tiffyofthemonts's review against another edition
3.0
The characters were interesting but I would have loved to see them all drawn out a bit more. As is, they feel more like sketches.
Lou felt like a broken record at times, still dealing with grief over a character we didn't really get to meet (I didn't realize this was a companion book to Six Impossible Things?) and battling between "should I insert myself in Sib's life or let her be" and it felt kind of tedious after a while. But I loved how introspective and thoughtful and kind she was. It was refreshing to explore a character that felt authentic.
Sib was probably the hardest narrative to read because she was ultimately responsible for her decisions and failure to act or respond or stand up for herself. I find it really difficult to read about pushover female characters because so much of that exists in fiction and real life already.
Michael was one of my favorite characters - I would love to read his own standalone novel.
I really wish the consequences in this book had been more significant, more impactful - there was so much buildup throughout the story - the tension between Sib/Holly, Ben/Holly, Sib/Ben, Holly/Lou, etc. but everything felt anti-climactic and too easy. Sib, Lou and Michael had to go through so much crap that I really expected a stronger ending to the story for them.
Lou felt like a broken record at times, still dealing with grief over a character we didn't really get to meet (I didn't realize this was a companion book to Six Impossible Things?) and battling between "should I insert myself in Sib's life or let her be" and it felt kind of tedious after a while. But I loved how introspective and thoughtful and kind she was. It was refreshing to explore a character that felt authentic.
Sib was probably the hardest narrative to read because she was ultimately responsible for her decisions and failure to act or respond or stand up for herself. I find it really difficult to read about pushover female characters because so much of that exists in fiction and real life already.
Michael was one of my favorite characters - I would love to read his own standalone novel.
I really wish the consequences in this book had been more significant, more impactful - there was so much buildup throughout the story - the tension between Sib/Holly, Ben/Holly, Sib/Ben, Holly/Lou, etc. but everything felt anti-climactic and too easy. Sib, Lou and Michael had to go through so much crap that I really expected a stronger ending to the story for them.
lindasdarby's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is a great book for teens (and really anyone) to read for a better idea of how a good friend behaves and how a really terrible friend behaves. There is a lot going on in this book but for me the best parts were about learning how to stand up for yourself(going along with things may make you "mellow" but it often isn't the best way to be), learning how to stand up for others, figuring out who you are as a person and last but not least knowing when a friend is a friend and when a friend is just a jerk.
limeywesty's review against another edition
5.0
I am so confident in my recommendation of Fiona Wood's latest YA Novel, I don't feel I need to justify it.
Lose yourself, find yourself. Even a few years out of school, the shadow of angst and nostalgia was back. Fiona Wood, I love what you've done here, and I promise I will be back to gush some more.
Lose yourself, find yourself. Even a few years out of school, the shadow of angst and nostalgia was back. Fiona Wood, I love what you've done here, and I promise I will be back to gush some more.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
really enjoyed this story set in an australian wilderness camp/boarding school. alternates between lou, who is grieving the death of her boyfriend, and sibylla, who is navigating her face on a billboard and a fickle best friend. really lovely writing and a fun setting.
carstensena's review against another edition
4.0
Love the characters, the setting, the dialogue, and especially Michael!
andimontgomery's review against another edition
3.0
I read this immediately after Six Impossible Things, and unlike other reviewers, I preferred Six over Wildlife.
Wildlife follows two 16-year old girls whose lives converge when they are both sent to an outdoor camp for one semester of school. Lou (from Six) is here, still reeling from a recent tragedy that occurred after Six. Sibylla, a new character, is faced with newfound notoriety when her face is plastered on local billboards for an advertisement.
They share a bunkhouse, and chapters alternate between Lou's and Sibylla's voices. At first, I had difficulty sometimes identifying the speaker. That was until I realized that the feathers symbolized Lou's chapters, and the ants were Sibylla's. It would have better had I realized that earlier!
Because of the different voices, the writing felt a bit disjointed. I also didn't connect as well with either character. Lou is trying to cope with the tragedy, and Sibylla finds herself the object of the most popular boy's affections. Sibylla is sweet but her friend, Holly, is a piece of work. She's conniving and passive-aggressive, and I couldn't stand her.
Thank goodness Sibylla is the complete opposite of Holly. She realizes there is something more to the quiet Lou, and tries to help draw her out. Her friend, Michael, though, is my favorite character of this book. He ultimately forms the connection between Lou and Sybilla.
Like Six, the writing and dialogue is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. It wasn't as quick of a read as Six, but I still enjoyed it overall.
NOTE: I was unable to find this book in the US, so I purchased it from Fishpond online.
Wildlife follows two 16-year old girls whose lives converge when they are both sent to an outdoor camp for one semester of school. Lou (from Six) is here, still reeling from a recent tragedy that occurred after Six. Sibylla, a new character, is faced with newfound notoriety when her face is plastered on local billboards for an advertisement.
They share a bunkhouse, and chapters alternate between Lou's and Sibylla's voices. At first, I had difficulty sometimes identifying the speaker. That was until I realized that the feathers symbolized Lou's chapters, and the ants were Sibylla's. It would have better had I realized that earlier!
Because of the different voices, the writing felt a bit disjointed. I also didn't connect as well with either character. Lou is trying to cope with the tragedy, and Sibylla finds herself the object of the most popular boy's affections. Sibylla is sweet but her friend, Holly, is a piece of work. She's conniving and passive-aggressive, and I couldn't stand her.
Thank goodness Sibylla is the complete opposite of Holly. She realizes there is something more to the quiet Lou, and tries to help draw her out. Her friend, Michael, though, is my favorite character of this book. He ultimately forms the connection between Lou and Sybilla.
Like Six, the writing and dialogue is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. It wasn't as quick of a read as Six, but I still enjoyed it overall.
NOTE: I was unable to find this book in the US, so I purchased it from Fishpond online.
evamargaret's review against another edition
5.0
So raw and real. I was literally laughing out loud.
froydis's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Poppy and Edelweiss for early access to this title.
This was pretty good. I was intrigued by the two main characters, and waited to see how they would come together. They are very different kinds of girls - each dealing with very different issues, and with very different personalities. I thought the author did a great job in portraying the teen social scene, and all the characters were quite realistic. I liked how, even though these are all fairly wealthy kids, that doesn't take the spotlight in the plot. The emotional peril these kids are going through was very real, and I think the resolution was fairly satisfying. This is a good read for older teens - pretty much anyone who's either currently in or has attended a high school will recognize these kids and these situations.
This was pretty good. I was intrigued by the two main characters, and waited to see how they would come together. They are very different kinds of girls - each dealing with very different issues, and with very different personalities. I thought the author did a great job in portraying the teen social scene, and all the characters were quite realistic. I liked how, even though these are all fairly wealthy kids, that doesn't take the spotlight in the plot. The emotional peril these kids are going through was very real, and I think the resolution was fairly satisfying. This is a good read for older teens - pretty much anyone who's either currently in or has attended a high school will recognize these kids and these situations.
annie8782's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this. I related a lot to Sybilla as a person, though I'm fortunate enough to have not had a best friend like Holly. It was really nice to see Lou's development in her healing.
Overall I really liked the dynamics in this book, how it showed friendships, relationships, individuals, popularity and the wilderness.
Overall I really liked the dynamics in this book, how it showed friendships, relationships, individuals, popularity and the wilderness.