"I believe in possibility. Of magic, of omens, of compasses, of love. Some of it's a little bit true." Sixteen-year-old Tal is a Wanderer, a grifter whose life is built around the sound of wheels on the road, the customs of her camp, and the artful scams that keep her fed. With her brother, Wen, by her side, it's the only life she's ever known. It's the only one she's ever needed. Then, in a sleepy Southern town, the queen of cons picks the wrong mark when she meets Spencer Sway-the clean-cut Socially Secured boy who ends up hustling her instead of the other way around. For the first time, she sees a reason to stay. As her obligations to the camp begin to feel like a prison sentence, the pull to leave tradition behind has never been so strong. But the Wanderers live by signs, and all the signs all say that Tal and Spencer will end disaster and grief. Is a chance at freedom worth almost certain destruction? Wandering Wild is an achingly romantic journey of tradition and self-discovery-a magical debut.
"A moving portrayal of young love, family, and hope, a combination that steals your heart on every page."
John Corey Whaley, Michael L. Printz Award winner and National Book Award finalist
"The unlikely romance at the core of the novel is charmingly realistic . . . The strength of this debut novel is in the tantalizing development of character and setting as the story unfolds and Tal seeks her path in life."
Kirkus Reviews
"Jessica Taylor's prose is exquisite, her characters authentic, and her plot imaginative. Tal is brave, flawed, and clever-a YA heroine who won't soon be forgotten!"
Julie Murphy, New York Times bestselling author of Side Effects May Vary and Dumplin'
