Clay Carmichael

Dear Ms. Clay Carmichael: if you're reading this, please consider writing another children's novel, preferably with some of these same characters. Of course, I understand that Wild Things took you five years to complete, and that any hypothetical sequel (or other work - I would accept an unrelated story as well) might conceivably take just as long, but I know it will be worth the wait! Thank you.

I cannot recall the last time I encountered a character with as distinctive and winsome a voice show more as Zoë Royster, the eleven-year-old heroine of Clay Carmichael's middle-grade children's novel, Wild Things. Just as memorable is Mr. C'mere, the feral cat whose own narration is intermingled with Zoë's, and whose observations of human behavior left me shaken - with laughter, with anger, and with sorrow. The following two opening lines, from these two distrustful souls, each of whom has learned to keep the world at a distance:

"Humans were diggers and buriers, the cat thought, like dogs."

"I'd hoped for better, Henry's being a heart doctor. A job like that, you'd think he might actually have a heart."

both grabbed hold of me, dragging me wily-nily into the story, instantly involving me in each narrator's life. I hadn't read more than a few pages, when I knew that here were characters I cared about. By the end of the first chapter, I knew I loved them, and was feverishly racing ahead, hoping for that moment when each - wild things in their different ways - allowed themselves to be, not domesticated, but befriended.

This is the story of a precocious young girl who is sent to live with the half-uncle she never knew - an irritable former heart surgeon, and current world-renowned metal sculptor - after the death of her neglectful and mentally ill mother. Having learned by hard experience that adults "don't stick," Zoë is on the look-out for signs that Henry is looking for the exit signs. What she discovers instead, is a kindred spirit - a man who loves books as much as she does, who is as prickly as she is, and who understands her need for time and space of her own. A person who encourages her to be who she is, but also provides companionship, some (minimal) structure, and the protection she needs from some of the dangers of the adult world. In short: she discovers the parent she never knew she wanted.

But as much as Wild Things is Zoë's story, it is also the story of Mr. C'mere, an aging cat who has turned his back on human love, after witnessing one too many acts of violence and neglect. A cat who observes the humans around him, with a mixture of puzzlement and perceptive understanding that is by turns amusing and heartbreaking. In short, a cat who is Zoë's feline doppelganger. There are many "wild things" in this story, as it happens, from Zoë and Mr. C'mere, to Henry's sculptures and Henry himself, not to mention Sister and Wil, whose identity - once it was revealed - felt so right to me, that I didn't even mind that I had guessed it, some time before.

There are moments of absolute, fall-down-laughing hilarity here - as in the episode in which Mr. C'mere, convinced that the hosing off of the plastic flowers at the graveyard, after he urinates on them, indicates an effort to mark territory, proceeds to urinate on them all the more - and there are moments of stomach-clenching tragedy, from the death of loved ones, to the death of not-so-loved ones. Carmichael's prose is beautifully expressive, whether in girl or feline form, and she has the occasional turn of phrase - Mr. C'mere's description of the newborn orphan Wil, howling in his father's arms, as an "inconsolable noise," Zoë's observation, watching Henry and Fred at a funeral, that "though I didn't hear them exchange twenty words, I understood whole conversations taking place in the silence between them" - that stayed in mind long after I had finished reading.

With a feisty heroine who isn't afraid to say what's on her mind, regardless of the audience - "I focused all my energies on giving the Padre's Lord God Almighty, reportedly in Heaven, a piece of my agitated mind" - a cast of fascinating secondary characters, a feline that would win any reasonable person's heart, and many affectionate references to works of children's literature (particularly The Boy Who Drew Cats), Wild Things is a superb story! I am so very grateful to the Children's Fiction Club to which I belong, for making this our December selection, as I might not otherwise have picked it up! Truly, this is a little masterpiece! I'm waiting on Carmichael's next effort with barely restrained impatience... show less

The somewhat insecure ursine hero of Clay Carmichael's Bear at the Beach and Used-Up Bear returns in this third adventure, waking up one day to find that his human companion, Clara, is missing. Searching high and low, but unable to locate her, Bear eventually enlists the aid of an abandoned bunny and a stray cat who believes (or pretends to believe) that it is better to be on one's own. Bear knows better, of course, continuing his search, and eventually the cat knows better as well...

Anyone show more who read Carmichael's middle-grade novel, Wild Things, and fell in love with the stray cat, Mr. C'Mere, will instantly recognize the feline character in Lonesome Bear. I understand that the author/artist used her own cat as a model for Mr. C'Mere, and it would appear that she had done so before! Just as with the two previous installments of Bear's adventures, this was a rather melancholy book - the scene in which Bear speaks longingly of Clara's love for him, the bunny mentions the lost love of his boy, and the cat reflects on the fact that no one loves him (!), is particularly sad - although the conclusion offers a satisfactorily happy resolution.

With a gentle tale of love and reassurance, and charming watercolor illustrations, this little book would be an ideal selection for the young reader who feels a little lost, and wonders whether or not she is truly loved. Now, if only Clay Carmichael would create more of these charming picture-books - three is not enough! show less

Looking at himself in the mirror one day, Bear realizes that he is a little the worse for wear, with his white fur "as dingy as an old sock," frayed patches on his back, a loose eye, and a nose that has a tendency to pop right off. He's all used up, he concludes, and begins to imagine all the terrible things that will happen to him - being turned into a cleaning rag, tossed in the cellar, or sold at a thrift store - once Clara, the little girl with whom he lives, no longer wants him. show more Fortunately, Clara has her wits about her, and seeing which way the wind is blowing, she takes steps to help her friend regain his confidence...

Like Bear at the Beach - Clay Carmichael's first story to feature this adorable ursine hero (there is a third title as well, Lonesome Bear) - this is a story with a strong melancholy strain to it. Any young reader who has felt neglected, or feared that their imperfections would prevent others from loving them, will identify with Bear, and thrill to the conclusion of his tale, in which those feelings of fear and hurt are proved baseless. The illustrations, done in pen-and-ink and watercolor, and utilizing simple lines and muted but appealing colors, are just as charming as in the first Bear book. All in all, Used-Up Bear is a delightful tale, one I would recommend to young readers in need of reassurance, and to fans of Clay Carmichael's artwork. show less

"Wild Things" by Clay Cameron is a delightful read that strikes a perfect balance between warmth and wit. Cameron explores themes like found family, love, loss, and redemption, all without slipping into sentimentality. Her characters, both young and old, are refreshingly human—flawed, yet deeply caring. The relationships in the novel feel genuine, as the characters learn to accept and support each other in their own beautifully imperfect ways.

Cameron’s writing is direct yet vivid, show more bringing the story to life without unnecessary embellishments. Her ability to steer clear of the typical pitfalls of one-dimensional characters is commendable, creating a world where "good" and "bad" are more than just black-and-white labels. Instead, her characters are complex, nuanced, and wholly relatable.

I found myself wishing I could spend an evening with Zoe and her uncle, discussing art, cats, and the many layers of life that Cameron so masterfully weaves into this novel. "Wild Things" is a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page, not because of grand gestures or melodrama, but because of its honest, heartfelt storytelling. show less