Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Violet and Jobie in the Wild is a well written illustrated adventure story for middle grade readers by Lynne Rae Perkins. Released 30th Nov 2022 by HarperCollins on their Children's imprint, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. Paperback due out 3rd quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
This is an engaging and sensitively told story about a pair of anthropomorphic sibling mice who are trapped in a box by the humans who live in the house they call home and dumped in the wilderness of a park far away from the only place they've ever known. There are dangers aplenty for two small young rodents, but there are also adventures and friends to be found along the way as well.
The story is enhanced by the author's charcoal illustrations. They're full of small details which invite a closer look and they provide a nice counterpoint to the story. There are some slightly scary parts, but nothing too graphic or unpleasant. I found the ending bittersweet, but not a deal-breaker. It's a surprisingly grown-up ending for a middle grade book, but overall well done.
Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition as well as home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by annieb123 on
Reading updates
- 4 February, 2023: Started reading
- 4 February, 2023: Finished reading
- 4 February, 2023: Reviewed