Where The World Turns Wild

This is a charming dystopia about how society copes when it has to turn its back on the natural world. For our wild protagonists, the safety is not worth the cost and when that society becomes a danger as well they take their chances outside in search of their family's community out in the wild.

macbeths

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I honestly couldn't put it down. Juniper and Bear were such likeable characters that I became so invested in their journey into the wild that I was actively shouting at them to be careful whilst reading! Their friendship, familial bond, perseverance and character development was outstanding and a true pleasure to read. 5 out of 5 from me!

daisyhogarth

This book's dystopian setting immediately intrigued me. Juniper and Bear are such lovable characters and their journey to find their mother is moving but also fast paced. Particularly in the current climate of the pandemic and our increased realisation that we need to take climate change seriously, this is a thought-provoking read which will be enjoyed by UKS2 children and adults alike.

mrspbookworm

Read during the aftermath of a pandemic and lockdown, the opening really struck a chord, ‘a disease so complex , so shifting’. A great book to link to teaching about climate change for KS2. Fingers crossed for a sequel.

slednor

Such a magical book, I couldn't stop reading it. It made me want to go outside. Very relatable characters and I learnt a lot about plants/animals! Pure magic. Was recommended this book and I wasn't disappointed. Beautiful imagery and love the front cover too!

gemmakat

This is a story that you can truly get lost in. Following Juniper and Bear as they escape the confines of a city they don't belong in to return to the wild. It is set in a time when a virus, carried by ticks has been created to infect the population in order to allow for the wild to return. Those who live in cities are barricaded in away from any living creatures and plants, apart from the few plants allowed to be grown in 2 palm houses. Juniper and Bear were born in the wild and were sent to the city to be raised by their grandmother but they need to return to the wild, their lives depend on it and although only young they take on the adventure. This story is heart felt, it makes you consider what life would be like without the trees and plants, without fresh water and the animals we know. You feel like you are there travelling with Juniper and Bear and you want them to succeed in their quest. This book is a true classic of the future and I would recommend it to both adults and children, as a story to enjoy with the taste of what could happen to our world if we don't appreciate what we have around us. I also particularly love Ghost, not to give anything away but Ghost plays a key role in Juniper and Bears journey.

MrsB'slibrary

This was a great adventure story that I couldn’t put down. All the characters were great but especially Bear and ghost. I would definitely recommend this.

aliworgan

Wow! I was attracted to this by the front cover. Reading the blurb I thought adventure but it’s so much more. This is dystopian fiction, where a man made virus has killed most people on earth - an imagined tale but close to reality. The book tells the journey of Juniper and Bear as they escape the caged city to be reunited with with their parents and their home in the wild. I loved the characters, They are brave, scared, uncertain but ready to take risks. The love and affection they for each other ensures they overcome peril, hardship to find the belonging they crave. This book is also asking us to question our behaviour towards the wild and the impact it’s having. I loved this. Beautifully written, and compelling.

Hollyhocks

A beautiful story of family, friendship and finding the place where you belong in the world. Told in a future Britain where people live apart from nature because of a virus caused by a tick, this story highlights the damage humans have caused and continue to cause on the environment. The relationship between Juniper and Bear is described wonderfully and helps you connect to the characters.

Dennisc

Juniper is thirteen and lives in the city with her little brother Bear. To the children, this city seems like a cage, as they used to live in the Wild. Leaving the city and returning to their mother has always been their dream. But this is a time when the world has changed. Fifty years previously a group calling themselves the Rewilders, let lose a deadly disease, which killed a huge proportion of the population and now the remnants must live in the city, allowing the world to recover from the pollution and ill treatment. Juniper and Bear’s relationship is at the heart of this story. Juniper feels responsible for her little brother and tries to care for him as best she can. Then one day they are forced to leave the city and return to the Wild. But not all wild is good or safe. Juniper and Bear have to face the Wild and take it head on. This is a wonderful book which, whilst filled with tension from the opening pages, allows the reader to travel with Juniper and Bear as they try to escape the confines of the city. There is nothing that is impossible to believe in this story; no extraordinary technology or huge advances, and that is what makes it so powerful. At the centre is the conundrum of the Rewilders killing huge numbers of people to protect the Earth and this allows for the reader to consider what people are doing to this world and why it needs to change. This is never done in any sort of preachy way and is always contained in the plotline. Whilst I really wanted to finish the book and find out what happened, I felt sad leaving Juniper and Bear once I had finished. This book did not try and answer every question or tie up every lose end and it is the better for it as it allows you to think about the issues raised and how uncomfortable they actually are. This is my favourite book of the year so far

Jach