Clay CarmichaelCritiques

Zoe is just 11 years old, but she's had to take care of herself most of her life because her father is dead and her mother is mentally ill. When her mother commits suicide, Zoe is sent to live with her artist/doctor Uncle Henry. There she becomes involved with lots of fellow wild things: an old tomcat (who is also like a co-narrator; there are several chapters told from his perspective), a mysterious figure from the woods, a white deer, a couple of feisty old ladies, and Henry himself.

There are lots of stories about willful, intelligent kids who, through the course of a book's events, learn to love and let themselves be loved. Wild Things is a nice contribution to this genre. I liked it a lot, though it was a little clunky in places and didn't completely satisfy me. My frustration was that parts of the book were truly witty and inspired, which only highlighted the lameness of its weaker aspects (mostly I think the author had too many balls in the air, too many of mom's boyfriends, too many plot lines to wrap up, too many unlikely coincidences).

Still, overall, really enjoyable book, great characters, both funny and poignant.

I very much enjoyed this book which focused on a spunky, very much impacted by issues of abandonment and mental health of her parents young adult girl.

Zoe was accustomed to forging ahead by her self. Since early years, her mother left her alone. When her mother committed suicide, she then lived with an Uncle she never knew. Her took her to live with him and very stable, warm and caring friends.
Henry was the first stable person she had in her life. Not accustomed to love, accountable to others, and waiting at any minute to be abandoned at any point, Zoe wants very much to trust Henry, his assisstant Franklin, and Franklin's wife Bessie.

This is a warm, fuzzy book that focuses more on Zoe's travels to stability than her previous life of abandoment and unstability.

While it may sound too good to be true, Henry is a very stable person. A previous cardiologist, he left that behind to become quite a talented artist.

There are twists and turns as strong-willed Zoe finds an abandoned shack in the woods surrounding Henry's house, and claims it as her own. In addition, she discovers an abandoned, ferel cat that she gradually cultivates safety and he then follows her and becomes her pet. This part of the book is very precious.

I loved this book. In many ways it's like so many other orphan stories that I'm not sure exactly what made me love it so much - I guess it was the characters, and the fact that it sounded like a place I wouldn't mind visiting and hanging out with the people for a while. There are some weird unwritten rules that happen in rural places, and I think this story brought a lot of that extremely small town culture to life.

I really enjoyed this book, and was hoping there was a sequel. Clay has another book, and it has dogs instead of a cat... but I was hoping for more about Zoey, WIll and Henry....

2 ILL no CC - read by Children's Book group before I was involved.

I loved Wild Thing. It was one of those books, that I could not stop recommending and buying for the young people in my life. Since it had been awhile since Wild Thing was written, I went searching for a new book from this author and discovered I had missed Brother Brother. This is a good story, well written, well paced. Meant for kids a little older than the previous book. I think the juxtaposition of the lives of the title characters, the two brothers, make this a book that will keep you reading to find out what is going to happen. I like the setting, the political angle and the love interest. I hope there will be another book soon and that I don't miss it!

This was another cute book by Clay Carmichael about a little girl's teddy bear. Another super sweet story about friendship and what makes a family. I think this would be a good read-aloud book for a class, or an independent reader for a child in Kindergarten or first grade who is reading above grade level.
Reading Level: 2.6 Interest Level: K-3

This was just the cutest thing EVER! It reminded me of the Velveteen Rabbit but much less depressing. Made me cry happy tears, really. Great book to talk about friends. I would use this as a read-aloud, for independent readers, or for a discussion about what is important in friendships (is it flashy and nice looking, or is it more about the deeper stuff?).
Reading Level: 3.5 Interest Level: K-3

I love this book. Beautiful writing, wonderful story. This is a book that I will remember and think of and recommend to very special readers.

The somewhat insecure ursine hero of Clay Carmichael's Bear at the Beach and Used-Up Bear returns in this third adventure, waking up one day to find that his human companion, Clara, is missing. Searching high and low, but unable to locate her, Bear eventually enlists the aid of an abandoned bunny and a stray cat who believes (or pretends to believe) that it is better to be on one's own. Bear knows better, of course, continuing his search, and eventually the cat knows better as well...

Anyone who read Carmichael's middle-grade novel, Wild Things, and fell in love with the stray cat, Mr. C'Mere, will instantly recognize the feline character in Lonesome Bear. I understand that the author/artist used her own cat as a model for Mr. C'Mere, and it would appear that she had done so before! Just as with the two previous installments of Bear's adventures, this was a rather melancholy book - the scene in which Bear speaks longingly of Clara's love for him, the bunny mentions the lost love of his boy, and the cat reflects on the fact that no one loves him (!), is particularly sad - although the conclusion offers a satisfactorily happy resolution.

With a gentle tale of love and reassurance, and charming watercolor illustrations, this little book would be an ideal selection for the young reader who feels a little lost, and wonders whether or not she is truly loved. Now, if only Clay Carmichael would create more of these charming picture-books - three is not enough!

Looking at himself in the mirror one day, Bear realizes that he is a little the worse for wear, with his white fur "as dingy as an old sock," frayed patches on his back, a loose eye, and a nose that has a tendency to pop right off. He's all used up, he concludes, and begins to imagine all the terrible things that will happen to him - being turned into a cleaning rag, tossed in the cellar, or sold at a thrift store - once Clara, the little girl with whom he lives, no longer wants him. Fortunately, Clara has her wits about her, and seeing which way the wind is blowing, she takes steps to help her friend regain his confidence...

Like Bear at the Beach - Clay Carmichael's first story to feature this adorable ursine hero (there is a third title as well, Lonesome Bear) - this is a story with a strong melancholy strain to it. Any young reader who has felt neglected, or feared that their imperfections would prevent others from loving them, will identify with Bear, and thrill to the conclusion of his tale, in which those feelings of fear and hurt are proved baseless. The illustrations, done in pen-and-ink and watercolor, and utilizing simple lines and muted but appealing colors, are just as charming as in the first Bear book. All in all, Used-Up Bear is a delightful tale, one I would recommend to young readers in need of reassurance, and to fans of Clay Carmichael's artwork.

Bear goes looking for the father he has never known in this gentle little book, the first of three stories - followed by Used-Up Bear and Lonesome Bear - devoted to his adventures. Although he has a home by the sea with Clara, who shares her sandy days and warm, cuddly nights with him, Bear still dreams of having a father. "And soon his dream became a longing. And then his longing became an empty place inside him he thought only a father could fill." And so he set out one day to find that father, questioning all he encountered along the way, from the sea to the fish, ducks to boys, eventually discovering (as the reader realizes all along) that what he is seeking has been with him all the time.

Clay Carmichael's simple text is combined to great effect with her equally (and deceptively) simple illustrations, with their clean black lines, and muted watercolor tones, creating an early reader that is sweet, soothing, a little melancholy, and a pure pleasure to peruse. Having greatly enjoyed Ms. Carmichael's debut middle-grade novel, Wild Things, I went in search of her other work, and I am not sorry I did! I recognized and appreciated the style of artwork here immediately, as will any reader who enjoyed the depiction of Mr. C'Mere in Wild Things, and I enjoyed the tale. I will definitely be looking for the sequels!

Dear Ms. Clay Carmichael: if you're reading this, please consider writing another children's novel, preferably with some of these same characters. Of course, I understand that Wild Things took you five years to complete, and that any hypothetical sequel (or other work - I would accept an unrelated story as well) might conceivably take just as long, but I know it will be worth the wait! Thank you.

I cannot recall the last time I encountered a character with as distinctive and winsome a voice as Zoë Royster, the eleven-year-old heroine of Clay Carmichael's middle-grade children's novel, Wild Things. Just as memorable is Mr. C'mere, the feral cat whose own narration is intermingled with Zoë's, and whose observations of human behavior left me shaken - with laughter, with anger, and with sorrow. The following two opening lines, from these two distrustful souls, each of whom has learned to keep the world at a distance:

"Humans were diggers and buriers, the cat thought, like dogs."

"I'd hoped for better, Henry's being a heart doctor. A job like that, you'd think he might actually have a heart."

both grabbed hold of me, dragging me wily-nily into the story, instantly involving me in each narrator's life. I hadn't read more than a few pages, when I knew that here were characters I cared about. By the end of the first chapter, I knew I loved them, and was feverishly racing ahead, hoping for that moment when each - wild things in their different ways - allowed themselves to be, not domesticated, but befriended.

This is the story of a precocious young girl who is sent to live with the half-uncle she never knew - an irritable former heart surgeon, and current world-renowned metal sculptor - after the death of her neglectful and mentally ill mother. Having learned by hard experience that adults "don't stick," Zoë is on the look-out for signs that Henry is looking for the exit signs. What she discovers instead, is a kindred spirit - a man who loves books as much as she does, who is as prickly as she is, and who understands her need for time and space of her own. A person who encourages her to be who she is, but also provides companionship, some (minimal) structure, and the protection she needs from some of the dangers of the adult world. In short: she discovers the parent she never knew she wanted.

But as much as Wild Things is Zoë's story, it is also the story of Mr. C'mere, an aging cat who has turned his back on human love, after witnessing one too many acts of violence and neglect. A cat who observes the humans around him, with a mixture of puzzlement and perceptive understanding that is by turns amusing and heartbreaking. In short, a cat who is Zoë's feline doppelganger. There are many "wild things" in this story, as it happens, from Zoë and Mr. C'mere, to Henry's sculptures and Henry himself, not to mention Sister and Wil, whose identity - once it was revealed - felt so right to me, that I didn't even mind that I had guessed it, some time before.

There are moments of absolute, fall-down-laughing hilarity here - as in the episode in which Mr. C'mere, convinced that the hosing off of the plastic flowers at the graveyard, after he urinates on them, indicates an effort to mark territory, proceeds to urinate on them all the more - and there are moments of stomach-clenching tragedy, from the death of loved ones, to the death of not-so-loved ones. Carmichael's prose is beautifully expressive, whether in girl or feline form, and she has the occasional turn of phrase - Mr. C'mere's description of the newborn orphan Wil, howling in his father's arms, as an "inconsolable noise," Zoë's observation, watching Henry and Fred at a funeral, that "though I didn't hear them exchange twenty words, I understood whole conversations taking place in the silence between them" - that stayed in mind long after I had finished reading.

With a feisty heroine who isn't afraid to say what's on her mind, regardless of the audience - "I focused all my energies on giving the Padre's Lord God Almighty, reportedly in Heaven, a piece of my agitated mind" - a cast of fascinating secondary characters, a feline that would win any reasonable person's heart, and many affectionate references to works of children's literature (particularly The Boy Who Drew Cats), Wild Things is a superb story! I am so very grateful to the Children's Fiction Club to which I belong, for making this our December selection, as I might not otherwise have picked it up! Truly, this is a little masterpiece! I'm waiting on Carmichael's next effort with barely restrained impatience...

I love the voice in this book be it Zoe who trusts no one or the feral cat who gives insights into the past - well crafted, fast paced

Extraordinary. I had to let it simmer overnight before I could come up with anything resembling a coherent review. This is a wonderful book, and I loved it enough that I wish I hadn't read it so I could read it again for the first time.

The characters are agreeably prickly, including the feral old cat who is deeply suspicious of people. The passages narrated by the cat are maybe just a little hokey, but I loved 'em anyway. In my opinion, the descriptions of what it's like to be an artist are dead on. The plot is taut, the coincidences and climaxes not so far out as to be surreal, the characters' growth is believable and heartwarming. And did I mention the cat? And the passing but suitably loving mention of favorite characters from classic kid-lit? (Which reminds me, I need to find out who Opal Buloni is- she's the only one I didn't recognize.)

I want to read it again, right away. I can't remember how long it's been since I had that reaction to a middle-grade book.

I was crazy in love with Carmichael's [b:Wild Things|3172516|Wild Things|Clay Carmichael|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1291173121s/3172516.jpg|3204953] and subsequently had perhaps unreasonably high expectations for this one. While I enjoyed it, I certainly didn't love it. This read, to my eyes, much more like a first novel than did Wild Things.

Bear in mind that I'm reading an uncorrected proof in January, and the book's not due til August. There may still be editing to be done.

The characters are simply wonderful- full of depth and personality and backstory. That's another thing this novel has; backstory for days. The problem for me was suspending my disbelief far enough to buy the various joists underlying the floor of the narrative. I'm probably far too Midwestern to grasp the niceties (and non-niceties) of Southern life, especially among the privileged.

There are some interesting questions raised about nature and nurture, about what parenting means, what family means, and how love can be expressed. That's all very solid and well-done.

I look forward avidly to her third novel.

Appealing, memorable, and exceptionally well-written coming-of-age story.

An impressively written, richly layered family drama.

Eleven-year--old Zoe is brilliant-and street smart. Having raised herself, (with no help from her drug- addicted, mentally ill mother or her mother's endless series of lowlife boyfriends) she trusts no one. When her mother dies unexpectedly she is placed in the care of her father's half-brother, an ex-surgeon turned artist. For the first time in her life, Zoe has a home and stability. At this same time, she begins to befriend a feral cat living in the woods near her new home. Like Zoe, he learned long ago not to trust anyone and to rely upon himself. The story of how the two of them learn to love and trust is heartwarming and insightful. Young readers will be drawn to Zoe's independence and her vulnerability at the same time.
I really enjoyed this book. The cast of characters is colorful and unique. I highly recommend this book for young readers.

“I’d hoped for better. Henry’s being a heart doctor. A job like that, you’d think he might actually have a heart.” So says eleven-year-old Chloe, our principal narrator. Chloe trusts no one (she has essentially raised herself while her mentally ill mother drifted from boyfriend to boyfriend and ran from bill collectors) and is used to running things her own way. The book opens as she is taken in by an uncle she never knew existed when her mother commits suicide. While the basic plot of Wild Things is formulaic (spunky girl wins over heart of reluctant, crotchety guardian), Carmichael’s wrappings for it are sharp and populated by a whole cast of memorable, odd-ball characters. Of particular note is “Mr. C’mere”, the elderly feral cat Chloe attempts to win over. Very short chapters in the book narrated from Mr. C’mere’s point of view to help tell Chloe’s story.

I struggled with an age recommendation for this book. Although Chloe is in 5th grade, her actions and voice are that of a much older character. The more sophisticated the reader, the more enjoyment to be had.
Highly recommended!

Zoe, a self-sufficient 11 year-old, finds herself in the care of her only relative, an uncle who lives in the country. Uncle Henry, an eccentric artist, must deal with raising a child who is quite independent, in fact, she insists upon not going to school. Throughout the months together, and with the help of the townspeople, Zoe comes to understand being independent all those years with her psychotic mother was not normal; family means selflessness, working together, love and dependency. This is another unfortunate-accident-leaves-child-to-rear-herself and find-relative-to-live-with book. The difference is the added cat commentary interspersed throughout chapters.½

Plot: A headstrong girl. A stray cat. A wild boy. A man who plays with fire. Eleven-year-old Zoe trusts no one. Her father left before she was born. At the death of her irresponsible mother, Zoe goes to live with her uncle, former surgeon and famed metal sculptor Dr. Henry Royster. She's sure Henry will fail her as everyone else has. Reclusive since his wife's death, Henry takes Zoe to Sugar Hill, North Carolina, where he welds sculptures as stormy as his moods. Zoe and Henry have much in common: brains, fiery and creative natures, and badly broken hearts. Zoe confronts small-town prejudice with a quick temper. She warms to Henry's odd but devoted friends, meets a mysterious teenage boy living wild in the neighboring woods, and works to win the trust of a feral cat while struggling to trust in anyone herself. Zoe's questing spirit leads her to uncover the wild boy's identity, lay bare a local lie, and begin to understand the true power of Henry's art. Then one decisive night, she and the boy risk everything in a reckless act of heroism.

Themes: Family, Friends

Characterization: Zoe has lost a lot in her life and has always been disappointed, by her mom and the boyfriends she brings around. It take her long, lost uncle to break the cycle and finally allow Zoe to open up to what it means to have a family and be a family member. She is a strong female who is incredibly independent and through her independence, finds that she needs to rely on others to grow stronger.

Rating: I would rate this a 10 out of 10. It was a character that many young people could identify with. She feels alone and left out and misunderstood, until she gives people around her and realize that there is a lot of love to be had if you just take a chance on people. Once she allows love in, she is able to reciprocate that to a boy who needs it the most.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Zoe's mother had never taken care of Zoe. Nor had the string of boyfriends that she had lived with. When her mother died Zoe was given to an uncle she had never known. He is a doctor, an artist and a widower and prone to fits of temper. Zoe has always made her own decisions. The two have to figure out how to get along. Zoe is stunned when her uncle puts his own life in jeapardy to protect her from some crazed hunters who are chasing a white deer on his property. The story has interesting characters and plot twists and deals with the importance of family, love and trust.

OK, I admit it! I LOVE juvenile and YA literature. As a librarian I have always adopted the "every-other" rule: for every grown-up book I read I have to also read a kids' book. Technically, Wild Things, the debut novel by Clay Carmichael, is going to get shelved in the children or teen section of the library, but I dare any gown-up out there to read this and not be moved. It is the captivating, well-written story of Zoe, a tough-minded orphan who has been jaded by a rough upbringing, but finds hope, adventure, a cat in need AND a true home when she moves in with her Uncle Henry, a doctor-turned-sculptor. Pick this story up and you won't want to put it down -- a great story to read for the holidays!

Review written by Anne Strang, 11/11/2009