The Last Wild
Author Piers Torday
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Story
Kester is a mute twelve-year old boy who lives on “The Island” in a school for troubled children. A mysterious “red-eye” virus has killed all of the animals in the world. Kester believes something is wrong with him and this belief is confirmed when he finds a talking cockroach and then meets a flock of talking pigeons. The pigeons break him out of the school and take him thousands of miles away to meet a group of animals who have survived in hiding and who think that Kester can save them from the virus.
The Last Wild grew out of Piers Torday’s love for animals and animal stories, and his concern about species disappearing from the wild. It is the first book in a trilogy. The Dark Wild followed in 2014 and The Wild Beyond in 2015
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Why we chose it
A story with a strong environmental message and widely admired for its imagination, warmth and suspense
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What a young reviewer said
It tackles real-world issues in a way that is very thought-provoking but also enjoyable to read and leaves you with not only understanding but also hope. (Freya, age 13)
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First published
2013, Quercus Children’s Books
Story Reviews
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I really enjoyed The Last Wild because it was deeply fascinating to read. It is beautifully written and is suitable for all ages. Aside from the exciting adventure of it, the book left me feeling emotional as it is both sad and hopeful. The feeling of relevance is very important as it tackles real-world issues in a way that is very thought-provoking but also enjoyable to read and leaves you with not only understanding but also hope.