The Wild Way Home

Charlie Merriam's life changes when his baby brother is born with a heart condition. Unable to cope with his worry, Charlie runs to his favorite place - Mandel Forest - where he discovers he has traveled back thousands of years to the Stone Age. In this prehistoric world, Charlie meets a Stone Age boy called Harby who is searching for his missing family. The two form a bond despite their vastly different backgrounds and must work together to survive the dangers of the ancient forest. Through parallel stories set in the present and Stone Age, the narrative explores themes of family, courage, and finding one's way home. The book combines adventure and historical elements while examining how children process fear and face difficult situations.

Readers appreciate the blend of modern and Stone Age elements, with many noting the book helps children understand what life was like in prehistoric times. Parents report their 8-12 year olds connect with Charlie's emotional journey dealing with a sick newborn sibling. Readers highlight the strong themes of friendship, courage, and family bonds. Multiple reviews mention the book's success at addressing serious topics while remaining age-appropriate. Common criticisms include a slow start and some confusion about time travel mechanics. A few readers found the Stone Age dialogue hard to follow. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (100+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (50+ ratings) "A perfect mix of history and adventure" - Goodreads reviewer "The Stone Age sections felt authentic without being too complex" - Amazon review "Takes a while to get going but worth sticking with" - Toppsta reader review

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver A boy in prehistoric times forms a spiritual bond with a wolf while seeking revenge for his father's death, weaving together survival, ancient beliefs, and coming-of-age themes.

The Last Wild by Piers Torday In a world where animals cease to exist, a boy discovers he can communicate with the remaining creatures and must embark on a journey to save them.

The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan Twins discover their childhood imaginary world exists and must venture into it to rescue their grandfather, blending fantasy with reality.

The Explorer by Katherine Rundell Four children crash-land in the Amazon rainforest and must learn ancient survival skills to find their way back to civilization.

Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura A modern boy falls into a cave and time-travels to the Stone Age, where he learns prehistoric ways of life from a Stone Age family.

🌿 The book weaves together modern-day life with the Mesolithic period (Middle Stone Age), taking readers back approximately 12,000 years in time. 🏹 Author Sophie Kirtley conducted extensive research on Stone Age survival skills, including learning how to make fire using traditional methods. 🦌 The story features an authentic portrayal of aurochs - wild cattle that are now extinct but once roamed freely across Britain during the Mesolithic period. 💫 The book was shortlisted for multiple awards, including the Awesome Book Awards 2022 and the North Somerset Teachers' Book Award. 🌳 The forest setting was inspired by the ancient woodlands of Northern Ireland, where the author spent much of her childhood exploring and creating stories.