Twelve-year-old Ricky Chase has always felt invisible—just another foster kid lost in the shuffle of Manhattan. But when a mysterious visitor whisks him away to a hidden world inside the New York Times building, Ricky discovers he’s anything but ordinary.

At the American Preserve, denizens—kids who can transform into powerful animals—train to protect the world from the monstrous Skahdi. Ricky’s new friends can shift into wolves, horses, and egrets, but Ricky’s own animal form is a mystery, and his legacy ring may hold the key to a destiny bigger than he ever imagined.

As Ricky navigates magical waterslides, mind-bending riddles, and the fierce denizen Games, he uncovers secrets about his missing mother and a betrayal that could doom both worlds. When a Skahdi spy threatens everything Ricky cares about, he must decide who he truly is—and whether he has the courage to embrace the wild within.

Can Ricky unlock his true power in time to save his friends, his family, and the denizen world? Or will the darkness claim him first?

The Wild Within is a pulse-pounding middle grade fantasy full of transformation, adventure, and heart. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and Harry Potter, it will pull you into a hidden world where courage decides who you become.