Reviewed by Jessica Barbosa for Readers' Favorite

We the Wild Things is a young adult, adventure novel written by Brian McBride. Peter has been bouncing from one foster family to another. His caseworker, Eddie, is optimistic for him. He assures Peter that the Donahue family are good people. Eddie is trying hard to find him a home and a family but Peter already has a home and a family: his missing mother. Eventually, he meets the Donahue family and their two foster kids: Ruth and William. Ruth and William both know that foster care is a dangerous game. It’s a gamble; they don’t know what to expect with every new family they’re moved into. The Donahues aren’t like the other fosters and the siblings have gone through a lot to find them. They do their best not to mess it up with the Donahue couple. The arrival of the new kid, Peter, opens their eyes to the possibility of a new world called “Neverland”. It seems too good to be true but William and Ruth may be desperate enough to believe it.

Brian McBride has created a soul-stirring novel. Peter, Ruth, and William’s trials and adventures took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The book is done in a first-person narrative, the point of view switching between Peter, Ruth, and Will. McBride adeptly gives each character their voice and complicated pasts. Their struggles and viewpoints gave a heartrending depth to the story. I teared up in so many parts of this book, the desperation and tentative hope I could feel from the pages just pierces my heart. There are so many moments that left a deep impression on me, one of which is Will’s love for his sister and the lengths he is willing to go through just to protect her. One line that I will never forget from Will’s point of view is this: ‘I am just a brother, and that is all.’ Another one that stuck with me was Ruth’s thoughts: ‘What is there to be afraid of when you are loved?’ There are not enough words to express how moved I was by Peter, Ruth, and Will’s stories. They are incredible characters who have gone through so much and came out of their experiences so much stronger.

We The Wild Things is filled with adventures and intrigue that make it hard to put down. This book is beautiful, magical, and captivating. I will never forget the importance of family, of self-growth, and of having the courage to face the future despite the uncertainties ahead. We The Wild Things has taken me on an unforgettable, heartfelt journey, and like Peter, Ruth, and Will, I feel as if I have found my way home.