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Where The World Turns Wild #1
Where the World Turns Wild
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. 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 cross the barren Buffer Zone and journey into the unknown, Juniper and Bear can only guess at the dangers that lie ahead. Nature can be cruel as well as kind... Will they ever find the home they’ve been 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.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2020
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February 5, 2020
Once upon a time, almost fifty years ago, climate change and deforestation and humans ransacking everything good and beautiful, had driven our planet to breaking point. Nature was dying - plants and trees, animals, birds, insects - new species disappeared every day. But then the ReWilders created the disease.Juniper is thirteen and her brother, Bear, is six. They aren’t like the other kids in their school. They were born in the Wild and are immune to the disease the ReWilders created.
We came from the Wild and one day we’ll go back there.I’m a sucker for stories that feature outcasts and these siblings are some of the most loveable outcasts I’ve ever met. Juniper’s love for her brother is fierce. It’s protective. It’s unconditional. It’s the kind of love that wraps you up and keeps you warm because you know that no matter what anyone else thinks about you, this one person will always be there for you.
Their grandmother, Annie Rose, is one of the last Plant Keepers in the city. I absolutely adored Annie Rose! My brain skyrocketed into Fahrenheit 451 level anxiety when I learned this city had banned books that are even tangentially related to nature. I loved Annie Rose even more when I found out she had not only hidden forbidden books in her home, but she’d also fed the Wild to her grandchildren through their pages.
“The books you read when you’re young, they become part of you.”After spending some time shadowing Juniper and Bear as they navigated the grey of the city, entering the green of the Wild felt wondrous. As Juniper and Bear took in their new landscape, with its colours and textures and sounds, I felt like I was rediscovering my love of nature. I could feel them breathing in cleaner air and seeing animals they’d only ever known via forbidden books coming to life before their eyes.
My heart attached itself to Ghost from the first time I saw them. I’d love to tell you all about Ghost but don’t want to ruin anything for you. Keep a piece of your heart reserved for them though. They deserve it.
This book has been on my radar for months but for a long time I didn’t think this was the right book for me right now. Between the sheer number of climate change news articles I see daily and the fact that huge chunks of Australia have been burning for the past three months, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be spending my escape from reality time thinking about it as well.
It kept nagging at me though, every time I saw positive reviews piling up. It didn’t hurt that it’s published by Little Tiger Group, one of my favourite children and YA publishers. I’m so glad I finally couldn’t help myself because my initial reasons for hesitating were unfounded. Yes, this book does deal with some big issues. Yes, it’s scary because it’s not farfetched; this could become our world if we don’t make some serious changes to the way we treat the planet. But, yes, there’s also so much love and courage and hope infused in this book.
I knew from the blurb that Juniper and Bear would leave the city at some point, yet I still cried when they did, although I’m definitely not tearing up about it now as I’m writing this review. I also didn’t tear up another time later in the book and I most certainly didn’t notice any additional water in my eyes twice during the acknowledgements. That must have been someone else.
I loved the importance of names in this book. Because Juniper’s name related to the Wild and this was a serious no no in this highly controlled environment, she was called June instead when she was at school. The name of the city’s leader was well suited to their description. Although I didn’t even wonder about its name in the beginning, when I finally learned the origin of the name of the valley where Juniper and Bear were born it had such a lovely symmetry to it. I’m going to pay much more attention to the names of people and places during my inevitable reread.
I kept wondering if the reason given to people for Portia Steel’s .
Kate Forrester’s cover image was what initially drew me to this book but it’s only now that I’ve finished reading it that I can appreciate all of the details that they included. I’m seeing more of the story in its design the longer I look at it.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
September 3, 2020
A doomsday dystopian novel is not what I should be read this year. Or so, I thought. But it’s actually fun to do so - to realize that reality mirrors a book? ‘Where The World Turns Wild’ was a soothing adventure with two lovable characters called June and Bear.
The last named, Bear, is the sweetest 6-year-old - together they run away from the sterilized community they have lived in to get back to the ‘wild’ where infection lurks but so does freedom.
The book may be a children’s literature, but it’s a warning to the way our world may disintegrate given our rampant destruction of nature.
The last named, Bear, is the sweetest 6-year-old - together they run away from the sterilized community they have lived in to get back to the ‘wild’ where infection lurks but so does freedom.
The book may be a children’s literature, but it’s a warning to the way our world may disintegrate given our rampant destruction of nature.
February 5, 2020
Brilliant, just absolutely brilliant. This was such a well written, entertaining book. I loved Bear and Juniper so much , completely engaging characters and story, really makes you stop and think along the way while you read. Junipers narrative throughout the book is so wonderful, a steady level voice most can relate to, mature but not so much teenagers won’t find her relatable, this book is just so captivating. All the characters even minor ones are a delight and it’s such a moving tale. Highly recommended and I think, hopefully this should receive lots of focus, attention and awards, it deserves them.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
December 25, 2019
Beautiful writing, a devourable read, about a critical subject. Juniper’s live and care for her little brother grabs you straight away. Bear is a real kid with realistic behaviour in a tough world under impressively pressure. Supporting characters still have weight, and you worry for them and the world they live in.
Despite being about nature and how the modern world can kill, it doesn’t ever come across as preachy, there are good and bad characters on both ‘sides’ and both world have their dangers.
Despite being about nature and how the modern world can kill, it doesn’t ever come across as preachy, there are good and bad characters on both ‘sides’ and both world have their dangers.
March 30, 2020
Started reading this to distract myself from the pandemic.
It begins by describing a virus that kills most people on earth.
So... just a heads up.
It begins by describing a virus that kills most people on earth.
So... just a heads up.
January 14, 2020
Where the World Turns Wild is middle grade dystopian fiction, which is something you very rarely see. This alone would have been enough to catch my interest, but it's also about rewilding, a passion of mine.
The basic set-up of the novel is that the dying world has been deliberately sabotaged by climate change activists, essentially. They've introduced a deadly disease carried by ticks that has made most of the world uninhabitable. The last remaining people are locked away in cities with dead zone moats, where anything wild and natural is ruthlessly eradicated.
This is a fascinating premise. What if the cure for the planet is the near extinction of the human race? What would become of the world without humans in it? And what would become of the humans shut away from nature?
Well the answers are just as fascinating. Most of the humans it seems readily accept this new way of life, and the story quite cleverly shows us how they are effectively indoctrinated and made to accept this as the new normal. Some of them just don't fit in though, they feel the need for the wild deep inside them. This is where Juniper and Bear, our main characters, come in.
I really, really like Juniper and Bear. They are brave and scared, uncertain and ready to take risks. The love and affection they have for each other is just brilliant. Their journey together into the unknown wild is inspiring and beautiful. There's peril and hardship and there's acceptance and belonging.
I love the use of Ennerdale in Cumbria as the "promised land" they're journeying to. Ennerdale is the site of a real world rewilding project.
Where The World Turns Wild is brimming with love and affection for the natural world around us, and is a joy to read. It's a scary vision of a possible future, yet there is hope there too.
The basic set-up of the novel is that the dying world has been deliberately sabotaged by climate change activists, essentially. They've introduced a deadly disease carried by ticks that has made most of the world uninhabitable. The last remaining people are locked away in cities with dead zone moats, where anything wild and natural is ruthlessly eradicated.
This is a fascinating premise. What if the cure for the planet is the near extinction of the human race? What would become of the world without humans in it? And what would become of the humans shut away from nature?
Well the answers are just as fascinating. Most of the humans it seems readily accept this new way of life, and the story quite cleverly shows us how they are effectively indoctrinated and made to accept this as the new normal. Some of them just don't fit in though, they feel the need for the wild deep inside them. This is where Juniper and Bear, our main characters, come in.
I really, really like Juniper and Bear. They are brave and scared, uncertain and ready to take risks. The love and affection they have for each other is just brilliant. Their journey together into the unknown wild is inspiring and beautiful. There's peril and hardship and there's acceptance and belonging.
I love the use of Ennerdale in Cumbria as the "promised land" they're journeying to. Ennerdale is the site of a real world rewilding project.
Where The World Turns Wild is brimming with love and affection for the natural world around us, and is a joy to read. It's a scary vision of a possible future, yet there is hope there too.
January 9, 2021
I read this book at part of the Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils programme through The Reader Org & Cheltenham Festivals. The first few chapters were a bit slow but necessary to develop the background & wonderful characters. By part 2, the book had really gathered pace and I really couldn’t put it down. A great read and already recommended to my almost 11 year old! Looking forward to discussing it with the rest of the group!
January 7, 2020
A beautiful book with an important message about our world and what could happen to it if we don't make a stand and do something to protect the wild around us.
Juniper is a great lead character and Bear represents the wild in the world that we need to protect. A genuinely lovely story that I believe every child should read and schools should get behind!
Juniper is a great lead character and Bear represents the wild in the world that we need to protect. A genuinely lovely story that I believe every child should read and schools should get behind!
May 11, 2020
Beautifully written, timely and completely absorbing - I couldn't put it down. Just gorgeous.
August 5, 2022
4.5 Stars
The authors message told through the children about what possibly could be the future if people don’t stop and think about the treatment of the planet was very thought provoking.
Juniper and Bear were great characters who I rooted for through all the challenges they faced.
The authors message told through the children about what possibly could be the future if people don’t stop and think about the treatment of the planet was very thought provoking.
Juniper and Bear were great characters who I rooted for through all the challenges they faced.
January 17, 2020
I am in awe. This book was the most incredible journey, filled with deep feelings of love and hate, and what it means to truly be ‘wild’.
Where the World Turns Wild is a beautifully imagined tale of an awfully close to reality situation. It imagines a future where humans have destroyed the earth, and so to save it, a select few people known as the ReWilders created a disease that is spread by ticks. Humans that are bitten by the ticks suffer a slow, painful death, giving the Wild a weapon of its own to fight back with. Some humans are immune to the disease; however, the majority are forced to seclude themselves within tight-knit cities filled with strict regimes and a corrupted government. Juniper and her brother bear were born in the Wild but were sent to the city by their parents to live with their grandmother, Annie Rose.
When life inside the city threatens Juniper and Bear’s own lives, they must take action, and venture into the Wild to find their parents and their home.
Firstly, I adored the characters in this book, and I wish I could have had longer with them! Juniper surprised me the most, as she was so brave and level-headed, especially with her younger brother being too young to understand things. She was different to other teenage narrators that I have previously found to be rather irritating, and instead she is very mature, understanding what must be done in order for her and her brother to survive. Bear was the sweetest, and Penfold did an amazing job at capturing the spirit of a six-year-old. He was equal parts charming, annoying and heart-warming, and you couldn’t help but love him.
"𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆" 𝒑.24
The side characters were also a hit for me. They provided extra layers to the story, and though not all were fully developed, I could still understand their personalities from their descriptions and behaviour. My favourite side character has to be a lynx cat called Ghost who really warmed my heart. I adored the strong connection between Juniper, Bear and Annie Rose, and you could really feel just how much they cared for one another.
Penfold does an amazing job of building up the atmosphere, and I could really feel how bleak their city was before they left. There was a huge sense of paranoia build within this book, and my heart was thudding in my chest during the action scenes, as I was so worried for the children’s survival. The way the author describes nature is so vivid and captures the incredible beauty of the Wild compared to the plainness of the city.
"𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒔. 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔" 𝒑.307
At its core, this story deals with a huge crisis that we are currently dealing with, and I think that makes this book incredibly important in todays society. With the creation of characters such as Abbott, it shows us how ignorant the human race can be in terms of addressing global warming, and the destruction of nature. It describes the ways that humans have destroyed the world, including deforestation, burning fossil fuels, overfishing etc. By giving us an imagined reality, it lets readers picture what the future could look like if we continue down this path.
This book was so moving and captivating, told with language that is neither difficult to understand, nor extremely bland or simple. It was perfect and I loved the ending, it got me thinking of what could possibly happen next!
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Where the World Turns Wild is a beautifully imagined tale of an awfully close to reality situation. It imagines a future where humans have destroyed the earth, and so to save it, a select few people known as the ReWilders created a disease that is spread by ticks. Humans that are bitten by the ticks suffer a slow, painful death, giving the Wild a weapon of its own to fight back with. Some humans are immune to the disease; however, the majority are forced to seclude themselves within tight-knit cities filled with strict regimes and a corrupted government. Juniper and her brother bear were born in the Wild but were sent to the city by their parents to live with their grandmother, Annie Rose.
When life inside the city threatens Juniper and Bear’s own lives, they must take action, and venture into the Wild to find their parents and their home.
Firstly, I adored the characters in this book, and I wish I could have had longer with them! Juniper surprised me the most, as she was so brave and level-headed, especially with her younger brother being too young to understand things. She was different to other teenage narrators that I have previously found to be rather irritating, and instead she is very mature, understanding what must be done in order for her and her brother to survive. Bear was the sweetest, and Penfold did an amazing job at capturing the spirit of a six-year-old. He was equal parts charming, annoying and heart-warming, and you couldn’t help but love him.
"𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆" 𝒑.24
The side characters were also a hit for me. They provided extra layers to the story, and though not all were fully developed, I could still understand their personalities from their descriptions and behaviour. My favourite side character has to be a lynx cat called Ghost who really warmed my heart. I adored the strong connection between Juniper, Bear and Annie Rose, and you could really feel just how much they cared for one another.
Penfold does an amazing job of building up the atmosphere, and I could really feel how bleak their city was before they left. There was a huge sense of paranoia build within this book, and my heart was thudding in my chest during the action scenes, as I was so worried for the children’s survival. The way the author describes nature is so vivid and captures the incredible beauty of the Wild compared to the plainness of the city.
"𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒔. 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔" 𝒑.307
At its core, this story deals with a huge crisis that we are currently dealing with, and I think that makes this book incredibly important in todays society. With the creation of characters such as Abbott, it shows us how ignorant the human race can be in terms of addressing global warming, and the destruction of nature. It describes the ways that humans have destroyed the world, including deforestation, burning fossil fuels, overfishing etc. By giving us an imagined reality, it lets readers picture what the future could look like if we continue down this path.
This book was so moving and captivating, told with language that is neither difficult to understand, nor extremely bland or simple. It was perfect and I loved the ending, it got me thinking of what could possibly happen next!
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2020
I am loving the recent trend towards more middle-grade dystopian fiction as dystopian YA and science fiction has long been favourites of mine.
This book taps into the anxiety about the future of our planet, as news reports stack up about sea levels rising, coral bleaching events, animal extinctions and irreversible changes to our world as a result of human actions. In Where the World Turns Wild, some climate activists have had enough of humans destroying the environment so deliberately release a virus that decimates the human population. The survivors hole up in tightly-controlled cities where they are safe from the ticks that carry the disease and Mother Nature slowly begins to recover from the effects of human overpopulation and resource exploitation. Yet there are some in the cities who are looking hungrily at the resources available outside, if only they can find a way to make more people resistant to the disease.
Juniper and Bear live with their grandmother and have grown up closer to nature than most as she runs one of the few greenhouses in the city. Their parents live in a remote community in the north of the country and one day they plan to make the journey to join them. The children, by dint of having been born in the Wild, have resistance to the disease carried by the ticks...and it seems that those that rule their city have plans to use them to spread this immunity to others.
I fell in love with the characters and loved their journey, as Juniper tries to be strong for Bear and he does the same for her. My only slight niggle is that the end came very quickly so it felt like we had been on the journey with them for ages and suddenly the story ended without resolving some of what I wanted to see.
Fantastic adventure, highly recommended!
4.5 stars
This book taps into the anxiety about the future of our planet, as news reports stack up about sea levels rising, coral bleaching events, animal extinctions and irreversible changes to our world as a result of human actions. In Where the World Turns Wild, some climate activists have had enough of humans destroying the environment so deliberately release a virus that decimates the human population. The survivors hole up in tightly-controlled cities where they are safe from the ticks that carry the disease and Mother Nature slowly begins to recover from the effects of human overpopulation and resource exploitation. Yet there are some in the cities who are looking hungrily at the resources available outside, if only they can find a way to make more people resistant to the disease.
Juniper and Bear live with their grandmother and have grown up closer to nature than most as she runs one of the few greenhouses in the city. Their parents live in a remote community in the north of the country and one day they plan to make the journey to join them. The children, by dint of having been born in the Wild, have resistance to the disease carried by the ticks...and it seems that those that rule their city have plans to use them to spread this immunity to others.
I fell in love with the characters and loved their journey, as Juniper tries to be strong for Bear and he does the same for her. My only slight niggle is that the end came very quickly so it felt like we had been on the journey with them for ages and suddenly the story ended without resolving some of what I wanted to see.
Fantastic adventure, highly recommended!
4.5 stars
June 2, 2020
Great read, the emotions of the characters were intensified for me as the book seemed like a crystal book looking into our bleak future. Great resource to explain the affects we have on the earth. I used this as a resource to write a series of English lessons
February 8, 2020
I adored Where the World Turns Wild. It's necessary and important, but also extremely well written, with wonderful characters and a gripping plot. I will be buying it for all the middle grade readers I know. Here are three reasons why:
1) The relationship between Juniper and Bear was really special. I loved their interactions and the fierce love they felt for each other. My own daughter is five, and it was emotional to imagine her undertaking Bear's journey.
2) Children's stories about the environment, and particularly the aftermath of ecological disaster, is topical and important. Where the World Turns Wild is a stark imagining of the climate crisis, and the colossal human loss that could come from ignoring it. There are a lot of dark aspects to this story and it leaves you with a lot to think about. I haven't been able to stop worrying about Juniper and Bear's world since I finished. This is a novel that will touch the hearts of young readers and encourage them to fight for their future.
3) I loved Ghost, who stays with Juniper and Bear throughout their journey and is a constant source of hope and comfort. She also symbolises the amazing relationship between humanity and the wild, how we need and rely on each other and the ways we can work together if we're paying attention.
I also really enjoyed how Penfold introduced more complex vocabulary, both through Juniper and Bear's clever word game (which I'm determined to start playing with my daughter) and Juniper's memory of the old dictionary she read.
Penfold is a debut author to watch - I'll definitely be reading whatever she writes next.
1) The relationship between Juniper and Bear was really special. I loved their interactions and the fierce love they felt for each other. My own daughter is five, and it was emotional to imagine her undertaking Bear's journey.
2) Children's stories about the environment, and particularly the aftermath of ecological disaster, is topical and important. Where the World Turns Wild is a stark imagining of the climate crisis, and the colossal human loss that could come from ignoring it. There are a lot of dark aspects to this story and it leaves you with a lot to think about. I haven't been able to stop worrying about Juniper and Bear's world since I finished. This is a novel that will touch the hearts of young readers and encourage them to fight for their future.
3) I loved Ghost, who stays with Juniper and Bear throughout their journey and is a constant source of hope and comfort. She also symbolises the amazing relationship between humanity and the wild, how we need and rely on each other and the ways we can work together if we're paying attention.
I also really enjoyed how Penfold introduced more complex vocabulary, both through Juniper and Bear's clever word game (which I'm determined to start playing with my daughter) and Juniper's memory of the old dictionary she read.
Penfold is a debut author to watch - I'll definitely be reading whatever she writes next.
February 4, 2020
I recieved this book in return for an honest review via Netgalley.
Where The World Turns Wild follows siblings, Jupiter and Bear, two wild things in a cage that is Portia Steele's city. After disease wiped out most of the human race, people gathered into cities for protection. Here, the world is sterile, concrete, and all images of nature and the wild are forbidden. Jupiter and Bear have always planned to escape into the wild, back to their parents many miles away, but when their safety is threatened, they must speed up their plan to leave and venture into a world neither of them have seen before.
Positives:
- I liked the writing style. Nicola Penfold is very clear with her writing and her descriptions of nature are quite beautiful and vivid.
- The characters of Bear and Jupiter - I felt for them and their worry and their tension.
- The message about protecting the wild was a very important one in this day and age.
Things I didn't like:
- pacing. I felt like this was quite a slow book. The chapters are short but the content is long. We were nearly halfway through the book before they even began their journey.
- Ended too quickly. I think there was like one scene missing at the end. Over the journey, Jupiter and Bear focused solely on their mother/parents in their return plans, and the end of the book seems to gloss over that without offering a solid end to that emotional arc.
Overall, I did enjoy the reading experience and I'm glad I pushed on until the end. It's a good middle-grade book that could be a good starting point for a complex talking point. I'd give this book 3.75 but round up to 4 stars!
Where The World Turns Wild follows siblings, Jupiter and Bear, two wild things in a cage that is Portia Steele's city. After disease wiped out most of the human race, people gathered into cities for protection. Here, the world is sterile, concrete, and all images of nature and the wild are forbidden. Jupiter and Bear have always planned to escape into the wild, back to their parents many miles away, but when their safety is threatened, they must speed up their plan to leave and venture into a world neither of them have seen before.
Positives:
- I liked the writing style. Nicola Penfold is very clear with her writing and her descriptions of nature are quite beautiful and vivid.
- The characters of Bear and Jupiter - I felt for them and their worry and their tension.
- The message about protecting the wild was a very important one in this day and age.
Things I didn't like:
- pacing. I felt like this was quite a slow book. The chapters are short but the content is long. We were nearly halfway through the book before they even began their journey.
- Ended too quickly. I think there was like one scene missing at the end. Over the journey, Jupiter and Bear focused solely on their mother/parents in their return plans, and the end of the book seems to gloss over that without offering a solid end to that emotional arc.
Overall, I did enjoy the reading experience and I'm glad I pushed on until the end. It's a good middle-grade book that could be a good starting point for a complex talking point. I'd give this book 3.75 but round up to 4 stars!
January 16, 2020
Juniper Green lives with her Grandmother Annie Rose and six year old brother Bear. An outbreak of a deadly man-mad disease carried by ticks has resulted in the authorities destroying everything wild and green and erecting a buffer zone around the city, closely monitoring its citizens’ activities. Juniper and Bear however are immune to the disease as they once lived in the wild with their parents. They were sent back to the city, with the intention they one day return to live together in the wild. That day comes sooner than Juniper had envisaged and she has to leave her grandmother, and, with Bear, travel miles across dangerous territory. On this journey they face not only hiding their escape from the authorities and the drones which follow them, but also the wildlife, as having been banished from the city, it’s all unknown. Juniper has heard tales of wolves, she now has to face them. She also has to catch their dinner with a trap, bartered on the black market and stop impulsive Bear from eating unknown fruits of the forest.
The Government is acting to supposedly protect its citizens, but the dystopian world in which the children are living is bleak and grey. Ten years ago this would be considered an unlikely dystopian novel. Today, with the environmental crisis more understood, it is a reality. Both children are in touch with nature and cannot understand the attitude of others towards it. This is a great read with an environmental message and wonderfully strong characters in Juniper and Bear.
The Government is acting to supposedly protect its citizens, but the dystopian world in which the children are living is bleak and grey. Ten years ago this would be considered an unlikely dystopian novel. Today, with the environmental crisis more understood, it is a reality. Both children are in touch with nature and cannot understand the attitude of others towards it. This is a great read with an environmental message and wonderfully strong characters in Juniper and Bear.
January 24, 2020
Firstly, I LOVE the concept of this book. We're in a world where the natural, the organic, has been banished and destroyed from inside the city walls to keep everyone safe from the ticks which infest plants and wildlife. Our main character, Juniper, and her brother Bear were born beyond the city walls, in the Wild, and ever since it's been calling to them to return
This book touches on climate change, ecological disaster, population issues, politics. I think it's so important for children to be exposed to these issues in MG literature, as well as adults of course
This book is basically a MG dystopia/utopia and I loved it. The world was incredibly interesting, and Juniper was a bolshy, determined main character. I loved the relationship between Juniper and Bear. Their dynamic was one of love and trust, and Bear's development was incredible as he had to grow up quickly on their journey
This book was everything I look for in a middle grade and more. It told a great story, had morals, and was written so well to suit readers of all ages. I'd highly recommend this to adults and children alike
*This book was sent to me by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book touches on climate change, ecological disaster, population issues, politics. I think it's so important for children to be exposed to these issues in MG literature, as well as adults of course
This book is basically a MG dystopia/utopia and I loved it. The world was incredibly interesting, and Juniper was a bolshy, determined main character. I loved the relationship between Juniper and Bear. Their dynamic was one of love and trust, and Bear's development was incredible as he had to grow up quickly on their journey
This book was everything I look for in a middle grade and more. It told a great story, had morals, and was written so well to suit readers of all ages. I'd highly recommend this to adults and children alike
*This book was sent to me by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
January 18, 2021
Juniper and Bear have been brought up in a walled city, with nature barred from the built up area after an outbreak of a man-made disease. Not even a blade of grass can grow within the stones of the city. But Juniper and Bear remember the Wild and dream of escaping.
This middle grade dystopian novel was a joy to read and I really enjoyed joining the two children on their journey to the wild (think a children's version of Chris McCandless' story). The relationship between the siblings was just great, I loved how pure and protective they were of each other.
I'm sure this book has been incredibly popular with middle-grade readers and adults alike as it has some lovely and very important themes throughout. Fake news, scaremongering, climate change, science vs ethics, are all huge disussions in society, and somehow this book makes them so accessible to young people.
Nicola Penfold's way of introducing new words to younger readers and inspiring them to learn more about the natural world was incredible.
Whether you have children, or are simply a curious adult who needs some Wild in their life, read this.
🍃🏔🌲🧭
This middle grade dystopian novel was a joy to read and I really enjoyed joining the two children on their journey to the wild (think a children's version of Chris McCandless' story). The relationship between the siblings was just great, I loved how pure and protective they were of each other.
I'm sure this book has been incredibly popular with middle-grade readers and adults alike as it has some lovely and very important themes throughout. Fake news, scaremongering, climate change, science vs ethics, are all huge disussions in society, and somehow this book makes them so accessible to young people.
Nicola Penfold's way of introducing new words to younger readers and inspiring them to learn more about the natural world was incredible.
Whether you have children, or are simply a curious adult who needs some Wild in their life, read this.
🍃🏔🌲🧭
July 5, 2020
I’ve just finished reading Where the World Turns Wild by Nicola Penfold 📚 🍁. It’s about a girl called Juniper Green and her brother Bear who live in a city where nature is banished following the outbreak of a man-made disease. Juniper and Bear cannot stand to live in a world without the wild and set out on a journey to find their parents in the wilderness. I loved this book because Juniper and Bear are both loving and determined characters. The descriptions of the wild are mesmerising. This book is so relevant, as I feel like we as humans are sadly losing our connectedness to nature.
January 6, 2020
An evocative and moving tale of siblings Juniper and Bear, whose search for their parents brings them on a nail-biting chase through the wilderness, Where The World Turns Wild is a brilliantly realised dystopian story, but it's more than just that. It's a tale of love, family, loyalty and courage, which is unafraid of asking big questions about our world and what we're doing to it. I loved this book.
February 9, 2020
I loved this so much. Everyone else has said so much about the books, so can I just talk about the acknowledgements?
I cried. I legit cried. So much. Like, full-on sobs hiding in the bathroom because I didn't want my sister to see.
I cried. I legit cried. So much. Like, full-on sobs hiding in the bathroom because I didn't want my sister to see.
May 20, 2020
False news, a culture of fear and the destruction of nature, the cleverly constructed world feels far too real. But there's hope and beauty in this high concept speculative adventure that had me hooked from the start
May 14, 2020
AMAZING!!!
April 9, 2025
Myself and my class found Part 1 a little slow to start, repetitive and abit dull but we discussed how it was necessary as a prequel/backstory to set the scene for the remainder of the book.
Once we were out into the wild, the children seemed to enjoy it much better. They loved the character Ghost the most and had some wonderful insights about this character. By the end of the book, we were all rooting for Juniper and Bear! 🐻 I could picture this as I was reading aloud as a film to the children and I think they could too.
Personal favourite scene- meeting Violet in the cabin! The perfect amount of violence and horror for children 😃
Once we were out into the wild, the children seemed to enjoy it much better. They loved the character Ghost the most and had some wonderful insights about this character. By the end of the book, we were all rooting for Juniper and Bear! 🐻 I could picture this as I was reading aloud as a film to the children and I think they could too.
Personal favourite scene- meeting Violet in the cabin! The perfect amount of violence and horror for children 😃
July 25, 2024
C-4
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L-5
E-1
Forced to read this with school, safe to say I will never recommend this to anyone EVER! There was like no plot, and they spent like half the book trying to leave the stupid city to go into the wild! Overall I found the main character Juniper extremely annoying and I'm very proud of myself for finishing.
A-2
W-3
P-1
I-3
L-5
E-1
Forced to read this with school, safe to say I will never recommend this to anyone EVER! There was like no plot, and they spent like half the book trying to leave the stupid city to go into the wild! Overall I found the main character Juniper extremely annoying and I'm very proud of myself for finishing.
February 10, 2021
Fantastic
January 11, 2025
Lovely YA book about the power of nature and the search for family.
June 10, 2020
Once, the world was full of nature, greenery and life, but when a man-made disease was released into the tick population, everything changed. Cities were secured and any form of nature was banished, with buffer zones separating the tower blocks from the trees and most importantly, the ticks. Juniper and Bear, siblings growing up in the city, have always known about their immunity to the disease but it’s not until scientists make attempts to steal and use their blood, that they both know it’s time to leave the city. Time to venture out into the wild.
The dystopian-style nature of this book makes for an exciting read filled with adventure, discovery and of course danger. One of my favourite things about it is that although it’s a completely new world, there are still references to what it used to be with place names and landmarks that readers would recognise. To start with, the chapters seemed too short, and they kind of jumped forward each time but the more I read, the less it was noticeable, and the story started to flow more naturally, allowing for those moments of tension and shock to really have an effect.
I ADORE Bear, you can’t read this book and not be absorbed by his awe and wonder for nature, his free spirit and his love for his sister. Everything about him is what you want every child to be like. Although, now I think about it, even adults could learn a lot from him. The bond between brother and sister is so strong throughout and the absence of parents makes it all the more special. Juniper is incredible to, the strength and determination she shows throughout the book is inspiring and her instinct to protect her brother is second to none. We witness her character change the most over the course of the book and I feel like watching her grow is a privilege that we readers have been given.
Whilst, yes this is a story of an adventure through the animal inhabited wild, are there elements we should be paying more attention to? Is it telling us that we should be focussing more on the beauty of nature in our own world, rather than constantly building new skyscrapers, blocks of flats and concrete jungles? I think so. Are we heading the same way as the characters in this book? Who knows, something to think about and discuss though for sure.
The dystopian-style nature of this book makes for an exciting read filled with adventure, discovery and of course danger. One of my favourite things about it is that although it’s a completely new world, there are still references to what it used to be with place names and landmarks that readers would recognise. To start with, the chapters seemed too short, and they kind of jumped forward each time but the more I read, the less it was noticeable, and the story started to flow more naturally, allowing for those moments of tension and shock to really have an effect.
I ADORE Bear, you can’t read this book and not be absorbed by his awe and wonder for nature, his free spirit and his love for his sister. Everything about him is what you want every child to be like. Although, now I think about it, even adults could learn a lot from him. The bond between brother and sister is so strong throughout and the absence of parents makes it all the more special. Juniper is incredible to, the strength and determination she shows throughout the book is inspiring and her instinct to protect her brother is second to none. We witness her character change the most over the course of the book and I feel like watching her grow is a privilege that we readers have been given.
Whilst, yes this is a story of an adventure through the animal inhabited wild, are there elements we should be paying more attention to? Is it telling us that we should be focussing more on the beauty of nature in our own world, rather than constantly building new skyscrapers, blocks of flats and concrete jungles? I think so. Are we heading the same way as the characters in this book? Who knows, something to think about and discuss though for sure.
April 19, 2024
It’s amazing and juniper and bear are great characters and the descriptions are great.
She captured nature turning wild perfectly and the sadness of finding out the mum was dead and the imagery behind it was amazing.
She captured nature turning wild perfectly and the sadness of finding out the mum was dead and the imagery behind it was amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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