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Where the world turns wild

By Nicola Penfold @nicolapenfold and http://www.nicolapenfold.com

Cover image by Kate Forrester @forrester_kate https://www.theartworksinc.com/portfolio/kate-forrester/

Published by: Stripes Publishing @StripesBooks

Published on: 6th February 2020

ISBN: 978 1 78895 152 4 £6.99

First line: Once upon a time, almost 50 years ago, climate change and deforestation and humans ransacking everything good and beautiful, had driven our planet to breaking point.

Genre: Adventure, Environment, Epic Journey, Dystopian Future, Science Fiction

Age: 9+

What’s it all about? It’s some time in the future. The world is a dystopia nightmare. A virus was released by a group of activists worried about how humans were affecting the Earth. Now most people huddle together in cities never venturing to the world outside and it never gets in…Our two main characters, Juniper and Bear (children of ‘Rewilders’) live in just such a city and yearn to go to the wild and find their parents. To begin with its just a dream, but soon they are needed by the scientists and therefore need to escape!

Why should I read it? Apart from the first line, which I find too preachy, I absolutely loved this story. I loved the characters and how they talk – Juniper’s thought process is great to hear – her worries and challenges. Bear is young and sweet and talks like that too. As you read through the chapters you are slowly but cleverly pulled into this world, this city, where everyone tries to survive without ever getting anything new or wild. As the story progresses you really want the children to succeed in their quest. The description is beautiful and the story rolls along at a good pace, with challenges at the right moments to keep you guessing. It really feels as though its written by an author with their own unique voice. It reminds me a little of Jess Butterworth or Eva Ibbotson. A wonderful read about an important topic. WARNING, SPOILER: This might be a challenging read for some children as the mum dies in the end.

Thank you to a former colleague who lent it to me (Daniel) and the Cheltenham Festival for their programme: Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils. It’s great to join if you haven’t done so!