The Last Wild Place

February 1, 2009
Gr 5-8-Jordan returns with another eco-friendly novel featuring the Martin family. Now that Justin is away at college, Chip, 12, is the man of the house. His mother has become romantically involved with his friend Luther's uncle. The town's community center is providing a temporary home to families who were displaced by a recent Gulf Coast hurricane, and as Luther befriends some of those kids, he seems to be distancing himself from Chip. Seeking solace at a deserted property that he and Luther discovered several years earlier, Chip makes an amazing discovery: two Florida panther cubs have somehow traveled from the Everglades to the abandoned site and have established a home there. Chip has visions of befriending the animals, but the future of all the wildlife in the marshy sanctuary is unexpectedly put into danger when a construction crew arrives to raze the barn and turn the property into a meat-packing plant. When the adults fail to come up with an immediate solution to protect the animals, Chip and his classmates take matters into their own hands. Reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen's "Hoot" (Knopf, 2002), "Wild Place" is an empowering story of friendship and kids who step up to make a difference. Sprinkled liberally with environmental messages, it manages to avoid crossing the line into didacticism. The characters are fully realized and the plot moves along at a good clip. While readers of Jordan's first two stories will enjoy meeting up with familiar characters, the novel easily stands alone."Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2008
Grades 4-6 Pet goats, nature hikes, and rabbit watching at the Old Place are a part of the daily routine that has helped forge a strong friendship between Chip and Luther. Discovering Florida panther cubs in the overgrown, Everglade-like area makes nature watching even more exciting. But a development threatens the Old Place, and a romance among relatives threatens their friendship. Fearing the evil developer will destroy their hangout and endanger the lives of its many creatures, they organize a peaceful protest. Aided by a budding journalist and a sympathetic teacher, the kids triumph in foiling the developer and learn valuable civics and life lessons in the process. By the books end, friendships are mended, and the boys discover that while change is scary, its not always a bad thing. A companion to Jordans Lost Goat Lane (2004), which featured Chips older sister Kate, this is a good, gentle read for boys and girls alike. While the plot is slow to develop and the theme of social justice is sometimes heavy-handed, budding naturalists will appreciate the dedication and determination of the young protagonists.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)