Emma's New Life by Paul Wilson is the story of Emma, a hedgehog living beneath the Great Tree in the Grand Wood. She has friends who also live nearby: Jeremy, a squirrel; Nigel, a fish; Gwendolyn, a bird; and Olivia, a deer. Emma wakes up one morning and decides her life is boring. Despite her friends’ protests and compliments, Emma believes their lives are more exciting than hers. She travels to the edge of the Grand Wood in search of new friends and adventures so she will not be bored anymore. As night falls, Emma misses her little burrow and must decide where to sleep. She finds a strangely shaped cave that is not what she thinks it is until it is too late. So begins a series of adventures that Emma never dreamed of. Will she ever find her way home again?

Emma's New Life by Paul Wilson is a familiar tale of talking animals with very human feelings. Each animal has its own hopes and fears while facing life in the Valley of the Great Tree in the Grand Wood. Such names make us remember traditional tales we have been charmed by. The importance of friendship is prominent in this story of Emma, who only wants to find what she is missing in her life. She is willing to leave her home and beloved friends behind to wipe away her boredom. This is a challenge that we all face in life: to discover new experiences, both fun and frightening, and learn lessons from them. By the end of this well-paced book, readers young and old are reminded not only of the comfort in familiar faces and places but also the need for adventure and growth.

Emma is a hedgehog who feels she is leading a dull life, and that her friends lead a far more exciting life than her. She keeps complaining about how all of them have so much excitement in their lives, however, she barely has any lively moments in hers. She yearns for an adventure. One day, her wish is granted, and she finds herself transported to a completely different world, the world of humans. She tries adjusting to her new surroundings but soon finds herself out of her depth, facing threatening situations she could never have imagined. Will Emma be forever trapped in the cruel world of the humans, or will she return to her beloved woods? Read Emma’s New Life by Paul G Wilson to find out.

Paul G Wilson’s Emma’s New Life is a captivating children’s book, best suited for middle-grade readers. However, I will be bold enough to say the book will appeal to even the Young Adult audience. Wilson knows how to hold the attention of his readers, especially his target audience. Wilson crafts a smoothly flowing tale of adventure. He vividly portrays the various animals such as Emma herself, Olivia the deer, Nigel the fish, Gwendolyn the bluebird, the wolf, the bear, etc. A parent will be delighted to read this story aloud to their child; the child will also enjoy reading this story.

The story highlights the importance of friendships in life. It also emphasizes the fact that ordinary is good. In the rat race to achieve the extraordinary, we often fail to appreciate the ordinary things that provide structure in life. Most importantly, it provides a valuable lesson to the target audience to treat animals with respect and care. These creatures are not toys to be played with. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and therefore highly recommend it.