Running wild is a young adult novel based on events that have and are happening. As stated at the end 'it is a book that everyone in the world should know because its full of hope and determination.'

When i first started this book i thought it would be a drag, the first twelve pages were about a train journey. However the story slowly progressed and i found i couldnt put it down.
After sensing a tsunami Oona an elephant that Will was riding carries him off into the jungle far away till she feels safe. Will survives in the jungle with an elephant and orangutans using instinct and the environment to stay alive.

the story tackles the issues of poaching, deforestation, loss and despair and teaches young readers the basic of what is happening to our rainforests and its creatures, always with hope and determination that things can change.

A heart touching story that is sometimes sad but well worth the read! ( )

As always Morpurgo doesn't disappoint. This is an epic story of survival despite the odds, it a real emotional roller coaster that expands the motion of family. Whenever something terrible has happened Michael manages to produce something beautiful from it. ( )

9780007267026

This was a terrific book of hope, courage and survival amidst despair and destruction. Based on true events and with strong parallels to "The Jungle book", nine-year-old Will finds himself on the back of an elephant when the Boxing Day tsunami strikes. Sensing the disaster before it happens, Oona, the elephant, stampedes towards the jungle, away from the danger and for the next twelve months Will and Oona have to survive living in the forests of Indonesia. While the story is told from Will's perspective (and at times he sounds much older than nine), without a doubt, Oona is the star of the show with her gentle wisdom and humorous antics.

Like Michael Morpurgo, I too have had a life-long fascination with elephants, love Rudyard Kipling's "The elephant child," since I first read it in early primary school, and find the poem "Tyger, Tyger" by William Blake to be powerful and one of my favourite poems.

Morpurgo has written some wonderful books in his time and "Running wild" will be another favourite as it focuses on current events and draws attention to the effects of deforestation and the uncertain future of orangutans. This book would be a terrific read for older children and young teenagers. ( )

Brilliant, educational and a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I read this book to my 8 year old boy and 6 year old girl as a bed time story over the course of a couple of weeks. Some of the chapters were too long for us to read in single sessions, but there were convenient places to stop in the long chapters. There is a lot of the harshness of the world in the story, especially to do with death, loss, cruelty and environmental destruction through resource over-exploitation. The harshness in the story is balanced by descriptions of some of natures wonders, human kindness, friendship and family. The story is ignited because of war and takes a major turn as a result of a natural disaster. Thankfully the story also has some humour and a happy ending (not that all stories need a happy ending). The story perfectly introduces the William Blake poem - The Tiger. It is a great story for helping (especially children) to think about nature and wilderness and its place in the world and how care is needed to preserve these things or else they are likely to be lost if systems of greed run their course unchecked. ( )