Running Wild

By Michael Morpurgo

The epic and heart-rending jungle adventure from the nation’s favourite storyteller Michael Morpurgo.

For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn’t just a holiday. It’s an escape, a new start, a chance to put things behind them – things like the death of Will’s father.

And to begin with, it seems to be just what they both needed. But then Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. And that’s when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run. Except that when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running.

With nothing on his back but a shirt and nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he’s not completely alone…

He’s got Oona.

Format: Paperback
Ageband: from 9
Release Date: 27 May 2010
Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0-00-726702-6
Michael Morpurgo OBE is one of Britain's best-loved writers for children, and has sold more than 35 million books around the world. He has written more than 150 novels and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Whitbread Award and the Blue Peter Book Award, while several of his books have been adapted for stage and screen, including the global theatrical phenomenon War Horse. Michael was Children’s Laureate from 2003 to 2005, and founded the charity Farms for City Children with his wife, Clare. He was knighted in 2018 for services to literature and charity.

Related Articles

Running Wild Live | New Tour Dates

Michael Morpurgo’s novel Running Wild, based on a true story, is brought to lush life with extraordinary heart, vibrant colour and exceptional creativity, wowing audiences of all ages and critics alike. Directed by Timothy Sheader and Dale Rooks with puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié,… Read More

Running Wild Live | New Tour Dates

Michael Morpurgo’s novel Running Wild, based on a true story, is brought to lush life with extraordinary heart, vibrant colour and exceptional creativity, wowing audiences of all ages and critics alike. Directed by Timothy Sheader and Dale Rooks with puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell and… Read More

Running Wild Pre-show Talk with Michael Morpurgo and Kate Mosse

Join Michael Morpurgo and Kate Mosse, author of famed novel Labyrinth, as they hold a pre-show talk, at Chichester Festival Theatre, for the stage adaptation of Michael’s novel, Running Wild. Lasting approximately 45 minutes, these one-off pre-show talks will offer incredible insights into how productions develop from thoughts and ideas, through the rehearsal process,… Read More

On Tour: Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild

On Elephant Appreciation Day, Children’s Touring Partnership announced the first UK Tour of Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo in an adaptation by Samuel Adamson, beginning at Chichester Festival Theatre on 10 February 2017. Michael Morpurgo’s novel, based on a true story, is brought to life in this award-winning production, which has been… Read More

Meet the inspiration behind ‘Running Wild’!

Michael Morpurgo’s novel, Running Wild, was inspired by a small newspaper article 12 years ago and now the author is set to be reunited with the little girl featured in it. Following an interview with the author, The Telegraph managed to track down the young girl, Amber Owen,… Read More