Wild by Alex Mallory

I can't even imagine growing up in the woods.  No house or cabin; only a cave and a cot.  No electricity, no technology, no refrigerator with food.....yet that is exactly how Cade is growing up.  At the age of 4 Cade's parents removed their family from civilization.  They feared a pandemic was about to kill humankind and wanted to avoid the disaster. Cade is now 17 years old. He honestly believes that he is the only human survivor of a terrible disease.  Both his parents are dead and he is alone in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Dara and her boyfriend, Josh are spending spring break camping in the forest.  Dara continually has that "creepy feeling" that someone is watching them.  That "someone" happens to be Cade. When a grizzly bear attacks the two of them, Cade comes to the rescue.  He is injured and needs medical attention. 

Cade receives the help that he needs, but authorities are perplexed.  Who is this "primitive boy"?  Initially the doctors and police don't believe Cade's story.  Who would believe that someone has lived off the land for 12 years?  Who doesn't know what a cell phone, computer......or even school is?  But Cade really doesn't understand anything about life in the 21st century.  Dara is trying to help the best she can....she feels a connection with Cade.  What will she risk to get closer to him?

I always love survival stories....and this modern-day "Tarzan" story fits the bill.  If I have a criticism it is that it was too long.
#owhsreads