Wildlife

Wildlife is a poignant and insightful view into the teenage battleground of friendships, family and new romance, and is Fiona Wood's confident follow-up to her debut novel Six Impossible Things. Told from the perspectives of 16-year-olds Sibylla and Lou as they spend a term in the wilderness with their classmates, the story follows a group of typical teenagers trying to find their place in a world that has changed greatly since their parents were the same age. While both narrators are likeable, Fiona Wood's great triumph is the voice of Lou, who we first met in Six Impossible Things. She is the new girl at school, observant, witty, self-possessed and still reeling from the death of her boyfriend the previous year. Sibylla, in contrast, is struggling with more common teenage dramas, including boyfriends, old friends and new friends. Through Lou's eyes, and a class assignment on Othello, we are granted a window into the blossoming relationship and subsequent betrayal of Sibylla by those she thought most likely to look out for her. This is perfect for fans of John Green, with just the right blend of emotional heft and humour. I would highly recommend it for readers aged 14 and up. Amelia Lush is the children's buyer at Better Read Than Dead in Newtown. This review first appeared in the Junior Term 2 2013 supplement of Books+Publishing magazine. View more pre-publication reviews here.