Wild Bird

Wild Bird follows the story of Wren Clemmens, a troubled teenager whose parents send her to a wilderness therapy camp in the Utah desert in order to help her overcome her issues with substance abuse and reckless behavior. The context of this form of therapy plays an important role in Wren’s journey throughout the novel. Wilderness therapy represents an experiential model that combines experiences in the outdoors (from full immersion in the wild to adventure activities) with more traditional therapy sessions (Gupta, Sanjana. “What Is Wilderness Therapy?” Verywell Mind, 2022). Although it can be used to help families and adult couples as well, the main target audience for this form of therapy is the so-called “troubled adolescent” (Gupta). Wilderness therapy programs are used to address a host of issues, from poor grades and low self-esteem to more clinical mental health issues such as substance abuse and addiction, depression, and eating disorders (Schneider, Ari. “What Happened at Wilderness Therapy: A Look Inside the Outdoor Branch of the ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry.” Teen Vogue, 2022). This widespread application explains the diverse range of backgrounds amongst Wren’s fellow campers, for the group includes adjudicated teens to young girls who come from complicated family backgrounds.