When I requested and early copy, I was not quite expecting this sort of book. It was more of a book of the authors personal adventures. That’s not to say it was bad. It could be informative for people who are into a specific sort of travel. I personally don’t relate too much with it. You do learn some good information and the author does give suggestions of travel. In general, it’s not bad. ( )

This was not what I expected. I expected a book about encouraging young girls to go out and explore their own neighborhoods with simple but exciting ideas. There are small sections of this book that try to do that but mostly it is an autobiography. I would be interested in seeing how many times "I" is used in this book. The author's adventures are far from typical. She explores the Amazon and South Pole with professionals. These are things regular girls can't do. The author acknowledges that by saying, instead of going down the Amazon, build your own raft and float down a local river. "All you need is a wood pallet, two empty plastic drums, lots of rope and a patient parent." Seriously, this is not realistic. I don't know where to find empty plastic drums. I did encourage my children to explore, but we did white water rafter with professionals instead of trying to make a raft with supplies that are impossible to find and possibly dangerous when assembled. Other ideas such as sledding and snowball fights and going to a rock climbing wall gym are too common and no one needs to suggest these to parents looking for ways to get their children active outdoors. I didn't get any new ideas reading this. It reads like a reference book instead of a biography so it's not even good for that. Biographies are readable cover to cover, this is not. ( )

I love that this book is so honest in its portrayal of what preparation is needed in order to have these incredible adventures. I also like that it doesn't shy away from discussing the blisters and the bruises and the other less than desirable side effects of being an adventurer. Highly recommended that it find a place on classroom shelves where it will not stay for very long. ( )

This charming adventure guide, written by BBC presenter Helen Skelton and illustrated by Liz Kay is sure to inspire upper grade and pre-teen readers to plan their own adventures. From running an Ultra Marathon in the heat of Namibia to walking a tightrope high above London, Skelton relates all of the preparations that went into her adventures and then what happened the day of. What I love about this book, besides the charming illustrations that accompany real-life photos of each adventure, is that Skelton doesn’t shy away from talking about the immense amount of preparation she had to do to accomplish each of her goals, nor does she omit the bra blisters, bruises, and mental challenges associated with each task. Each section of the book also includes some “closer to home” adventures (if you can’t make it to Antarctica, indoor rock wall climbing is suggested as a way to train for ice climbing, for example), while a Wild Girl Wall of Fame tells the story of other female adventurers. ( )

Helen Skelton’s WILD GIRL: HOW TO HAVE INCREDIBLE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES is a delightful book. Aimed at girls nine to twelve, it provides a narration of Skelton’s extreme adventures in snow, heat, water, and air, all told in a plucky, no-nonsense voice. Being the armchair adventurer, vicariously exploring the dangerously frigid Antarctic on a bicycle or the funk of the Amazon in a kayak, makes for an engaging, invigorating read. Through it all, Skelton cheerily encourages readers to get out and try something challenging, frightening, wild!

Helen Skelton has had the chance to take part in some astonishing adventures and acknowledges that her experiences are extraordinary. She notes repeatedly that she has a team of support people, plus friends and family who cheer her on. Interestingly, she also notes, in each adventure, that people told her she couldn’t do the thing she set out to do — which, of course, spurs her on. And while this admission is real and humbling, it may also help girls who have been told “Girls can’t...” and “Girls don’t...” to redouble their efforts to accomplish their own goals, in whatever realm of life they aim to pursue.

There’s a strong habit of directing young readers to books about their own areas of interest — encouraging athletic kids to read about sports, for instance, or encouraging musical kids to read about musicians. There’s nothing wrong with this practice, but it can be limiting. A book like WILD GIRL could be valuably put into the hands of a non-athletic but bright girl, who may perceive the parallels between being told a woman can’t run an ultramarathon in the desert and being told a woman can’t succeed at politics, or at physics and math, or at medical research, or ... Which is to say that, while Skelton’s experiences may be outlandish and absolutely depend on a support crew to make them happen, the example of dreaming big alongside other girls and women is something I want for all girls everywhere. The mini-profiles of adventurous women around the world may also spur readers to imagine their own wild dreams and the personal and emotional resources needed to accomplish them.

This short book could be enjoyed by boys as well as girls, if boys are given the opportunity to read it. Although girls are Skelton's audience, Skelton's adventures will appeal to anyone who appreciates at least the idea of extreme sports — and it may be beneficial for a generation of boys to grow up taking for granted that anyone can have exciting outdoor adventures. Beyond the extremes, the book provides more realistic and scalable adventures one might chase: although most of the “Where to go” locales are out of reach of most readers, there are low-cost and no-cost options that one could try alone or with friends (and reliable adult supervision, of course).

I read an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book and will be looking for the full-colour finished book in stores soon. WILD GIRL is an inspiring, aspirational book that will add importantly to school and classroom libraries. I enthusiastically recommend it. ( )