Why we’re excited
Fifteen-year-old Emma McKinney, whose father has vanished in the Vietnam War, wanders off a trail on the final day of a youth retreat and cannot find her way back. She has a battered Jack London paperback and whatever she can read from the animals around her. Somebody else is out there too: another teenage girl who does not want to be found.
Patti Callahan Henry reached a wide audience with Becoming Mrs. Lewis, The Secret Book of Flora Lea and The Story She Left Behind. Two girls alone in the woods should appeal to readers of Where the Crawdads Sing and Hatchet alike.
On our most-anticipated list since 1 November 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about Heart of the Wild
We have reviewed one of Patti Callahan Henry’s books so far: The Story She Left Behind, which we gave 4.5 out of 5.
From the publisher
New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry’s riveting new novel takes readers deep into the woods where the lives of two teenage girls—one lost and one hiding—will forever change.
The summer Emma McKinney turns fifteen, hope feels fragile. Her father is missing in action in Vietnam, and her mother—seeking escape as much as stability—accepts a teaching job in a remote mountain town. Emma, sensitive and intelligent, senses her mother has other reasons for their stay in Silverveil. Before she can press for answers, Emma is sent away to a youth group retreat with only her father's worn copy of The Call of the Wild for comfort.
On the last day of the retreat, Emma strays from the trail and becomes hopelessly lost. With no clear path back to camp, she relies on instinct, animal signs, and the vast, unyielding wild for guidance. As days go by and exhaustion, hunger, and fear begin to hollow her out, Emma’s fate feels uncertain. But she is not alone. Deep in the woods, another teenage girl is keeping watch—resourceful and determined to remain unseen. As they move through the same wilderness, their stories begin to collide, forcing them to discover their strength and will to survive.
Aching and gritty, Heart of the Wild is an atmospheric journey not only of perseverance, but of self-discovery and secrets whose roots run much deeper than just the forest floor.
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read Heart of the Wild yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
