One of the central theme of the book is hinted at in the title itself, for the “wild” 14-year-old Wren is sent to wilderness therapy camp to deal with a host of issues, from substance abuse to delinquent behavior. As the story unfolds, the isolation and loneliness at the heart of Wren’s issues emerges, and she feels unmoored and unsettled. This dynamic is further exacerbated by a not-yet-cohesive sense of personal identity. Thus, the moniker of “Wild Bird” is a fitting epithet that she comes to embrace as she moves beyond the issues of her troubled past.

Wren’s search for identity and belonging is what draws her to Meadow. It is significant that the two girls bond over their shared dislike of their respective names. In Wren’s case particularly, this dislike signifies her rejection of her family’s expectations, especially because she believes she has tried and failed at living up to them. Wren resents the comparisons made between her and Annabella, who is pretty, popular, and makes friends easily. Similarly, she is constantly irritated by the associations people make using her name, such as Dax’s teasing, or her mother addressing her as “Baby Bird” in a letter.

At camp, however, Wren joins an environment where people know about her past and still take her at face value instead of jumping to unfavorable conclusions.