The Wild Ones

by Steve Cole, Unknown Author

Paperback

About the author

Also publishes as Stephen Cole.

Steve Cole is the slightly crazy, highly frantic, millions-selling, non-stop author of Astrosaurs, Cows In Action, Astrosaurs Academy, The Slime Squad, Z. Rex and many other books (including several original Doctor Who stories).

He used to edit magazines and books but prefers the job of a writer where you can wear pyjamas and eat chocolate all day.

Steve just can't stop writing - if he does, strange robots appear and jostle him vigorously until he starts again.

In his spare time he loves making music, reading old comics, thinking up ideas for new books and slumping in front of a warm TV.

Reviews

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ending so good I had to sit outside and reflect

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐾 The Wild Ones 🐾 Written by Steve Cole and wonderfully illustrated by Johanna Tarkela 🐾 Published by Scholastic 🐾

🐾 There is a reason 99% of the books I read are middle-grade and this book absolutely blew me away. An apocalyptic, sitting-at-the-edge-of-your-seat adventure, with some heart-racing moments woven in. The rat scene had my hand over my eyes as I feared for Scamp and his friends.

🐾 After the Great Growl, the humans all disappear. Left behind are an unlikely band of pets: Scamp (their leader), Falstaff (the Shakespeare quoter), Nudge and Wink ( the eternal optimists), Punzel, Patticake and Chandelier “Chandy” (the sly one).

🐾 These pets eventually have to leave the safety of their shelter and embark on the most incredible adventure. Throughout the story, they are deceived, challenged and pushed to their limits. They become wilder as the story progresses and forge the strongest of bonds. Through all their trials, they retain their ‘humanity’ and sense of decency, even when betrayed time after time.

🐾 A compelling and emotive book, which will leave you wanting more. The ending with Patticake made me cry. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the detail is incredible. I looked forward to them throughout the story.

🐾 A wonderful Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month. You should definitely check it out.

[Claire Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great story. It is basically The Secret Life Of Pets in the apocalypse. It was creative, scary (for a kids book), well written and very unique. I really enjoyed going along the journey with the gang, I thought Scamp was a great supervisor. The hamsters and rabbit, Nudge, Wink and Punzel made me laugh. Falstaff was a great character and Chandy lets say we learn to love her. Scamp was my fav along with dear Patticake. The ending made me sad though, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the pets.

[Aaron Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely superb novel. My son (9) and I read this together over a few bed times and we both loved it. There's humour, peril, compassion and a memorable cast of animal characters.

My son lived in so much he made all the characters in Minecraft!

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like The Incredible Journey with some seriously funny adult jokes thrown into the mix, which literally made me snort with laughter. Don’t usually read kid’s fiction but this was very enjoyable and cracking good fun whatever age you are.

[Lottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a unique take on both animal and apocalypse stories! Steve bring the animals into you hearts and you can still hear their scampering after the last page.

[Ellie-Mae Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book that is easy to read and heartwarming, but also makes you think again about complex topics like the fallout of natural disasters and what we leave behind.

[Flo Hiscox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading something like this as an adult is interesting as you see all the allusions that the author is trying to mask under a naive, childlike perspective of a Jack Russell (that a nuclear bomb has literally been dropped, with the owner giving them crushed up radiation pills). But I think this added awareness doesn't detract from it. I think this is a nice, lovely read about friendship and survival, and I enjoyed how nuanced a few of the characters were, and the bittersweet bildungsroman-esque ending.