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Wild Blue Wonder
There are two monsters in this story. One of them is me.
Ask anyone in Winship, Maine, and they’ll tell you the summer camp Quinn’s family owns is a magical place. Paper wishes hang from the ceiling. Blueberries grow in the dead of winter. According to local legend, a sea monster even lurks off the coast. Mostly, there’s just a feeling that something extraordinary could happen there.
Like Quinn falling in love with her best friend, Dylan.
After the accident, the magic drained from Quinn’s life. Now Dylan is gone, the camp is a lonely place, and Quinn knows it’s her fault.
But the new boy in town, Alexander, doesn’t see her as the monster she believes herself to be. As Quinn lets herself open up again, she begins to understand the truth about love, loss, and monsters—real and imagined.
Ask anyone in Winship, Maine, and they’ll tell you the summer camp Quinn’s family owns is a magical place. Paper wishes hang from the ceiling. Blueberries grow in the dead of winter. According to local legend, a sea monster even lurks off the coast. Mostly, there’s just a feeling that something extraordinary could happen there.
Like Quinn falling in love with her best friend, Dylan.
After the accident, the magic drained from Quinn’s life. Now Dylan is gone, the camp is a lonely place, and Quinn knows it’s her fault.
But the new boy in town, Alexander, doesn’t see her as the monster she believes herself to be. As Quinn lets herself open up again, she begins to understand the truth about love, loss, and monsters—real and imagined.
368 pages, ebook
First published June 26, 2018
About the author
Carlie Sorosiak
15 books276 followersCarlie Sorosiak is the bestselling author of I, COSMO, as well as two novels for young adults, IF BIRDS FLY BACK and WILD BLUE WONDER. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @carliesorosiak.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
December 21, 2018
This was soooooooooo good. I loved the writing and the characters and the setting SO MUCH. I just finished it but I already want to re-read it???
April 25, 2018
Such a heartbreaking and beautiful book. I read this book in less than 24 hours and pretty much weeper the entire time, but it was exactly what I needed. Definitely my favourite book I’ve read so far this year, and one of my new favourite books of all time. Already looking forward to rereading it. If you like hard hitting contemporaries, please do yourself a favour and pick this one up when it releases this summer.
Read
December 7, 2017Maybe I'm biased, but I quite liked it. Things in this book:
* A love quadrilateral 💙
* Girls in STEM and sports 🔬🏅
* A possible sea monster 🐉
* A girl building a boat with her Nana 💪
* A summer camp in the winter ❄️
* Strong female friendship 👭
* A love quadrilateral 💙
* Girls in STEM and sports 🔬🏅
* A possible sea monster 🐉
* A girl building a boat with her Nana 💪
* A summer camp in the winter ❄️
* Strong female friendship 👭
October 7, 2019
This book is exactly why I love YA so much... 5 stars!
June 29, 2018
4.5 stars
Things I Liked
I absolutely loved the “then” chapters, written as letters to Dylan about their last summer together. It felt so personal and made it so easy to connect with Quinn and see her mindset. It also made it impossible to not fall in love with Dylan too.
I felt like there was such a great progression to the story. Not only with Quinn and Alexander’s friendship turned possibly more, but with Quinn, Reed and Fern’s healing after the tragic loss of someone they all loved deeply.
Things I Didn’t Like
I feel like the story could have had more whimsy and magic. The Hundred is this magical place where animals flee to during a storm and blueberries bloom in the winter, but I feel like we barely scratched the surface of the magic and it was mostly just hints here and there.
Wild Blue Wonder was such a magical story about family and healing. I loved it just as much as her debut, If Birds Fly Back, and highly recommend both for fans or deeply emotional contemporary stories that will pack a punch and tug at your heartstrings.
I received a copy of the book from Harper Teen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
“Scary things and amazing things coexist. The world is full of wildness and wonder. And a lot of it is good.”Wild Blue Wonder is a captivating story about family, forgiveness, and the pain of grief. Quinn is learning to live after the tragic loss of her best friend Dylan the summer before. Quinn blames herself for Dylan’s death and she’s begun to drift from her siblings, who are feeling the loss in their own way. But Quinn is determined to fix something and starts repairing the boat that was the site of the accident that caused so much pain. As Quinn begins to heal, she meets Alexander and starts to face the moster she thinks she’s become.
Things I Liked
I absolutely loved the “then” chapters, written as letters to Dylan about their last summer together. It felt so personal and made it so easy to connect with Quinn and see her mindset. It also made it impossible to not fall in love with Dylan too.
I felt like there was such a great progression to the story. Not only with Quinn and Alexander’s friendship turned possibly more, but with Quinn, Reed and Fern’s healing after the tragic loss of someone they all loved deeply.
Things I Didn’t Like
I feel like the story could have had more whimsy and magic. The Hundred is this magical place where animals flee to during a storm and blueberries bloom in the winter, but I feel like we barely scratched the surface of the magic and it was mostly just hints here and there.
Wild Blue Wonder was such a magical story about family and healing. I loved it just as much as her debut, If Birds Fly Back, and highly recommend both for fans or deeply emotional contemporary stories that will pack a punch and tug at your heartstrings.
I received a copy of the book from Harper Teen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2018
4 stars
"In all camp stories, there are monsters.
In this one, there are two.
The seamonster.
And me.
Wild Blue Wonder was in my top 3 most anticipated YA-books to be released in 2018, and it didn’t disappoint.
If the entire book had been as good as the second half, it would have been a five star for sure. The first half however, left some to be desired for me. The break in enjoyment level was quite noticeable, and even visible in my readingspeed going through this book.
The first few chapters (the setting of the scene and introduction of characters) is great. I am very biased, as I am a sucker for magical realism setting, especially when they include lakes or the sea. I loved the “summercamp in winter-setting” and I think Carlie Sorosiak absolutely nailed the atmosphere for both seasons with this.
Then, between page 50 or so and the halfway point, it started to lag a little for me. Mostly small things that bugged me, but the cumulative result was me not being as excited to pick it up anymore.
One of the things that annoyed me were the very frequent pop-culture references to contemporary movies, TV-shows and books. This is a big risk while writing, as it will instantly date your book, as well as appeal to a very specific agegroup, while locking the rest out.
Even though I think I am in or around this targeted group, even I felt it was too much. There were sections where every page contained 2 references to The Hungergames, Harry Potter or specific Vampiremovie. Even I as a booklover don’t reference books that much, which made it feel a bit forced.
The second part I did not enjoy was the storyline with Alexander. Honestly: WHY? Not only did I lowkey hate his “personality” (absolute stereotype of Charming Brittish Boy)
Then, when I hit the halfway point, I was hooked. We find out what exactly went down last summer, and why Quinn feels the way she does about it. In my opinion, this part was executed extremely well. It had me feeling quite emotional at the right moments, both in happy and sad ways. This is quite an accomplishment for a YA novel these days for me.
I feel all main characters, but especially Fern and Quinn really came to fruition and I actually felt for them and related to them in some way.
Reading this back, it may sound pretty negative, but I only nitpick books that are really close to a 5 star for me like this.
If the 150 middlepages had been as good as the end, or had been cut shorter, it could have been a five star read. Despite some small flaws, there is some extremely good stuff in here. If you are a fan of the heavier kind of YA, this is definitely one I'd recommend.
"In all camp stories, there are monsters.
In this one, there are two.
The seamonster.
And me.
Wild Blue Wonder was in my top 3 most anticipated YA-books to be released in 2018, and it didn’t disappoint.
If the entire book had been as good as the second half, it would have been a five star for sure. The first half however, left some to be desired for me. The break in enjoyment level was quite noticeable, and even visible in my readingspeed going through this book.
The first few chapters (the setting of the scene and introduction of characters) is great. I am very biased, as I am a sucker for magical realism setting, especially when they include lakes or the sea. I loved the “summercamp in winter-setting” and I think Carlie Sorosiak absolutely nailed the atmosphere for both seasons with this.
Then, between page 50 or so and the halfway point, it started to lag a little for me. Mostly small things that bugged me, but the cumulative result was me not being as excited to pick it up anymore.
One of the things that annoyed me were the very frequent pop-culture references to contemporary movies, TV-shows and books. This is a big risk while writing, as it will instantly date your book, as well as appeal to a very specific agegroup, while locking the rest out.
Even though I think I am in or around this targeted group, even I felt it was too much. There were sections where every page contained 2 references to The Hungergames, Harry Potter or specific Vampiremovie. Even I as a booklover don’t reference books that much, which made it feel a bit forced.
The second part I did not enjoy was the storyline with Alexander. Honestly: WHY? Not only did I lowkey hate his “personality” (absolute stereotype of Charming Brittish Boy)
Then, when I hit the halfway point, I was hooked. We find out what exactly went down last summer, and why Quinn feels the way she does about it. In my opinion, this part was executed extremely well. It had me feeling quite emotional at the right moments, both in happy and sad ways. This is quite an accomplishment for a YA novel these days for me.
I feel all main characters, but especially Fern and Quinn really came to fruition and I actually felt for them and related to them in some way.
Reading this back, it may sound pretty negative, but I only nitpick books that are really close to a 5 star for me like this.
If the 150 middlepages had been as good as the end, or had been cut shorter, it could have been a five star read. Despite some small flaws, there is some extremely good stuff in here. If you are a fan of the heavier kind of YA, this is definitely one I'd recommend.
August 19, 2020
I was sent an ARC of this book by HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review
DNF
I unfortunately I did not enjoy this book very much. I have been trying to read it for almost the entire month of May but have felt such a huge disconnect. The writing was just okay and some lines in the book I just thought were kind of odd.
such as,
"Her voice has something in common with razor blades"
"They're like grief boobs or something"
There were some things I did appreciate about this book such as, that periods were brought up as well as the Canadian references within the novel. Overall, I just could not get into this book. The writing style wasn't appealing for me and the characters and the plot weren't anything special in my opinion.
DNF
I unfortunately I did not enjoy this book very much. I have been trying to read it for almost the entire month of May but have felt such a huge disconnect. The writing was just okay and some lines in the book I just thought were kind of odd.
such as,
"Her voice has something in common with razor blades"
"They're like grief boobs or something"
There were some things I did appreciate about this book such as, that periods were brought up as well as the Canadian references within the novel. Overall, I just could not get into this book. The writing style wasn't appealing for me and the characters and the plot weren't anything special in my opinion.
Read
December 31, 2017The main character is obsessed with marine biology, I'm already hooked. I just finished this beauty, WILD BLUE WONDER. I came for the STEM lady (the main character loves marine biology!) and stayed for the cryptids, Moira Fowley Doyle style family dynamics and summer love. 💯💯💯
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May 2, 2018
Stunning and heart wrenching, Wild Blue Wonder is a beautifully written book. Right from the first chapter it is clear that Wild Blue Wonder is magical. Whether it springs from the legends that surround Quinn’s family campground complete with ancient forests and a lake monster or perhaps from the captivating writing style, everything about Wild Blue Wonder seems to glow.
Quinn Sawyer has always known her family’s campground, The Hundreds, was special. But recent events have shown her that even things that seem magical can be dangerous - deadly. Before, the camp was filled with laughter and sunshine. Now her siblings no longer speak to her. Before, water was Quinn’s haven. Now it holds the darkest secrets and the deepest hurts.
Wild Blue Wonder is written in alternating before and after sections. The after are written in first person, with Quinn narrating. It’s winter, The Hundreds is closed for the season, and Quinn is hiding - from her siblings, the town, her future, and her endless guilt. The before sections are written in second person, almost like letters Quinn is writing. In the before sections it is summer, all is well between Quinn and her siblings and the future is full of promise. At first, it’s not clear what happened to separate the before from the after. It’s not clear why Quinn would need to write letters remembering back just six months ago when everything was so different. It’s not clear why Quinn refers to herself as a monster. But as the story slowly unfolds the two different sections work together to fill in the answers to these questions, keeping the tension high, but also giving readers an in-depth understanding of both Quinn’s character and the events that have so dramatically changed her life.
Wild Blue Wonder is really, really beautifully written. Carlie Sorosiak so perfectly captures the magic of the setting, both in the frozen elegance of winter and the glorious lazy days of summer. And this then reflects the message of the story and Quinn’s journey. Similarly, the use of monsters reflects Quinn’s state of mind and processing. But don’t be mislead - Wild Blue Wonder is realistic fiction. Heartbreaking, honest, funny, a little romantic and plenty charming.
Friendship, family, and romance round out this story of grief and self-discovery. Quinn’s friends, both in the before and after, are a huge part of her world, and her growing friendship with Alexander, is very sweet. And he cooks! Quinn’s quirky family are awesome, especially Quinn’s Nanna, who is such a vital part of this story. Each part - Quinn’s friendships, her family relationships, her turmoutlous feelings - are all fleshed out in careful detail. Nothing is rushed or overlooked, giving Wild Blue Wonder a wonderful depth.
Wild Blue Wonder is utterly delightful and the perfect book for readers who enjoy touching YA contemporary about stories of resilience and grief.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Quinn Sawyer has always known her family’s campground, The Hundreds, was special. But recent events have shown her that even things that seem magical can be dangerous - deadly. Before, the camp was filled with laughter and sunshine. Now her siblings no longer speak to her. Before, water was Quinn’s haven. Now it holds the darkest secrets and the deepest hurts.
Wild Blue Wonder is written in alternating before and after sections. The after are written in first person, with Quinn narrating. It’s winter, The Hundreds is closed for the season, and Quinn is hiding - from her siblings, the town, her future, and her endless guilt. The before sections are written in second person, almost like letters Quinn is writing. In the before sections it is summer, all is well between Quinn and her siblings and the future is full of promise. At first, it’s not clear what happened to separate the before from the after. It’s not clear why Quinn would need to write letters remembering back just six months ago when everything was so different. It’s not clear why Quinn refers to herself as a monster. But as the story slowly unfolds the two different sections work together to fill in the answers to these questions, keeping the tension high, but also giving readers an in-depth understanding of both Quinn’s character and the events that have so dramatically changed her life.
Wild Blue Wonder is really, really beautifully written. Carlie Sorosiak so perfectly captures the magic of the setting, both in the frozen elegance of winter and the glorious lazy days of summer. And this then reflects the message of the story and Quinn’s journey. Similarly, the use of monsters reflects Quinn’s state of mind and processing. But don’t be mislead - Wild Blue Wonder is realistic fiction. Heartbreaking, honest, funny, a little romantic and plenty charming.
Friendship, family, and romance round out this story of grief and self-discovery. Quinn’s friends, both in the before and after, are a huge part of her world, and her growing friendship with Alexander, is very sweet. And he cooks! Quinn’s quirky family are awesome, especially Quinn’s Nanna, who is such a vital part of this story. Each part - Quinn’s friendships, her family relationships, her turmoutlous feelings - are all fleshed out in careful detail. Nothing is rushed or overlooked, giving Wild Blue Wonder a wonderful depth.
Wild Blue Wonder is utterly delightful and the perfect book for readers who enjoy touching YA contemporary about stories of resilience and grief.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
August 10, 2018
3.5 stars
Normally I would have given a book like this 4 stars but I'm thinking it deserves a 3.5.
I was really looking forward to reading Wild Blue Wonder having read some very positive reviews about it and summer is my season for reading contemporaries but...I was a bit disappointed by this one. I think the main reason was the pace and plot of the story - I found the beginning section very engaging but then it petered out and became...a bit boring, if I'm being completely honest. I understand contemporaries focus more on the characters and their growth and development but the whole hostility amongst the siblings could have been avoided if they had just spoken to each other! It was so silly and childish - it really frustrated me.
I did like the vast majority of the characters but Fern was a huge pain in the ass and sometimes Quinn annoyed me but the Nan was hilarious and Hana was so adorable. I had a soft spot for Alexander too.
I have read a few books which deal with the same topics (accidental death, blame, guilt, family divide) but this one just didn't capture my attention as much. These are all important topics that should be discussed but unfortunately WBW won't be a book that leaves a lasting impression on me.
Authors whose books I would recommend include Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman and The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan - both deal with loss, guilt, blame, family divide but these were 5 star reads imo.
Normally I would have given a book like this 4 stars but I'm thinking it deserves a 3.5.
I was really looking forward to reading Wild Blue Wonder having read some very positive reviews about it and summer is my season for reading contemporaries but...I was a bit disappointed by this one. I think the main reason was the pace and plot of the story - I found the beginning section very engaging but then it petered out and became...a bit boring, if I'm being completely honest. I understand contemporaries focus more on the characters and their growth and development but the whole hostility amongst the siblings could have been avoided if they had just spoken to each other! It was so silly and childish - it really frustrated me.
I did like the vast majority of the characters but Fern was a huge pain in the ass and sometimes Quinn annoyed me but the Nan was hilarious and Hana was so adorable. I had a soft spot for Alexander too.
I have read a few books which deal with the same topics (accidental death, blame, guilt, family divide) but this one just didn't capture my attention as much. These are all important topics that should be discussed but unfortunately WBW won't be a book that leaves a lasting impression on me.
Authors whose books I would recommend include Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman and The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan - both deal with loss, guilt, blame, family divide but these were 5 star reads imo.
May 9, 2019
Absolutely one of my favorite YAs ever.
February 26, 2019
“but as you know, in all camp stories, there are monsters.
in this one, there are two.
the sea monster.
and me.”
this book is devastatingly beautiful. it’s a novel that will haunt you, in the best and worst of ways. it’s a story worth taking the time to get to know. it will stay with you for many moons. it will make you laugh. it will make you cry. it will make you feel all the things. but after all of it, it will be worth your time.
quinn harbors so much guilt over what happened with her best friend, dylan. she blames herself constantly and thinks herself as nothing but a monster. but through all of that, she finds the best of friends and has a supporting and loving family. i think that’s my favorite thing about this story— that even though her relationship with her siblings was rocky throughout most of this book, they still found a way back to each other. quinn’s family and friends were so precious, especially her nana. honestly, my heart aches all over for this book because it was just so raw with emotion. both good and bad.
life is so short and we all make mistakes. please know that you are worth everything and that to learn is to grow.
friends, wild blue wonder is a book you don’t want to miss out on. it’s a hard hitting, emotional contemporary, so if that’s your thing and you haven’t read this yet, please do yourself a favor and read this.
in this one, there are two.
the sea monster.
and me.”
this book is devastatingly beautiful. it’s a novel that will haunt you, in the best and worst of ways. it’s a story worth taking the time to get to know. it will stay with you for many moons. it will make you laugh. it will make you cry. it will make you feel all the things. but after all of it, it will be worth your time.
quinn harbors so much guilt over what happened with her best friend, dylan. she blames herself constantly and thinks herself as nothing but a monster. but through all of that, she finds the best of friends and has a supporting and loving family. i think that’s my favorite thing about this story— that even though her relationship with her siblings was rocky throughout most of this book, they still found a way back to each other. quinn’s family and friends were so precious, especially her nana. honestly, my heart aches all over for this book because it was just so raw with emotion. both good and bad.
life is so short and we all make mistakes. please know that you are worth everything and that to learn is to grow.
friends, wild blue wonder is a book you don’t want to miss out on. it’s a hard hitting, emotional contemporary, so if that’s your thing and you haven’t read this yet, please do yourself a favor and read this.
July 26, 2018
The Hundreds — the summer camp run by Quinn’s family — is a magical place. Spread out across a ten-acre plot in Winship, Maine, The Hundreds is a place where blueberries grow in the deep of winter and a legendary sea monster roams just off the coast. A place where older brother, Reed, middle sibling, Quinn, and little sister, Fern, grow up as tight-knit as they come, sharing everything, including their best friend, Dylan.
Until one terrible event at the end of the summer changes it all.
Now, an ocean of grief separates the Sawyer siblings and their bond lies in shatters. But while all three suffer, seventeen-year-old Quinn takes the loss hardest of all, finding herself wholly untethered and tormented by guilt, believing herself to be responsible for the terrible event and herself to be a monster.
Lost amid a sea of grief, Quinn blocks out the world — skipping school, failing assignments, and jeopardising her swimming scholarship. Her days are spent drowning out her surroundings by tuning into the Sunshine Hypothesis. A podcast dedicated to rare and unknown sea creatures, creatures so easily classified as monsters. And restoring a Criss-Craft boat with her grandmother, Nana.
Because if she can fix the boat, maybe she can fix herself.
Besides the help of grandma, Nana, and best friend, Korean-American Hana Chang, Quinn finds unexpected support from the new-guy-in-town, Alexander. Who knows first-hand what it means to be awash in dysfunctional family dynamics.
The chapters alternate chronologically between the past summer (when the event occurred) and the present, both told from Quinn’s perspective.
Wild Blue Wonder is a novel about love, loss, and grief. About family bonds, friendship, and the truth about monsters. A truly rare and exceptional gem of a story that has a place among the likes of Jandy Nelson’s The Sky Is Everywhere and Jennifer Nieven’s All the Bright Places.
YA contemporary. 13+
Until one terrible event at the end of the summer changes it all.
Now, an ocean of grief separates the Sawyer siblings and their bond lies in shatters. But while all three suffer, seventeen-year-old Quinn takes the loss hardest of all, finding herself wholly untethered and tormented by guilt, believing herself to be responsible for the terrible event and herself to be a monster.
Lost amid a sea of grief, Quinn blocks out the world — skipping school, failing assignments, and jeopardising her swimming scholarship. Her days are spent drowning out her surroundings by tuning into the Sunshine Hypothesis. A podcast dedicated to rare and unknown sea creatures, creatures so easily classified as monsters. And restoring a Criss-Craft boat with her grandmother, Nana.
Because if she can fix the boat, maybe she can fix herself.
Besides the help of grandma, Nana, and best friend, Korean-American Hana Chang, Quinn finds unexpected support from the new-guy-in-town, Alexander. Who knows first-hand what it means to be awash in dysfunctional family dynamics.
The chapters alternate chronologically between the past summer (when the event occurred) and the present, both told from Quinn’s perspective.
Wild Blue Wonder is a novel about love, loss, and grief. About family bonds, friendship, and the truth about monsters. A truly rare and exceptional gem of a story that has a place among the likes of Jandy Nelson’s The Sky Is Everywhere and Jennifer Nieven’s All the Bright Places.
YA contemporary. 13+
August 20, 2022
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I went gaga for Sorosiak's debut, If Birds Fly Back. Because of all the love I had for her previous book, I had really high expectations for Wild Blue Wonder. Once again, Sorosiak produced a story, which left me drowning in my emotions.
Immediately, I knew something broke this family. Their pain and grief soaked the pages. Sorosiak didn't immediately reveal the entire story, but I knew all this suffering and the accompanying discord, stemmed from an accident involving Dylan. Dylan was well loved by the entire Sawyer clan, and left this family unrecognizable after the accident.
I don't even know where to start in trying to explain how this book made me feel.
This book could have been really, really sad, but Sorosiak did so many things to keep us readers from drowning in heartache. First, there was the format. It flipped from the present back to before the accident. In the "before", we got to share so many fond and buoyant moments with the Sawyer siblings. Their love and strong familial ties were quite obvious. I was sort of jealous of the relationship they shared and wished I could be a part of it.
Sorosiak also packed the book with fun and quirky characters. From Hanna and her three rambunctious brothers to Quinn's hippie mom, I really enjoyed the fun all the characters injected into the story. Two auxiliary characters really stood out to me, though: Grandma Sawyer and Alexander.
You know I have a thing for Grandmas, and Quinn's grandma was a star. She was tough as nails and straight forward, yet was probably the character, who understood Quinn the most, as she had lost the love of her life not too long ago. I adored everything about her, and missed her when she was off page for too long.
And Alexander. I have a soft spot for what Nick calls "soft boys". He was so sweet, adorable, and cute. And, oh, when he spoke Greek food to me, I was done. The interactions between Alexander and Quinn were rather fun, and I kept my fingers crossed that their friendship would grow and grow. I loved Alexander more and more with each scene, and I liked that he was dealing with some of his own issues, because it kept him from being too perfect.
The whole Sawyer family captivated me with their complicated dynamics and the love that oozed through their household, but the real story was what happened to the siblings. It was hard to see them all so angry with each other. They were all suffering and really could have used the support of one another, but instead, they retreated into themselves. This resulted in each making a big life change, and I was rooting for them to work through their issues, so as to right their life course.
I have to mention the setting, because it totally captured my heart. Sorosiak took us to rural Maine, and not only were we in Maine, but we were at summer camp. The Hundreds sounded like such a magical place. I loved the backstory, and had so much fun during that summer at camp. We shared in camp events, as well as camp traditions, and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if I could survive a Maine winter, but I Sorosiak did a great job exposing us to all the elements, and giving us an idea of what life in the Pine Tree State was like.
And *applause, applause* for that ending.
That ending was so fundamentally and emotionally satisfying. Sorosiak did an incredible job bringing the story to a climax, and then letting all the pieces fall into place. I got so much closure, and I was utterly elated by this, because everyone knows I am a total closure-ho.
Overall: A messy and beautiful story about love, loss, and healing, which filled me with lots of joy.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I went gaga for Sorosiak's debut, If Birds Fly Back. Because of all the love I had for her previous book, I had really high expectations for Wild Blue Wonder. Once again, Sorosiak produced a story, which left me drowning in my emotions.
Immediately, I knew something broke this family. Their pain and grief soaked the pages. Sorosiak didn't immediately reveal the entire story, but I knew all this suffering and the accompanying discord, stemmed from an accident involving Dylan. Dylan was well loved by the entire Sawyer clan, and left this family unrecognizable after the accident.
I don't even know where to start in trying to explain how this book made me feel.
This book could have been really, really sad, but Sorosiak did so many things to keep us readers from drowning in heartache. First, there was the format. It flipped from the present back to before the accident. In the "before", we got to share so many fond and buoyant moments with the Sawyer siblings. Their love and strong familial ties were quite obvious. I was sort of jealous of the relationship they shared and wished I could be a part of it.
Sorosiak also packed the book with fun and quirky characters. From Hanna and her three rambunctious brothers to Quinn's hippie mom, I really enjoyed the fun all the characters injected into the story. Two auxiliary characters really stood out to me, though: Grandma Sawyer and Alexander.
You know I have a thing for Grandmas, and Quinn's grandma was a star. She was tough as nails and straight forward, yet was probably the character, who understood Quinn the most, as she had lost the love of her life not too long ago. I adored everything about her, and missed her when she was off page for too long.
And Alexander. I have a soft spot for what Nick calls "soft boys". He was so sweet, adorable, and cute. And, oh, when he spoke Greek food to me, I was done. The interactions between Alexander and Quinn were rather fun, and I kept my fingers crossed that their friendship would grow and grow. I loved Alexander more and more with each scene, and I liked that he was dealing with some of his own issues, because it kept him from being too perfect.
The whole Sawyer family captivated me with their complicated dynamics and the love that oozed through their household, but the real story was what happened to the siblings. It was hard to see them all so angry with each other. They were all suffering and really could have used the support of one another, but instead, they retreated into themselves. This resulted in each making a big life change, and I was rooting for them to work through their issues, so as to right their life course.
I have to mention the setting, because it totally captured my heart. Sorosiak took us to rural Maine, and not only were we in Maine, but we were at summer camp. The Hundreds sounded like such a magical place. I loved the backstory, and had so much fun during that summer at camp. We shared in camp events, as well as camp traditions, and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if I could survive a Maine winter, but I Sorosiak did a great job exposing us to all the elements, and giving us an idea of what life in the Pine Tree State was like.
And *applause, applause* for that ending.
That ending was so fundamentally and emotionally satisfying. Sorosiak did an incredible job bringing the story to a climax, and then letting all the pieces fall into place. I got so much closure, and I was utterly elated by this, because everyone knows I am a total closure-ho.
Overall: A messy and beautiful story about love, loss, and healing, which filled me with lots of joy.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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May 18, 2018
Wild Blue Wonder has such beautiful writing and it broke my heart at times.
The chapters alternate in time by a few months. The past (summer) is Quinn talking to her best friend, Dylan. She is sharing stories and how she fell in love with him. We also find out that both her older brother and younger sister are also in love with Dylan. He was such an important person in their lives.
The current chapters are Quinn dealing with her grief and guilt over Dylan's death. She and her family own a hippie summer camp. Dylan drowned while out on a boat alone with Quinn. They were looking for the local sea monster, Wessie. Quinn is determined to find Wessie and prove that she's real. Because if Wessie isn't real, then it's all her fault that Dylan is dead.
"But as you know, in all camp stories, there are monsters. In this one, there are two. The sea monster. And me."
The whole family is broken. All of them are grieving in different ways and none of the siblings are close anymore. Quinn's Nana is my favorite person in this book though. The family believes in ghosts and all the stories around town. Even their camp is strange. Blueberries grow all winter. Animals show up in large numbers during winter storms.
"Nana says that The Hundreds has a heartbeat, same as a human."
Quinn's love for Dylan felt so real. I loved reading about how she fell in love with him, but was afraid to tell him. It was so pure and honest, though hidden.
"It was probably an accumulation of moments over fourteen years, like the way you cared for our mutual pet fish, Mr. Smitty, until he met his maker right before winter break (which was not your fault at all). Or when you let me borrow your favorite book, The Road, and I realized that you'd starred the best passages so I could know them, too. But still, really? Falling in love with you didn't feel slow, like summer. It felt like springing from the high dive and plummeting into the deep."
Hana is Quinn's best friend and she does her best to help. Their friendship is pretty amazing. And then there is a new boy at school, Alexander. He came with his grandma from England and Hana invites him to their lunch table. Quinn and Alexander start spending a lot of time together. But as they get closer, Quinn pulls away. She just can't understand how Alexander could like her and she is afraid of hurting him.
Quinn and her grandma decide to start working on the boat. The one they were on when Dylan died. Nana thinks it's good for Quinn even though her parents don't really agree. But they are willing to do anything to get her to feel anything besides grief again. She won't swim, barely goes to school, skipped the dance, and has been spending a lot of time in her room. Nana and Quinn have these great talks and her friends slowly show up to support her.
There was so much to love in this book. It wasn't one that I couldn't put down, but the writing really pulled me in. The emotions felt so real and the family and friendships were also a big focus.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for my copy to read early. All quotes were taken from an arc and may change before final publication.
The chapters alternate in time by a few months. The past (summer) is Quinn talking to her best friend, Dylan. She is sharing stories and how she fell in love with him. We also find out that both her older brother and younger sister are also in love with Dylan. He was such an important person in their lives.
The current chapters are Quinn dealing with her grief and guilt over Dylan's death. She and her family own a hippie summer camp. Dylan drowned while out on a boat alone with Quinn. They were looking for the local sea monster, Wessie. Quinn is determined to find Wessie and prove that she's real. Because if Wessie isn't real, then it's all her fault that Dylan is dead.
"But as you know, in all camp stories, there are monsters. In this one, there are two. The sea monster. And me."
The whole family is broken. All of them are grieving in different ways and none of the siblings are close anymore. Quinn's Nana is my favorite person in this book though. The family believes in ghosts and all the stories around town. Even their camp is strange. Blueberries grow all winter. Animals show up in large numbers during winter storms.
"Nana says that The Hundreds has a heartbeat, same as a human."
Quinn's love for Dylan felt so real. I loved reading about how she fell in love with him, but was afraid to tell him. It was so pure and honest, though hidden.
"It was probably an accumulation of moments over fourteen years, like the way you cared for our mutual pet fish, Mr. Smitty, until he met his maker right before winter break (which was not your fault at all). Or when you let me borrow your favorite book, The Road, and I realized that you'd starred the best passages so I could know them, too. But still, really? Falling in love with you didn't feel slow, like summer. It felt like springing from the high dive and plummeting into the deep."
Hana is Quinn's best friend and she does her best to help. Their friendship is pretty amazing. And then there is a new boy at school, Alexander. He came with his grandma from England and Hana invites him to their lunch table. Quinn and Alexander start spending a lot of time together. But as they get closer, Quinn pulls away. She just can't understand how Alexander could like her and she is afraid of hurting him.
Quinn and her grandma decide to start working on the boat. The one they were on when Dylan died. Nana thinks it's good for Quinn even though her parents don't really agree. But they are willing to do anything to get her to feel anything besides grief again. She won't swim, barely goes to school, skipped the dance, and has been spending a lot of time in her room. Nana and Quinn have these great talks and her friends slowly show up to support her.
There was so much to love in this book. It wasn't one that I couldn't put down, but the writing really pulled me in. The emotions felt so real and the family and friendships were also a big focus.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for my copy to read early. All quotes were taken from an arc and may change before final publication.
January 8, 2019
oh boy. i need a hug.
October 6, 2022
“… there are two kids in the nearly vacant parking lot: one of whom is exploding into a grin; the other is skipping around in a bright red cape, the wind at her back.”
this was the perfect book to get me back out of my reading slump. it wasn’t necessarily a book about romance, it was at it’s core a book about grief and family.
i loved nana. she was my favorite character. she really was the glue that held this book together. slay for her!
tbh some aspects of the book felt repetitive…. and a lot of characters didn’t feel special or developed.
but i liked quinn’s journey. i wish the book maybe was a little longer too so we got to see how her relationships developed beyond the point of forgiveness- but that’s water under the bridge 🤷♀️
this was the perfect book to get me back out of my reading slump. it wasn’t necessarily a book about romance, it was at it’s core a book about grief and family.
i loved nana. she was my favorite character. she really was the glue that held this book together. slay for her!
tbh some aspects of the book felt repetitive…. and a lot of characters didn’t feel special or developed.
but i liked quinn’s journey. i wish the book maybe was a little longer too so we got to see how her relationships developed beyond the point of forgiveness- but that’s water under the bridge 🤷♀️
July 17, 2018
A really lovely coming of age novel. A powerful portrayl of grief. I particularly enjoyed the questions raised about the impossible. Do we as humans imagine things or create magic as a way of coping with certain aspects of our life? How much possibility is there in the unknown?
Fantastic writing, heartbreaking at times, and always poignant.
Fantastic writing, heartbreaking at times, and always poignant.
July 10, 2018
4.5 stars. I think this book destroyed me, and I absolutely loved it.
October 23, 2021
*adds to favorites shelf*
I don’t have any words. This book is just 100% raw and pure and amazing and everyone needs to read it ASAP
I don’t have any words. This book is just 100% raw and pure and amazing and everyone needs to read it ASAP
May 14, 2021
This one was just alright. It was a decent attempt! It's a story about a tragedy, where Quinn loses her best friend, the boy she fell in love with. And considering the circumstances, she blames herself.
Call me crazy, but these stories are some of my favorites. Reading about tragic situations makes me always value life a little more, and reminds me how strong we can become when we are put through devastating things. I'm always in awe at the strength of the survivor.
But this book lacked for me in a few different areas. Some of the plot seemed almost unrealistic. And overall it wound up being a bit too generic. But it was sweet and fine. Meh.
⭐⭐
Call me crazy, but these stories are some of my favorites. Reading about tragic situations makes me always value life a little more, and reminds me how strong we can become when we are put through devastating things. I'm always in awe at the strength of the survivor.
But this book lacked for me in a few different areas. Some of the plot seemed almost unrealistic. And overall it wound up being a bit too generic. But it was sweet and fine. Meh.
⭐⭐
June 21, 2018
Quinn believes there are two monsters where she lives, the mythical creature she once saw in the water and herself. Since her best friend's death months before, her family hasn't been the same.
This is a great story about moving on, dealing with guilt and other people's grief besides your own.
I really liked this author's choice of words, my heart broke for Quinn when she says she is one of the monsters. Also, this book has too timelines, one at the time of the accident and another for the present day. The former is narrated as if it's a letter to Quinn's friend, and the tone used here is my favorite thing in the whole book.
I can't say this is unforgettable, I think we've been getting a lot of similarly well-written stories exploring a similar theme, but it was still such a pleasing read! I'd say my biggest complaint was Alexander's accent, I felt as if I was reading Doctor Who fanfiction from the amount of times he repeats "brilliant". The English accent was to be charming but it was too stereotyped and got in the way of me feeling charmed by Alexander, who was a great character, by the way.
In all, this is a book I recommend even to those past the target audience.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
This is a great story about moving on, dealing with guilt and other people's grief besides your own.
I really liked this author's choice of words, my heart broke for Quinn when she says she is one of the monsters. Also, this book has too timelines, one at the time of the accident and another for the present day. The former is narrated as if it's a letter to Quinn's friend, and the tone used here is my favorite thing in the whole book.
I can't say this is unforgettable, I think we've been getting a lot of similarly well-written stories exploring a similar theme, but it was still such a pleasing read! I'd say my biggest complaint was Alexander's accent, I felt as if I was reading Doctor Who fanfiction from the amount of times he repeats "brilliant". The English accent was to be charming but it was too stereotyped and got in the way of me feeling charmed by Alexander, who was a great character, by the way.
In all, this is a book I recommend even to those past the target audience.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
August 12, 2018
Review to come!
December 3, 2018
*4.5 stars*
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content warnings: grief, death, drowning
I am having such good luck with these fabulist YA contemporaries coming out this summer. Wild Blue Wonder was a sweet, unexpected gem of a novel, complete with a summer camp setting, alternating timelines, lush writing, and touches of magic.
Wild Blue Wonder alternates between two timelines, both told from the main character, Quinn’s, perspective. We follow Quinn in present day (during the fall/winter), as well as over the course of the previous summer. We find out that some large event happened at the end of summer that changed Quinn’s relationships with everyone in her life, but this event is not immediately revealed. The contrast between the brightness and love Quinn feels during the summer and the blanket of grief that covers her family in the winter was so well-done and really served to emphasize the ways in which tragedy changes people.
I adored the setting of this story. Quinn’s family owns a summer camp called The Hundreds, which serves over 800 campers every summer. However, I especially enjoyed reading about The Hundreds during the winter off-season. Even though it was empty of campers, it still held a particular kind of magic. Summer camp stories are one of my favorite YA contemporary tropes to read.
I would be remiss not to mention that Wild Blue Wonder is written beautifully. The fabulist elements Sorosiak incorporated into this story served to make the reading experience even more immersive. A huge plot point involves Quinn searching out the sea monster rumored to live in the lake on her family’s property. This mirrors Quinn’s personal experience of viewing herself as a monster because of her perceived role in what happened over the summer. Even with these glimpses of magic, this story is firmly rooted in real-world problems and themes.
Friendship and family are a constant throughout both parts of Wild Blue Wonder. Quinn’s family is extremely tight-knit, but she and her two siblings have grown apart since the events of the summer. Her parents and grandmother are trying desperately to piece their family back together while at the same time having to cope with their own grief. Quinn’s grandmother, in particular, was a favorite. She’s the wise, hippie grandmother who gives Quinn the advice she needs to hear, even when it may not necessarily be what she wants to hear. Quinn’s best friend, Hana, was such a great friend to Quinn throughout this story. There is a romance, as well, between Quinn and Alexander, the new kid in town. Though it plays a bit of a background role to Quinn’s own personal growth and her relationships with her family and herself, the romance was still very sweet and adorably awkward. It definitely added to the story.
Overall, Wild Blue Wonder surprised me with its combination of atmosphere and depth. It tackles the complicated process of forgiving yourself and others and processing grief. The family dynamic is refreshing, and the camp setting makes this a perfect summer read for lovers of more serious YA contemporaries. I can’t wait to pick up more of Carlie Sorosiak’s writing now!
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content warnings: grief, death, drowning
I am having such good luck with these fabulist YA contemporaries coming out this summer. Wild Blue Wonder was a sweet, unexpected gem of a novel, complete with a summer camp setting, alternating timelines, lush writing, and touches of magic.
Wild Blue Wonder alternates between two timelines, both told from the main character, Quinn’s, perspective. We follow Quinn in present day (during the fall/winter), as well as over the course of the previous summer. We find out that some large event happened at the end of summer that changed Quinn’s relationships with everyone in her life, but this event is not immediately revealed. The contrast between the brightness and love Quinn feels during the summer and the blanket of grief that covers her family in the winter was so well-done and really served to emphasize the ways in which tragedy changes people.
I adored the setting of this story. Quinn’s family owns a summer camp called The Hundreds, which serves over 800 campers every summer. However, I especially enjoyed reading about The Hundreds during the winter off-season. Even though it was empty of campers, it still held a particular kind of magic. Summer camp stories are one of my favorite YA contemporary tropes to read.
I would be remiss not to mention that Wild Blue Wonder is written beautifully. The fabulist elements Sorosiak incorporated into this story served to make the reading experience even more immersive. A huge plot point involves Quinn searching out the sea monster rumored to live in the lake on her family’s property. This mirrors Quinn’s personal experience of viewing herself as a monster because of her perceived role in what happened over the summer. Even with these glimpses of magic, this story is firmly rooted in real-world problems and themes.
Friendship and family are a constant throughout both parts of Wild Blue Wonder. Quinn’s family is extremely tight-knit, but she and her two siblings have grown apart since the events of the summer. Her parents and grandmother are trying desperately to piece their family back together while at the same time having to cope with their own grief. Quinn’s grandmother, in particular, was a favorite. She’s the wise, hippie grandmother who gives Quinn the advice she needs to hear, even when it may not necessarily be what she wants to hear. Quinn’s best friend, Hana, was such a great friend to Quinn throughout this story. There is a romance, as well, between Quinn and Alexander, the new kid in town. Though it plays a bit of a background role to Quinn’s own personal growth and her relationships with her family and herself, the romance was still very sweet and adorably awkward. It definitely added to the story.
Overall, Wild Blue Wonder surprised me with its combination of atmosphere and depth. It tackles the complicated process of forgiving yourself and others and processing grief. The family dynamic is refreshing, and the camp setting makes this a perfect summer read for lovers of more serious YA contemporaries. I can’t wait to pick up more of Carlie Sorosiak’s writing now!
December 14, 2022
Set in a small town summer camp, teenager Quinn is coping with the death of her best friend, which she feels responsible for. Quinn drops out of all her extra curricular and ever since her friends death her family hasn’t gotten along. Then all of a sudden a new kid moves to her small town and tries to get her to live a little again.
My main problem with this book is was that I did not feel for the main character at all. Like I get that losing someone sucks but at the same I felt like Quinn pushed this to extremes and was almost selfish when it came to grieving. She refused to talk to her siblings, or visit her friends grave or talk to his family and then when the new kid arrives she takes a lot of her grief out on him. I just had difficulty connected with her on almost every level.
That being said, I did really appreciate the side characters. They felt more in depth and realistic than the main character ever did. Also the story was relatively interesting despite my inability to connect with the main character.
3.5 stars overall for me, but I would still recommend if you read the synopsis and are interested. I would just warn you not to get your hopes up too high.
My main problem with this book is was that I did not feel for the main character at all. Like I get that losing someone sucks but at the same I felt like Quinn pushed this to extremes and was almost selfish when it came to grieving. She refused to talk to her siblings, or visit her friends grave or talk to his family and then when the new kid arrives she takes a lot of her grief out on him. I just had difficulty connected with her on almost every level.
That being said, I did really appreciate the side characters. They felt more in depth and realistic than the main character ever did. Also the story was relatively interesting despite my inability to connect with the main character.
3.5 stars overall for me, but I would still recommend if you read the synopsis and are interested. I would just warn you not to get your hopes up too high.
December 10, 2017
This book was a delight to read! I’ll soon write more detailed reviews for SLJ and my blog, but here’s what resonated with me:
1. A gorgeous setting
2. Falling for your best friend (we’ve all been there at least once)
3. Unrequited Love (again, we can all relate)
4. Summer camp memories: some of the best of my life, including writing camps and GHP in high school
5. Coping with loss and grief
6. Complicated family relationships
7. A male interest who writes superhero graphic novels 💕(Hello, where is adult Alexander in my life? 😉🤓)
8. Girls who love science and sports
9. A truly loyal best friend and non-catty female friendships
10. Strong female models with feminist values
Please read this book! It took me a bit to get into it at the beginning because of the large number of characters introduced, but it was so very worth it. I loved this novel and highly recommend it.
1. A gorgeous setting
2. Falling for your best friend (we’ve all been there at least once)
3. Unrequited Love (again, we can all relate)
4. Summer camp memories: some of the best of my life, including writing camps and GHP in high school
5. Coping with loss and grief
6. Complicated family relationships
7. A male interest who writes superhero graphic novels 💕(Hello, where is adult Alexander in my life? 😉🤓)
8. Girls who love science and sports
9. A truly loyal best friend and non-catty female friendships
10. Strong female models with feminist values
Please read this book! It took me a bit to get into it at the beginning because of the large number of characters introduced, but it was so very worth it. I loved this novel and highly recommend it.
February 2, 2024
I can’t even begin to describe how much this book means to me. I first read it at(what I estimate to be) approximately six years ago. Considering I’ve re-read it every year since then, it can be said that it is a phenomenal book. It’s just such an introspective and intense look at grief, guilt, and family. Quinn’s thoughts and feelings are so clearly conveyed in the writing style, and with the addition of the non-linear storytelling in the book it really helps to convey her perspective on the events of the book. The entire book just sort of feels like a warm and comforting hug, or like a blanket that’s just come out of the dryer(cozy, nostalgic, + fuzzy). I adore the writing style and all the characters, this is to date one of my absolute favourite books in the history of forever. I love it so much and I can’t wait to read it again next year(or in six months, whichever comes first).
May 1, 2021
If you are reading this review, go out and get this book right now! This story needs to be read by more people!
This book was so relatable. I marked so many pages because of something that resonated with me or spoke to me. There were so many things in the book that made me think, “Wow, Carlie Sorosiak really gets it!”
This book was really unique because half of it was written in 2nd person which you don’t get to read a lot of! It was very creative. I didn’t know that this could add so much emotion to the story.
Speaking of the story, it is beautiful! It is a story about mistakes, forgiveness, friendships, and family. It is heartbreaking and tears were shed while reading it. However, it had the sweetest happy ending that just filled me with joy!
This book made me think about life, about my friends, and my family. If you want to read a book that will give you a fresh perspective, pick this one up!
“Who says that living-means fighting alone?”
This book was so relatable. I marked so many pages because of something that resonated with me or spoke to me. There were so many things in the book that made me think, “Wow, Carlie Sorosiak really gets it!”
This book was really unique because half of it was written in 2nd person which you don’t get to read a lot of! It was very creative. I didn’t know that this could add so much emotion to the story.
Speaking of the story, it is beautiful! It is a story about mistakes, forgiveness, friendships, and family. It is heartbreaking and tears were shed while reading it. However, it had the sweetest happy ending that just filled me with joy!
This book made me think about life, about my friends, and my family. If you want to read a book that will give you a fresh perspective, pick this one up!
“Who says that living-means fighting alone?”
June 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me up reading into the early hours of the morning. It kept me craving for more.
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