Thoroughly enjoyed this dystopian middle grade and it's nice to see something a bit futuristic to do with the environment gracing the bookshop shelves. The LGBTQ family representation was a breath of fresh air and the explanation of how two females can have a family and the impact this can have as children grow older was an important aspect of the book but perfectly explained for the 9-12 genre. I love recommending this book, especially as it holds space for 12-14 year olds as well (sometimes a tricky age group to recommend for)!

The Wildlands is a vast, untouched haven for nature, where once-extinct species can thrive undisturbed by humans - with Lynx, Bears, Wolves, Boars & Bison roaming freely 🦬

Human interference is forbidden in this part of the UK, with the exception of the high speed train that allows safe passage through the country 🚂

So when Astrid & Indie find themselves stranded all alone in the middle of the Wildlands, their survival skills are put to the test... 🧭🗺

This is an absolutely wonderful debut from Brogen Murphy, I can't wait to see what this author does next! 💚

Jam-packed full of adventure, inspiration and British wildlife, Wildlands is a beautiful story about the importance of nature, family and the power of rewilding 🌳

Alongside the wonderful wildlife facts & fantastic world building, this book will have you questioning absolutely everything about how we live on this beautiful planet 🌍

One of the questions that kept cropping up throughout the book is if it is possible for humans & nature to exist in the same spaces anymore, or can nature only truly thrive in our absence? 🚶‍♀️🚶

There was something quite emotional reading about the incredible British species Astrid & Indie encountered on their journey - most of which are currently endangered or already lost in the wild. From wildcats to red squirrels, I don't think I have seen a single species that was mentioned in this book, which sadly will be the same for many others too 🦫🐺

A very important book for all to read. I know young readers are going to find so much hope and strength in this book - just like Astrid & Indie ✨️

A huge thank you to @puffinbooksuk for the #gifted review copy! 📚

P.S. that might be the prettiest cover I have ever seen!

Astrid hates her mother. Well, that should be OK, as she has two of them. But it really doesn't make her a likeable character. Anyway, once upon a time this mother helped rewild the entire north of England/southern Scottish belt, turning it into a haven for large predators and suchlike that we used to have on these isles, and making it off-limits. Cutting through it on a train, Astrid and her younger sister Indie are going to conspire to get off the train, and strand themselves, seemingly irrevocably.

This is pretty clunky stuff. There's the way the environment of 2050 is announced – just dryly dropping in that by then we'll have discovered compostable plastic, and how Christmas has been renamed. There's the numerous slips, bumps, jump scares and downright daft shocks the piece tries to give the two girls. Sure, it takes smarts way beyond me to make the girls have a natural level of intelligence and yet able to stumble upon a way to make a fire and do the other things, like finding their route out – but that seems beyond this author too.

Now don't get me wrong, this is not hellishly bad. It just fell plumb into the category of book that is fine, gripping and readable for an under-twelve, but really quite a poor choice for the adult reader/reviewer. Because the adult can see issues aplenty. Indie seems very under-written – she is the nature enthusiast contrast to Astrid's anti-all-things-mother's cynicism, and that's about it.

No, for me this was a two-star disappointment. For the younger, less discerning minds this could well stretch to a four – after all, any book where things could end up as being girls vs wolves holds potential. And this has the vim and variety to take us anywhere it likes, however illogically and clumsily. Three star average between the two it is, then.

I loved the concept of this story and the idea of a Wildlands in Britain with nature roaming uninterrupted by humans. Until two kids fall in, of course. But the execution of this was not as magical as the concept - the pacing was really slow and I found myself (an avid reader) skimming sections. The “big secret” was not exactly earth shattering and the ending left loose ends which might have provided more exciting storytelling (the poachers get away with it?). The relationship between the sisters was well written and I loved their connection. I also enjoyed some of the passages of nature writing which was beautiful and vivid. But this was 100 pages too long, under edited and needed more pace to keep young readers engaged.

Astrid, and her little sister, Indie, are on a train crossing the Wildlands - a huge rewilded area of England and Scotland, where no-one has been for years. When the train stops, a combination of bad choices and bad luck see it carry on its journey leaving Astrid and Indie behind. It is up to the sisters to find their way home again, through this unpredictable and unexplored landscape full of wild animals, with no hope of any human help along the way.

I really enjoyed this book. It is one of those where you have to suspend reality a bit; the characters encounter every possible bit of bad luck and seem to lurch from fine to half-dead and back again in a fairly short space of time and they make some decisions which seem unlikely, especially considering their ages, but if you can get beyond this, it's a good adventure, all very neatly tied up at the end.

Exciting, entirely believable, and beautifully written, this is a middle-grade novel that blew me away and one that I’m hoping will be on many readers’ radars already because it most definitely deserves to be.

When we first meet the two girls, they are safe, if a little bored, as they journey on the train between Manchester and Glasgow that cuts directly through the Wildlands, enroute to meet their Mum. Like most teenagers, Astrid is glued to her phone, while the younger Indie gazes out of the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creatures that now roam the Wildlands below. When the train makes an unexpected stop, Astrid and Indie find themselves accidentally stranded in this vast, untamed landscape. With no phone signal and no way to call for help, they must rely on their wits and each other to survive.

What follows is a heart-pounding adventure as the sisters navigate the dangers of the Wildlands—predatory animals, treacherous terrain, and their own fears. Murphy’s writing is both vivid and evocative, bringing the rewilded landscape to life in stunning detail. The Wildlands are as much a character in this story as Astrid and Indie, with their beauty and danger woven into every page.

Astrid and Indie are wonderfully drawn characters, each with their own strengths and vulnerabilities. Astrid, the older sister, is practical and resourceful, but her reliance on technology is tested in this unfamiliar world. Indie, on the other hand, is curious and brave, with a deep love for nature that proves invaluable. Their relationship is the heart of the story, and Murphy captures the bond between siblings with warmth and authenticity.

The pacing is excellent, with short chapters that make it easy to keep reading “just one more.” The tension builds steadily as the sisters face one challenge after another, and there are moments of joy and wonder that balance the darker, more perilous scenes. The themes of resilience, family, and humanity’s relationship with nature are explored with nuance and depth, making this a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

Wildlands is a fabulous read for Year 4 upwards, and I can’t wait to see what Brogen Murphy writes next. It’s a book that not only entertains but also encourages readers to think about the world around them and their place within it.

A thrilling and thought-provoking adventure, Wildlands is a must-read for anyone who loves stories of survival, sisterhood, and the power of nature.