Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things -- Wendelin Van Draanen

It's finally summer, and even though her arch-enemy, Heather Acosta, is halfway around the world, Sammy's bummed out and bored.  Marissa, Dot and Holly are all out of town. 

Her feelings about Casey Acosta are confusing and she finds herself doing things that she'd have mocked in the past:

I felt like one of those dingbat girls who walks back and forth past some guy's house, hoping he'll notice her.  How stupid did I want to be?  And what were the chances of Casey being here again?  Why didn't I just call him up if I wanted to hang out with him?

Sammy fans will be happy to know that even though she's a little boy-crazy, she really hasn't changed much:

So there I was, in the middle of a total mental spaz-out, when all of a sudden someone sneaks up behind me and pokes me in the ribs.

Before I can even think about what I'm doing, my elbow jabs back, punching deep into someone's stomach, and then wham, my fist flies up and back, smacking them in the face.

While she's haunting Sports Central mooning about Casey, Sammy runs into Cricket Kuo, who, upon discovering that Sammy's solo, invites her to go camping.

Sammy's never been camping, and she's certainly never hung out with Girl Scouts. 

After this trip, she might never do either again.

Disturbing gunshots, Casey Acosta, a break-in at the condor observatory, squabbling teenage girls, poachers, Marvin and Big Mama, a Girl Scout disappearance, more Casey Acosta, a taxidermist, ticks, wild boars, rattlesnakes, scorpions, poison oak and blisters, blisters, blisters:

She didn't ask about my feet, and I was glad.  They felt like bloody stumps of pain.

Eleven books into the series and I don't think Sammy Keyes will ever jump the shark.  Also, is it wrong that I have a bit of a crush on Casey Acosta?

Comments

[Erin]

I just read your review of 'Wildwood Dancing'; I had waited to do so until I'd read the book. I thought I'd better post my comments here or you probably wouldn't see them. :)

So...I obviously enjoyed it more than you did. I'm glad I own a copy and I will definitely be re-reading it again someday (if my TBR pile ever gets smaller. Which I doubt.) I loved your comparisons of Cezar to Gaston, and the three younger sisters to the Bennett sisters. Personally, I thought Jena strongly resembled Lizzie Bennett - I even mentioned so much in my review, before reading yours!

I enjoyed your thoughts on it. :)

[Shrieky]

Nah, I have a crush on him too. Then again, I'm the same age he is soooooooooooo, yah. Unless you say that he as 14 when the first book was published in which case he's older, then your crush isn't wrong but mine starts getting wierd. Usually I just say whatever works best for me. Also, is it just me or does Sammy use more italics in this book? I'm not sure if I just never noticed before or if it's a new thing.

[Leila]

Well, girly-girls use lots of italics, and she is getting a little more girly...

Also, I forgot to mention the one thing I didn't like about the book: All of the anti-crow sentiment. Crows RULE. They're smart and I love the way they hop. It's like the dandelion thing -- people don't like them because they are so common, but if they were less hardy and able to adapt, people would LOVE them.

[Shrieky]

I like dandelions and crows but seagulls are definitely not our friends. Just putting that out there, alerting the public to the seagull menace and all...
It'll be interesting to see Sammy getting more girly, possibly scary too. As long as Casey Acosta is still in it I'm good.

[Marissa]

Lucky for me, I'm also young enought to have a crush on Casey. Lucky Sammy! Anyway, if you are reading these reviews and totally mad nothing is about the book any more... I LOVED it. As Sammy (and I) grow with the books, the more I love them. They are definately worth your time to read.

this book rocks!the only thing that bugs me is not knowing what happens between casey and sammy.oh yeah i have a crush on him too.

this book is highly recommended.will sammy and casey ever get together?what happens with heather?wendelin van draanen leaves you wanting more.

2 words it ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=}

[Celeste]

Casey totally adds to the fun of the book. It's like super hard to read the book and not totally fall for him! (I did too ;D) Ahh... Sammy is sooooooooooooooooooooo lucky! I am soo jealous. anyways... I love the sammy keyes books! I mean, it is like so easy to relate to her. I think its really awesome that there is a book series whose heroine is funny, adventurous, and deals with real life problems (like boys) while she solves mysteries. Sammy keyes rocks. end of sentence.
Ps. Casey is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i read on google the series is ending at the end of 8th grade.casey is sooo hot

[alesha]

i love your books!!
you deffinatly need to write more sammy keyes.
shes my hero from a book!!!
hope you make more beacuse i've read them all and
i bet a lot more people have too.
your my favorite writer so i hope you write more!!

[namine]

wow, i LOVE the sammy keyes series its just SO good! i read this book in litteraly less than a day. im so mad i actually have to WAIT for the next one this time! GRR! and yeah, casey in the book makes it even more amazing! their so cute together!! i love how casey was in this book a lot!! and if the person who said the series is ending at the end of 8th grade...i hope ur right because that meens much more sammy! but the only sucky thing about 8th grade is that casey wont be around school...which makes us all sad. but im sure wendelin will put him in some where..........she better! :) anyway, these books ROCK! im in love with them, their really good. and wendelin van draanen is a VERY talented author! try reading some of her other books! i checked out one called "FLIPPED" its really intresting!

[mary]

omgg!! ii absolutely love the sammy keyes series!
everyone at skool thinks im crazy cause i read them all the time but i just cant get over her books!
she totally puts me into another world and i wish i had a bestie like sammy =]

ii really love casey! he seems like the perfect guy...

hopefully i'll get someone like him!

anyway i reccomend the series to everyone!

[Holl347]

OMG! I love Casey! Does anyone know how to pronounce his last name? I also don't now anything about when Sammy Keyes and The Cold Hard cash came out. Someone help me!
P.S. Casey is awesome!

Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash came out in bookstores on October 14, 2008. It is a really good book, so good that you want to read the thirteenth book, and the next one. It should be at all barnes and noble or borders, or amazon.com. What will happen in the next book and what will the title be? casey and heather's last name is pronounced like this (I think): uh-cost-ah(acosta).

Any information on the 13th book?

[Milagros]

Good luck with casey sammy !your my home girl!like my chica!I love this book because i'm a teenager like you!this book rocks!

[MILAGROS]

HEY REALLY GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOI CASEY!HE EVEN SOUNDS REALLY INTERSTING!GOOD LUCK CHICA WITH YOUR BOI!YOUR MY CHICA!AND ALSO LIKE MY HOME GIRL! YOU ARE MY CHICA!GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOI CASEY!YOU LOOK VERY GOOD TOGETHER! AN BE GOOD WITH YOUR INVESTIGATIONS!YOUR SINCERE FRIEND!GOOD LUCK CHICA!

[milagros]

HI ALL OF MY FRIENDS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL READ THIS BOOK!AND THEIR ALSO MY HOME GIRLS!MY CLASSMATES ARE TRYING TO BE SOME LITTLE GANGSTERTS!THEY CALL ME A WANABEE PRETTY GIRL BUT I'M NOT!I GET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[milagros]

bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lily]

heyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!! i can't believe this i just read the book and it's sooooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!! CASEY IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE !!!!!!!!! I HAVE GOT A MAJOR CRUSH ON HIM!!!!! HE IS SOOOOOOOOO HOT UR SOOOOOOOOOO LUCKY!!!!!!!!!! WENDELIN HAS 2 INCLUDE HIM IN THE REST OF THE sAMMY Keyes books!!!!!! Acosta is pronounced like that:P uh-cos-ta!!!!!
i know i'm not ur age but still(i'm 11) i just can't believe that u left casey in moustache mary but now ur together cool!!!!!!!!!! Bye!!!!!!!!!

[Pooja]

I love all the books. I know huh? Casey and Sammy do make a good couple.... I love all the he is in it makes it even more entertaining!!!!!