felt older so I wasn't really in the right head space as I was working my way through it.

This was a super fun and fast read. It was not what I was expecting it to be but I think that made it even better. Its written in verse which I think helps in the "quick read" department, there also weren't a lot of pages. Even though it was short I felt like we got a good glimpse of the characters and what they were going and growing through. I loved the cultural similarities of the main characters that brought them together but other than that the things they were dealing with were very, very different. I appreciated that and thought it gave the story a more realistic depth.

Thank you Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Margarita Engle's "Wild Dreamers" is a beautifully written YA love story that combines themes of love, trauma, and eco-activism in a wonderfully crafted novel-in-verse format. Set against the backdrop of contemporary America, the story follows Ana and Leandro, two teenagers grappling with their own personal struggles and the complexities of their developing relationship.

Ana's Cuban-born father has become an extremist, forcing her and her mother into homelessness. When Ana crosses paths with Leandro in the park, their encounter, facilitated by Leandro's therapy dog, Cielo, sets off a chain of events that leads to unexpected connections and opportunities. As Ana's mother finds employment with Leandro's uncle at a nursery, Ana and Leandro's relationship deepens, intertwined with their shared passion for nature and eco-activism.

Engle's use of dual perspectives allows you to delve into the inner worlds of Ana, Leandro, and even Cielo, providing insight into their backgrounds and motivations. I really loved learning more about the characters and their inner thoughts through the multiple perspectives. I think it really added to their development and made the characters feel more realistic. All three characters share a profound connection to nature, which becomes a central theme throughout the novel, and you can see the characters come together due to this. The discussions on conservation and the relationship between humanity and the natural world add depth and relevance to the story, elevating it beyond a simple romance. The romance itself felt well-developed; it didn’t feel rushed at all and it felt real. Plus, it didn’t overwhelm the focus on conservation, which is a real strength and something a lot of YA romance authors struggle with when making sure the romance doesn’t take over the book.

I think my favorite aspect of the book was the novel-in-verse format. The concrete poetry adds a lyrical quality to the book, enhancing the emotional impact of the story. Engle masterfully blends culture, nature, and deep introspection, creating a vivid and immersive reading experience. I absolutely love novels-in-verse, and Engle’s writing definitely brought this format to life throughout the book. I was loved by the poetry the entire time I was reading.

The ending did feel a bit rushed, making me wish for more development. Overall though, "Wild Dreamers" is a powerful and timely read that offers a refreshing take on love, resilience, and the importance of preserving the natural world.

“If we don’t rewild half of the Earth, we’ll lose biodiversity, millions of species gone forever.”
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Ana’s mother was able to come to the United States while her Cuban-born father became an extremist and has gone into hiding. Ana and her mother are currently unhoused, living in the park. When Ana meets Leandro it’s in the path of a puma. Thanks to Cielo, Leandro’s therapy dog, the two are able to connect and it ultimately leads to Ana’s mother getting a job with Leandro’s uncle at a nursery.
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This was a timeless YA love story that also deals heavily with eco-activism. I loved the dual POV novel-in-verse with concrete poetry throughout. This book is out now.

CW: climate change (theme), immigration issues, death of a parent, attempted kidnapping, extremism, animal death (referenced to), homelessness

4 stars

Margarita Engle knows how to blend culture, nature, and deep thinkers in verse, and this most recent effort is a particularly vivid example of Engle's skills in all of these areas (and more).

Ana, Leandro, and Cielo the dog provide perspectives on the burgeoning love story between the two human characters. Each has a complicated backstory that haunts them in extremely distinct ways in the present, and this makes their love for each other even stronger. While their experiences are not identical, they're all familiar with trauma, struggle, and fear. They also share a love for nature which comes through in their intentional and organic pastimes. I really enjoyed the discussions about conservation, protection, and generally what is considered the right way to approach nature. Yes, this is a romance between two characters, but in many ways, it's a love story between all three characters and nature, and this adds so much to the overall power of the book.

The ending wraps quickly, and I'd have loved to get a bit more development throughout, but is there a more complimentary critique available than "I wish I had more of this?" Exactly. It's a powerful and timely book, and many readers will find it a refreshing take. I know I did.