WILDHOOD :: Natterson-Horowitz and Bowers

A version of this review previously appeared in Shelf Awareness and is republished here with permission.

Advice on "how to ask out a whale" may not seem a typical means to teach about adolescence, but evolutionary biologist and physician Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and science journalist Kathryn Bowers make such compelling and scientific connections between humans and animals that readers will come to believe that one can learn a trick or two from our fluked friends. In Wildhood, a follow-up to their acclaimed Zoobiquity, the authors explore the crucial stage between childhood and adulthood across the animal kingdom.

Safety, status, sex and self-reliance are the four universal challenges adolescents must navigate while transforming successfully into adulthood. Each is illustrated through one of the following points of view: Ursula, a king penguin who risks death from a voracious Antarctic predator she has never seen before on her first trip away from her parents; Shrink, a socially adept hyena pup born on the bottom of the ladder who rises through the hierarchy; Salt, a humpback whale who learns the complicated dating rituals of her species; and Slavc, a young wolf who sets out on a solitary journey to find his forever home.

Having identified the "core four" competencies to be mastered by every adolescent on earth, the team presents their cross-species theories in a highly entertaining yet skillfully informative format that will engross animal lovers and parents alike. Without anthropomorphizing, one still can't help but fall in love with these animals and, by association, hopefully gain some understanding and empathy for human adolescents. Wildhood is a roller-coaster ride through nature's wonders.

STREET SENSE:  A cool cross between the human and animal worlds, I fell in love with each of these creatures (some more than others, not always in direct correlation with how interesting the point of the arc was) and also did come out with more empathy for human adolescents. Who can be such a true pain in the ass (Not talking about you, KRK!) I dug this one and it was apparently recently highlighted on NPR, so I'm going to check that out and also will be reading Zoobiquity.

COVER NERD SAYS: Fuckin' baby lions. Pretty much says it all.