Description
Perfect for fans of The Explorer, this exciting debut novel is a gripping and heartfelt survival story set in a future rewilded England.
A UTOPIAN FUTURE.
A FORBIDDEN WILDERNESS.
TWO SISTERS TRYING TO SURVIVE.
Twenty-five years into the future, no humans are allowed in the Wildlands - a vast area in Britain where wolves, lynx and bison roam free. The only exception is a high-speed train line between London and Glasgow that crosses right through the heart of the project. Thirteen-year-old Astrid and her little sister, Indie, are onboard when their train slows to a brief, unexpected stop ... and they find themselves accidentally left behind. Stranded in this place of astonishing natural wonders and terrible dangers, they have only a rucksack, a phone without signal - and each other. As every wrong turn takes them deeper into the Wildlands, do they have the ingenuity and determination to survive?
How far would YOU go to find your way home?
Review
Set 25 years in the future, where a large area of Britain has been left to nature and wild animals, an area called the Wildlands, where no humans are allowed. The only exception is the high speed train from London to Glasgow which runs straight through it.
Astrid and her little sister, Indie, are on the train heading to Glasgow. Astrid is not happy about having to babysit her sister, and to make matters worse her phone won’t charge properly from her seat.
The train comes to an unexpected stop and Astrid sees an open door she takes the chance to hold her phone out in the sun to charge it. But when she drops her phone and tries to reach it she falls out, and drags Indie with her. As she is trying to get them both back on the train it starts moving - and they are left stranded in the Wildlands with only a backpack, a small amount of food and water, and a phone with no signal.
And so begins a journey beyond their wildest imaginations, as they battle to survive against the odds. The terrain is unforgiving and the only way out is to walk. Their survival instincts kick in as they try to find water, food and shelter. They are going to have to rely on each other to have any hope of getting home, but the physical and emotional toll will be hard. Can they manage to overcome the Wildlands and survive?
This is a wonderful story of survival and family with the girls encountering lots of hardship along the way, and needing to trust each other more than they ever have. The ingenuity of the two girls comes to the fore as they must rely only on only themselves to stay alive. It highlights how quickly we can go back to the basics we need to survive without electricity, wi-fi and computers. The emotional conflicts that Astrid and Indie each face highlight how much we rely on our family, and the love they have for each shines through in the end.
This book will appeal to all nature lovers, adventurers and those who love books that take a different look at the future. Perfect for ages 12 and up.
