Wildlings Series by Charles de Lint

For the past six months, something has been happening to young people in Santa Feliz. Week after week, there’s news of another teen changing shape, transforming from human into wild animal and back again. Josh Saunders has seen the news reports, but he’s still unprepared when it happens to him. One minute he’s arguing with his mother’s boyfriend—and the next he has transformed into a mountain lion.Trusting only his best friends Des and Marina with his secret, Josh tries to return to normal life... moreFor the past six months, something has been happening to young people in Santa Feliz. Week after week, there’s news of another teen changing shape, transforming from human into wild animal and back again. Josh Saunders has seen the news reports, but he’s still unprepared when it happens to him. One minute he’s arguing with his mother’s boyfriend—and the next he has transformed into a mountain lion.Trusting only his best friends Des and Marina with his secret, Josh tries to return to normal life. But an encounter with Elzie, another Wildling, brings him unwanted attention from the authorities. And when an accidental betrayal reveals Josh’s secret, his carefully constructed cover is ripped apart. Josh’s friends must grudgingly put their trust in outsiders, including other Wildlings—and, most challenging, in each other—if they ever hope to save him. less

Josh Saunders knew his troubles weren’t over. He just never thought that everything would blow up as hard and fast as it has. Sure, he’s got a mountain lion living under his skin, but he still thought he could keep his head down and get a few days of respite.But life is still complicated in the once-quiet beach town of Santa Feliz. While Josh and the other teens-turned-Wildlings would love nothing more than to keep their identities hidden, others have different ideas... moreJosh Saunders knew his troubles weren’t over. He just never thought that everything would blow up as hard and fast as it has. Sure, he’s got a mountain lion living under his skin, but he still thought he could keep his head down and get a few days of respite.But life is still complicated in the once-quiet beach town of Santa Feliz. While Josh and the other teens-turned-Wildlings would love nothing more than to keep their identities hidden, others have different ideas. The FBI still have questions for Josh—and a bully is out to make sure that he doesn’t even think about trying to return to normal life, let alone keep his public façade up at school. In the meantime, several Wildling Elders view Josh as their prospective leader and ambassador between the human and Wildling communities … but unbeknownst to almost everyone, including Josh, another formidable Wildling Elder is determined to have him secretly murdered—by the hand of one of Josh’s friends. In this riveting coming-of-age novel, Josh faces powerful Wildling clashes, angry street gangs, a hateful bully, FBI investigators and perhaps even the loss of his very best friend and confidante, Marina. A compelling story, Over My Head is a page-turner told in classic de Lint fashion. less

The heart-pounding conclusion to the thrilling Wildlings trilogy. At the end of Over My Head, Josh has propelled himself into the Otherworld where he believes his former girlfriend Elzie is in imminent danger. He leaves behind his closest friends: Marina, whose fledgling romance with Theo is increasingly complicated by her undeniable feelings for Josh, and Des, who is trying to figure out his own role amongst his Wildling friends... moreThe heart-pounding conclusion to the thrilling Wildlings trilogy. At the end of Over My Head, Josh has propelled himself into the Otherworld where he believes his former girlfriend Elzie is in imminent danger. He leaves behind his closest friends: Marina, whose fledgling romance with Theo is increasingly complicated by her undeniable feelings for Josh, and Des, who is trying to figure out his own role amongst his Wildling friends. In this unpredictable world a side-step from our own, Josh discovers more about the awesome power he holds within as he deals with hostility from certain animal clans and elders. Back in Santa Feliz his friends are facing a huge anti-Wildling rally that threatens all Wildling teens with segregation and incarceration. In the most tense and perilous of circumstances in both worlds, Josh and his friends must rely on each other’s love, ingenuity and loyalty just to survive. less