The Last Wild

In a near-future world ravaged by an animal pandemic, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes lives in a quarantined school for troubled children. He cannot speak to humans, but discovers he can communicate with creatures. When a group of wild animals seeks his help, Kester embarks on a journey across a desolate landscape. He must navigate through a changed Britain where most animals are gone and the remaining food supply comes from a single corporation. Together with his animal companions and a girl named Polly, Kester searches for answers about the disease killing the world's creatures. His quest becomes a race against time to save the last remaining wild animals. The Last Wild interweaves themes of environmental crisis and corporate power with questions about human connection to nature. At its core, the story explores how one person's actions can impact the fate of an entire world.

Readers describe The Last Wild as an environmental adventure that appeals to middle-grade audiences while tackling serious themes. Readers highlighted: - Fast-paced plot that keeps children engaged - Strong message about conservation without being preachy - Complex characters, especially the protagonist Kester - Creative world-building and unique premise - Works well as a read-aloud book for families Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the first quarter - A few readers felt the ending was rushed - Younger readers struggled with darker themes - Some found the environmental message heavy-handed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.6/5 (380+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (90+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Perfect balance of action and heart" - Goodreads reviewer "My 9-year-old couldn't put it down" - Amazon parent "The talking animals could have been cheesy but weren't" - School librarian review

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🌟 In the original draft of the book, the main character Kester was called Kit, but Torday changed it to make the name more distinctive. 🦊 The author was inspired to write about animals after discovering his father had kept a pet fox as a child during World War II. 🦠 The virus that affects animals in the book was partly inspired by real diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, which caused massive livestock culls in the UK. 🗣️ Kester's inability to speak to humans (while being able to communicate with animals) was influenced by selective mutism, a real condition that affects some children. 🌍 Piers Torday wrote much of the book while working at an environmental charity, which helped shape the novel's ecological themes and messages about conservation.