– Jump down to the spoiler-free summaries. –
Read on to discover a delightful series that is a practically perfect read-aloud. It would also make a lovely gift, because the physical books are gorgeous! Below I’ll answer as many questions as I can and hopefully bring a new treasure to your shelves…
What is the Wilderking series all about?
This adventurous trilogy follows Aidan, a young shepherd boy whose quiet life in the pastures is interrupted by unique challenges. As he makes new (and very memorable) friendships with swamp people, navigates new foes, and embarks on various journeys, readers will see Aidan growing in courage, faith, and leadership. He faces dangers from men (battles!), animals (alligator wrestling!), and nature (floods!), and readers see them shape Aidan’s character in positive and relatable ways. With many laugh-out-loud moments and age-appropriate suspense, families will love reading this series aloud. Underneath it all is a well-designed biblical allegory, making it even richer.
At what age can children read The Wilderking Trilogy?
No two families are the same, so the age which each deems appropriate for their children will vary. On the safe side, however, I put a minimum of seven (7) years old for each of the books. Sensitive listeners might struggle with fighting scenes, but they are brief and resolve well in time. Age 8 or 9 might better for those children. There is a death in the third book that might bring some grief. For older children, the suspense will be less intense but still captivating.
Are there any bad words?
In the first book, The Bark of the Bog Owl, the word “stupid” is said twice. In the second book, The Secret of the Swamp King, “moron” is said once, and “stupid” is said twice. I did not note any other language which can concern careful parents.
Is there romance in The Wilderking Trilogy?
There are brief mentions of attractions in the second and third book, but it’s kept appropriate and a very mild part of the stories. There is no kissing, except for two instances in book 3. First, women come out to kiss all the men they see as heroes coming to save them (not romantic). Second, a man is telling an exaggerated campfire story about a woman kissing a cow to practice for her upcoming marriage. It was brief, comical relief. Each book’s end pages write out various song lyrics and poems that are either a part of or mentioned in the main story pages. In these of the third book, there are “love” sonnets…but they are funny. Example line:
“Your breath is gentle like a swampy breeze–
Except your breath don’t smell like swamp-gas none.”
How long are the books?
Book 1: The Bark of the Bog Owl
Physical book: 258 pages
Audiobook: 5 hours
Book 2: The Secret of the Swamp King
Physical book: 250 pages
Audiobook: 4 hours, 41 minutes
Book 3: The Way of the Wilderking
Physical book: 234 pages
Audiobook: 4 hours, 20 minutes
And, fun fact: Jonathan Rogers reads the audio version himself! This is always helpful when the world is imagined and names are fantastical and quirky. It’s interesting to see how our pronunciations match up with the author’s.
About the Author
And since we’re speaking of him… Rogers holds a PhD in seventeenth-century English literature from Vanderbilt University, which shows in his talented ability to communicate and paint vivid pictures with words. One thing I noticed throughout the series is his obvious love and respect for God’s creation. The nature descriptions are delicious, and there is even a theme of stewardship in the second book when certain beloved birds are being slaughtered for their feathers. If you’re familiar with Georgia’s swampy wilderness, you’ll appreciate quite a few scenes! Jonathan provides resources and community space for writers (here’s his site) and has written many other books, though I’ve personally only read the three Wilderking stories.
About the Illustrator
If you search Joe Hox’s name on this site, you’ll find my family and I are big fans of his work (there are a lot of his books reviewed on here). When The Rabbit Room (more on them below) published the 20th anniversary version of The Wilderking Trilogy (originally published by B&H Publishing), they also added Hox’s talent in the form of new book illustrations. Here are examples:
You can find Joe here: website, Facebook, Instagram, Etsy
About the Other Illustrators
The new covers were designed by Stephen Crotts (website, Instagram) and the map (and older editions) were drawn by Abe Goolsby (website, Facebook, Instagram).
Resources from The Rabbit Room
If you’re loving this series or want some more formal additions to your home education plan, The Rabbit Room provides a whole curriculum guide as a free download – find it here.
That link also has coloring sheets and other neat things! Funny enough, I discovered these resources just minutes before writing this. It is my habit to make my own printables when writing an Ultimate Guide for a series, so I am glad they didn’t have a word search…because that’s what I had already made for this series. My children tell me it’s a hard one, just a heads up. Ha! One click on the photo below and it’ll be on your device (or you can find it in the Printables tab).
And if you and your children are super nerds and can’t get enough of the feechie culture, The Rabbit Room has even posted one of their swamp shanties on YouTube (link)!
Now without any more scrollings, here are summaries of each book:
Book 1: The Bark of the Bog Owl
A boy named Aidan finds his quiet life as a shepherd suddenly unfolding into something greater. Blending medieval-style adventure with rich nature writing, the story explores themes of courage, truth, loyalty, and faithfulness to both friends and God. Biblical allegory is woven into the plot without overshadowing the engaging characters and suspenseful storytelling. Young readers will easily relate to Aidan as he learns that true courage means choosing what is right even when it is frightening.
– full review –
– buy on Amazon –
– buy from The Rabbit Room –
– buy from Grace & Truth –
Book 2: The Secret of the Swamp King
Aidan is sent on a quest by the suspicious king which seems certain to end in death. The story blends adventure, mystery, and humor while continuing to explore themes of loyalty, courage, stewardship of nature, and trust in the One God. Readers will especially love the lively feechie folk, whose quirky customs and fierce loyalty add both comedy and heart to the tale. The book concludes with a dramatic cliffhanger, so have the next book ready!
– full review –
– buy on Amazon –
– buy from The Rabbit Room –
– buy from Grace & Truth –
Book 3: The Way of the Wilderking
The final book of the trilogy finds Aidan leaving the Feechiefen Swamp, where he has lived for three years, to help defend the nation of Corenwald. As enemies threaten the land, the story explores themes of unity, faithful leadership, courage, teamwork, and even a touch of archaeology. Aidan’s growth from servant to leader–mirroring the biblical story of David–shines through as he works to bring divided groups together against a common foe. With exciting but age-appropriate tension and meaningful allegorical elements, it provides a satisfying and thoughtful conclusion to the Wilderking trilogy.
– full review –
– buy on Amazon –
– buy from The Rabbit Room –
– buy from Grace & Truth –
Further Reading Recommendations
Below are some recommendations–all would make great read-alouds but they’re good for solo reads, too. You’ll find a mixture of genres in the list. If they have a review, it’ll be linked.
Series to Check Out:
The Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis)
Beyond the Orphan Train (Richardson)
Green Ember (Smith)
The Wingfeather Saga (Peterson)
Ranger in Time (Messner)
The Rescuers (Sharp) – I’ve only read the first 3, but they’re great.
Stand-Alone Chapter Books to Check Out:
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (O’Brien)
Heidi (Spyri)
101 Dalmatians (Smith)
Tirzah (Travis)
Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery)
Caleb’s Lamb (Santos)
The Railway Children (Nesbit)
The Lonely Sentinel (Prins)
A Touch of Blue (Christie)
Pollyanna (Porter)
God King (Williamson)
The Farthest-Away Mountain (Banks)
Lad: A Dog (Terhune)
What Katy Did (Coolidge)
Straw into Gold (Schmidt)
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic (Trafton)
If you’re looking for younger-aged children who are just starting to read longer books, check out my Bridge Books list. There are lots of ideas over there. All other book lists can be found here.
The End
We’ve come the end of another series guide! If you appreciate Ultimate Guides like this one, check out a few more: The Rwendigo Tales, Ranger in Time, or the Dream Keeper Saga. I’m always reading and reviewing books for children from a biblical worldview, so if that interests you, follow on Instagram or sign up for [a very spaced-out] email newsletter. It’s a joy to do this, and I hope this guide has been helpful!
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