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A review by haklh
Wildlife by Fiona Wood
5.0
Wow. Wildlife blew me away. Perhaps it is because it deals with weightier matters; somehow Wildlife seems significantly more sophisticated, complex and impactful than its predecessor, Six Impossible Things. (Six Impossible Things is nonetheless very enjoyable. But Wildlife is very much better)
Wildlife is the story of Sib and Lou, two teenage girls in a private high school spending a semester in their wilderness campus. Sib is a quiet and bookish sort, unexpectedly catapulted into the spotlight when she was scouted for an advertising campaign. The resultant attention causes (the usual sort of) teenage turmoil, including a love interest, backstabbing and angst about loyalty and friendships.
Lou is our carryover from Six Impossible Things (the two are loosely related). The friendship group from SIT has been torn apart by an unexpected tragedy, leaving everyone to grieve and cope as best they can. Lou has changed schools and is determined to be a silent and cynical observer of the teenage machinations around her. Only when Lou's and Sib's stories converge did she finally find a way to release her grief and move on with her life.
Both Lou and Sib are likeable characters with authentic voices. The author has captured the cocooned / incestuous / claustrophobic nature of teenage society (and specifically of a big group of teenagers "on camp") very well. The plot is tight and grabs you from the first chapter, not letting up until the last. Wildlife well deserves its CBCA Book of the Year award.
Wildlife is the story of Sib and Lou, two teenage girls in a private high school spending a semester in their wilderness campus. Sib is a quiet and bookish sort, unexpectedly catapulted into the spotlight when she was scouted for an advertising campaign. The resultant attention causes (the usual sort of) teenage turmoil, including a love interest, backstabbing and angst about loyalty and friendships.
Lou is our carryover from Six Impossible Things (the two are loosely related). The friendship group from SIT has been torn apart by an unexpected tragedy, leaving everyone to grieve and cope as best they can. Lou has changed schools and is determined to be a silent and cynical observer of the teenage machinations around her. Only when Lou's and Sib's stories converge did she finally find a way to release her grief and move on with her life.
Both Lou and Sib are likeable characters with authentic voices. The author has captured the cocooned / incestuous / claustrophobic nature of teenage society (and specifically of a big group of teenagers "on camp") very well. The plot is tight and grabs you from the first chapter, not letting up until the last. Wildlife well deserves its CBCA Book of the Year award.