By Nicola Penfold (author) Part of the Where the World Turns Wild series
"A thrilling eco- survival adventure set in a dystopian vision of our near future"
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February 2020 Debut of the Month
Debut novelist Nicola Penfold has talked of inspiration from reading about what author Richard Louv called “nature-deficit disorder”. Her strong belief that humans need a connection with nature to be truly happy shines through this powerful story and the creation of the nightmare world that Juniper and her little brother, Bear inhabit.
They live with their grandmother in a walled city from which nature has been banished, following an apocalyptic tick-borne disease released by ReWilders willing to sacrifice humans to save the planet. Fifty years on nature flourishes beyond the walls. Within them humans struggle to artificially create what they need to live.
Juniper and Bear have always known they have a resistance to the disease, just as they know that their parents are still living in the wild. Juniper always planned their eventual escape, but they must leave urgently when the authoritarian regime reveals a dangerous scheme to farm their blood. What follows is a thrilling and utterly convincing escape and a perilous journey.
The rigours of outdoor living and survival are not glossed over- the reader really fears for these characters and feels every setback. Success is won through bravery and persistence and the sibling relationship is beautifully conveyed. Bear is a very recognisable six-year old boy who both frustrates and astonishes his sister.
There are no easy solutions to problems and no miraculous happy ending. This is powerful and believable storytelling which will keep readers gripped and inspire lots of discussion about the vulnerability of nature and what humans are doing to the planet. An outstanding debut, beautifully written and utterly compelling.
Animals, trees, flowers, our city forbids them all... Juniper Greene lives in a walled city from which nature has been banished, following the outbreak of a deadly man-made disease many years earlier. While most people seem content to live in such a cage, she and her little brother Bear have always known about their resistance to the disease, and dream of escaping into the wild.
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To the one place humans have survived outside of cities. To where their mother is. When scientists discover that the siblings provide the key to fighting the disease, the pair must flee for their lives. As they journey into the unknown, they soon learn that there's cruelty in nature as well as beauty. Will they ever find the home they're searching for?
A thrilling and thought-provoking ecological adventure from a fresh new voice in children's fiction. Perfect for fans of The Explorer , The Last Wild and The Island at the End of Everything.
This novel packs a powerful punch. It calls on the 'wild' in all of us through the characters of these two brave children. We cannot help being drawn in by their epic struggle. -- Cath Howe, author of Ella on the Outside
Wondrous, warm-hearted, wildly exhilarating [...] The world is familiar and frightening, the relationships between characters beautifully rendered - Nicola Penfold is an author to watch. -- Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
A beautiful, memorable story about all the important things - love, family, loyalty, and courage - contained inside a brilliant adventure, Where the World Turns Wild can't fail to enthrall any reader lucky enough to encounter it. -- Sinead O'Hart, author of The Eye of the North and The Star-Spun Web
It is extraordinary! This compelling book has future classic written all over it! -- Lindsay Galvin, author of The Secret Deep
Where the World Turns Wild is a journey between extremes of grey and green, propelled by a bold and timely concept, and written with sharp, intelligent prose. A truly heartfelt and very striking novel. -- Darren Simpson, author of Scavengers
Some books are excellent story-telling, and some books broaden your knowledge and mind, and some just ought to be written and this book is all three. I loved it. -- Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War
Nicola Penfold was born in Merseyside and grew up in Doncaster. She studied English at Cambridge, before completing a Computing Science masters at Imperial College London.
Where the World Turns Wild was shortlisted for the first Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize in 2017. It was also selected for SCBWI's 2018 Undiscovered Voices anthology.
Nicola lives with her husband, four children and two cats in North London, and escapes when she can to wilder corners of the UK for adventures.
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Two children battle to free themselves from the tyranny of the city and return to the beauty, and danger, of the wild, in this beautiful story of loss, love and strength.
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.... Read Full Review
Animals, trees, flowers, our city forbids them all... Juniper Greene lives in a walled city from which nature has been banished, following the outbreak of a deadly man-made disease many years earlier.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Where The World Turns Wild and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Where The World Turns Wild features in the following genres: Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Ecological and Environmental Interest - Fiction, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Where The World Turns Wild was written by Nicola Penfold and published by Stripes Publishing an imprint of Little Tiger Press Group
Where The World Turns Wild has 339 pages
Yes it is part of Where the World Turns Wild series
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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