Published by: Sleeping Bear Press
Grade Level: 3 - 6
The Wildes: The Amazon, 2023, Book 1
Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-1534113411
Roland Smith has written a new series of three books about a family involved in caring for animals in different ways. The main characters are Ring and Asia Wilde, children of Drs. Jack and Jane Wilde who are scientists working to save endangered species. In book 1, Ring and Asia are with their mom who is working to save the Golden Lion Tamarin monkeys. When the kids arrive to spend time helping their mom, they wonder where she is and figure out that she has been kidnapped. The habitat where the Golden Lion Tamarins live is protected, but some local people want the GLTs gone so they can mine gold in that area.
The book is full of action and adventure. Ring and Asia, along with their tutor, Professor Bob, work together to find Dr. Jane and hope to save the GLT habitat.
The Wildes: The Vaquita, 2023, Book 2
Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-1534113077
Book 2 tells the story of the vaquita, a type of porpoise that is threatened with extinction. Ring and Asia have arrived in The Sea of Cortez where their father, Jack, is setting up a conference to shed attention on the nearly extinct vaquita. Ring and Asia again get involved with some bad people who don’t care about the vaquita and want them gone.
The Wildes: Captivity, 2024, Book 3
Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-1534113299
I have not yet read the third book of the series titled Captivity, but the first two books are exciting and very typical of Roland Smith’s books. I expect this book to be more of the same. Apparently the story continues as the family goes back to the wildlife sanctuary in Glen Rose, Texas that they own and operate.
If your library does not have Roland Smith’s books, I highly recommend them. Reluctant readers love them and read them again and again. The only ones I have come across that I would not put in my SDA school library is the IQ series. In that series, one character seems to be immortal, and shows up to help the young people. I read the series a few years ago and enjoyed it very much and was ready to buy the set, and then I read about the character that seemed to be immortal. I do recommend the following series books by Roland Smith.
Peak Marcello Adventure series: Peak, The Edge, Ascent, Descent
Storm Runners: Storm Runners, The Surge, Eruption
The Cryptid Hunters: Cryptid Hunters, Tentacles, Chupacabra, Mutation
Zach’s Lie, Jack’s Run
Reviewed by Audrey Campbell, MED
Reading Specialist and Library Media Center Director
Valley Adventist Schools, Rogers Campus
