Unfortunately, this book didn't download properly and I was unable to read it.

This is a shame as I definitely loved the premise and felt I would have really enjoyed the story!

Nicola Penfold is an author I admire and respect.

I loved this book, Nicola Penfold has a real talent and has created a compelling and evocative eco-adventure. A great book for the inbetween readers who are looking for a more challenging read, but not quite ready for teen/YA.

Unfortunately I no longer wish to review this book as the first few chapters did not reel me in. Thank you for the opportunity.

A wonderfully unique middle grade, that explores the important messages of the environment, sibling friendship and being proud to be different. Juniper and Bear are from the Wild, the dystopian landscape that has sprung up in the wake of a deadly man made disease. Sent into the walled city to live with their grandmother Annie Rose, the siblings know that they don't really belong here, and yearn to return to the wild they love so much. But when forced to flee the city because their immunity to the disease threatens their lives, they must risk the wrath of the wild and hope that the beauty of nature will protect them.

I really liked the concept for this. It's original, and sends an important message without being overly condescending or too heavy handed in its execution. Juniper and Bear have a wonderful relationship, with genuine love and support between the two. Annie Rose is also integral to the story, giving a backstory to this world and the nature of the environment, as well as being a good role model to the children. She hides banned books throughout her house, and feeds the imagination of her grandchildren with stories of the wild. She encourages them to follow their dreams, and believe in the impossible.

I also really enjoyed the imagery here - especially in the second half of the book as we enter the heavily wooded, nature filled environment. It's atmospheric, and well described, with flowers and animals that the children haven't seen before. I loved seeing their delight in seeing these images for the first time, and their enthusiasm was infectious.

A strong environmental message set against the backdrop of some strong characters and a great uplifting story that is fast paced and engaging. A great addition to the genre.

I loved this sensitively written debut novel of a dystopian future where a virus has changed the world. Loved the characters of Juniper & Bear & therefore really rooted for them. Great environmental message too. Really hope a second book follows...

Juniper Green and her little brother Bear live in a city which is walled off from nature because of tick-borne disease which has killed off huge portions of the population. For the last five decades people have hidden away from the Wild but you can barely call it ‘living’ – no plants, no animals or birds, bad air, poor food and a regime, under the grip of Portia Steele, which can only be called repressive. When Juniper discovers that she and Bear are destined to be used as guinea pigs – they were born in the Wild, as the world outside the city is known, and are immune to the disease – she realises they have to escape. They decide to try and find their parents – still living in the Wild when last heard of – but soon discover that disease is not the only danger that awaits them.

This is a great dystopian novel for children of ten upwards. Not quite The Hunger Games but a thoughtful and exciting glimpse of the world we may be preparing for the younger generation.

LOVED this book. In short – it is beautifully written, utterly plausible, terrifying and important, yet utterly hopeful, joyous and uplifting too.

There is a wonderfully evocative use of and clear love of language and words – from Juniper and Bear’s word game to the descriptions of wild creatures and plants from before/outside to detailing their journey, the writing is exceptional. Through the lightest of touches, humour, or simply the selection of exactly the right word at the right time, Nicola conjures an immersive and utterly believable world.

And it is terrifyingly believable, not to mention clever as it carefully treads a line between fiction and reality, between dystopia and an all too possible near-future, between places that are real and recognisable and something new and unknown. It somehow hammers home a dire warning without feeling in the least bit preachy or obvious.

The city is scarily uniform, controlling, regimented and confined. From the supposedly calming fractals to the curfews and border guards to the banned books and The Institute, its soon very clear not only how corrupt and wrong it is, but also how much we need nature for our mental health.

Then there is the Wild which we venture into as something unknown, and almost unknowable. Familiar plants and animals are described with wonder, puzzlement or, in the case of the nettles, a mixture of humour and fear! There is a ‘Lost Words’ feel to a lot of the natural world sections, with plants and animals described, named, categorised and listed, which is fine by me and a wonderful way to get all these words (and by extension then, the things themselves) into young minds. It felt like a retreat into nature itself.

Then there is The Buffer, the zone surrounding the city before The Wild begins. I will say nothing on this to avoid spoilers except – wow. What an impact.

I loved that Bear and Juniper’s journey felt almost impossible. They were travelling poorly dressed and poorly equipped after a hurried exit across unfamiliar terrain. It would have been easy, especially in a children’s book, to make this into a jolly adventure where foraging, fishing and found shelters save the day. But there’s none of that here and I’m glad. We’re exposed to the brutal realities of it and it’s hard.

Which brings us to Ghost, a lynx who becomes something of a companion, protector and guide to the children. I’ll be honest, I was hesitant about this aspect at first but as it turned out I though Ghost’s part in the story – tender but always fiercely wild – was superbly executed and weaving in the tale of Romulus and Remus very clever.

Our human characters too were fantastic and oh so believable with all their realistic flaws, worries and emotions. I was so invested in our main duo. There is one point in the book that became so tense, I couldn't read more than a tiny bit at a time!

And the characters we meet along the way are just as rich, rounded and – for the most part – likeable (even those that aren’t have a depth and complexity that makes them so much more than ‘bad guys’, except Portia Steel. She is just a bad guy. Full stop.) I loved Ms Endo, Annie Rose and the ‘Forest Folk’ and I can’t tell you how my heart broke for Etienne. But that is, part of what I loved about this book – while it remained hopeful and positive, it pulled no punches.

I can't recommend this book enough - an ode to nature, a warning to us all, an exciting but dark and perilous journey, a beautifully written book. I cannot wait to see what Nicola does next!

Beautiful writing, a devourable read, about a critical subject. Juniper’s life and care for her little brother, get you straight away. Bear is a real kid with realistic behaviour in a tough world under impressive pressure. Supporting characters still have weight, and you worry for them and the world they live in.
Despite being about nature and how the modern world can kill, it doesn’t ever come across as preachy, there are good and bad characters on both ‘sides’ and both worlds has their dangers.

There’s a moment when some travelers describe themselves with a word I consider a slur.I'm drawn to dystopian books – and I always love stories of apocalypse and pandemic. This was on my TBR before the rise of COVID, coming up in my queue just when New Yorkers were told to shelter in place. For me this was a comfort read, but some readers may find it too close to home.

This is the story of Juniper and Bear, two kids who grow up inside of a glass-enclosed city, half a century after a tick-born illness decimated the population, making it impossible for most people to survive in The Wild. But Juniper and Bear were born in The Wild, and they're immune to the virus. So when life inside their walled city becomes impossible, they decide they need to venture back into the Wild, following a map their mother left to lead them back to her.

The book is middle grade by every definition: the story celebrates family and love, and the main characters are 13 and 6 years old. But the characters' ages are never treated as a limitation, and the middle grade classification does not imply that the story or prose are in any way lower caliber than YA or adult titles.

The book is very environmentalist, mourning extinctions and lost forests, with the virus framed as a response to our destruction of nature. So I'm confused why the text seemed to celebrate the consumption of animals. While there were moments when hunting felt necessary for survival, these bled into times when other resources would be more appropriate and sustainable.

It's a high-stakes, addictive read. The characters are all incredible, from strong women and girls who take charge and push through, to tender compassionate boys and men, who love and support the people around them. And there is a really wonderful wildcat, who I adore with my whole being. There's also a very dark undercurrent of power, toxic consumption, and class politics, that leave this book feeling like the start of a longer series.

There wasn't a lot of space for diversity on the page. There’s a moment when some travelers describe themselves with a word I consider a slur; though they're quoting 'you might know us as..,' there's nothing in the text to imply this isn't a polite term. I found myself head-canoning Juniper and Bear as mixed race, though I don't think it was the author's intention.

All told, I really loved the book, and I hope that it's the first book in a duology or trilogy. I'm really crossing my fingers that the author will take the opportunity to dive deeper, and address some of the questions and issues that I had; and I am putting her on notice that she's not allowed to hurt any of the characters I love.

This exciting debut, a mix of dystopian fiction and epic survival story, is beautifully written capturing the author’s love for the natural world and its important themes will inspire thoughtful discussion among young readers. This is highly recommended.

Juniper Greene and her younger brother, Bear, live in a walled city with their Grandma. Nature has been banished there, following the outbreak of a deadly man-made disease many years earlier. Most people seem reconciled to living in this sterile environment but the two children have always known about their resistance to the disease, and dream of escaping to the wild. They long to journey to the place where humans have survived outside of cities and to be reunited with their mother. When scientists discover that the siblings provide the key to fighting the disease, the pair must flee for their lives. As they embark into the wildness together they soon learn that there is danger in nature as well as beauty.

Juniper is a wonderful character who I quickly found both sympathetic and interesting. Her relationship with her little brother is tenderly and believably described by the author displaying that loving but at times frustrating bond between older and younger siblings. The landscape and the natural world is key to this story and, inspired by Nicola Penfold’s love of the Lake District, this felt both beautiful and familiar to me. Although set in a dystopian future there is a chilling air of possibility about the premise of this story which adds to its relevance to today’s audience.

The children’s journey is utterly gripping, full of danger and difficulties. This is an exciting read but also an extremely thoughtful one. Juniper and Bear show courage, persistence, loyalty and kindness. The reader fears for their safety and cares for their future. This is a powerful story which grips the reader and ultimately makes them care and would prompt thoughtful discussion. I loved this.

The character within this book were great to follow, I enjoyed seeing where Juniper and Bear travelled throughout this book. However, I did feel as though the pacing was off within this book. We spent a great deal of time within the city before we even made it out into the Wild. i understand that this was to set the scene, it just felt as though due to spending so long there we never get the full impact.

The journey takes up a great deal of the book too but, when we finally made it to their final desitination there was less than 10% of the book left. The big reveal of their mother was rushed into 3 lines and we don't even really get to know this new place they have arrived at.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, the two main characters were loveable and you got an idea of how hard their journey was. It wasn't overly gripping throughout, there were places where I couldn't put the book down and then it would slow down again. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading middle grade books as it suits the category well.

I don't even know where to start with this, I just loved it so much. I think this book is about such an important topic, and that is to look after the world around us. I think this message is so important, and the author excelled at revealing the necessity and beauty of nature. I also loved that this story is so original. The whole concept is unique, and isn't something I've read before in a book. The characters were portrayed so well (I LOVE BEAR), each character was given distinct personalities and they felt very real. I think my favourite element in this book is how emotional it is. There were parts where I just sympathised with Juniper and Bear so much that I just wanted to cry. I think Nicola Penfold is a genius. The only problem I had with this book, is that I felt the pacing at the start was quite slow. I just really wanted things to move along. This changed around the halfway point, where things picked up and at this point I was gripped.

I recommend this to literally everyone. If you're looking for a fiction/fantasy book about the necessity of nature and the beauty of the world around us, then please pick this up ❤ you won't be disappointed.

This book is amazing! I have already told several colleagues that they must read it. I don't want to share too much of the story, because it's just such a wonderful book but it follows two children, brother and sister, as they are forced to leave their home to hopefully find a safer place to live. My only criticism of the book is that it ended. There are lots of things I want to know more about and am hoping for a sequel!

Brilliant, just absolutely brilliant. This was such a well written, entertaining book. I loved Bear and Juniper so much , completely engaging characters and story, really makes you stop and think along the way while you read. Junipers narrative throughout the book is so wonderful, a steady level voice most can relate to, mature but not so much teenagers won’t find her relatable, this book is just so captivating. All the characters even minor ones are a delight and it’s such a moving tale. Highly recommended and I think, hopefully this should receive lots of focus, attention and awards, it deserves them.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

“Once upon a time, almost fifty years ago, climate change and deforestation and humans ransacking everything good and beautiful, had driven our planet to breaking point. Nature was dying - plants and trees, animals, birds, insects - new species disappeared every day. But then the ReWilders created the disease.”

Juniper is thirteen and her brother, Bear, is six. They aren’t like the other kids in their school. They were born in the Wild and are immune to the disease the ReWilders created.

“We came from the Wild and one day we’ll go back there.”

I’m a sucker for stories that feature outcasts and these siblings are some of the most loveable outcasts I’ve ever met. Juniper’s love for her brother is fierce. It’s protective. It’s unconditional. It’s the kind of love that wraps you up and keeps you warm because you know that no matter what anyone else thinks about you, this one person will always be there for you.

Their grandmother, Annie Rose, is one of the last Plant Keepers in the city. I absolutely adored Annie Rose! My brain skyrocketed into ‘Fahrenheit 451’ level anxiety when I learned this city had banned books that are even tangentially related to nature. I loved Annie Rose even more when I found out she had not only hidden forbidden books in her home, but she’d also fed the Wild to her grandchildren through their pages.

“The books you read when you’re young, they become part of you.”

After spending some time shadowing Juniper and Bear as they navigated the grey of the city, entering the green of the Wild felt wondrous. As Juniper and Bear took in their new landscape, with its colours and textures and sounds, I felt like I was rediscovering my love of nature. I could feel them breathing in cleaner air and seeing animals they’d only ever known via forbidden books coming to life before their eyes.

My heart attached itself to Ghost from the first time I saw them. I’d love to tell you all about Ghost but don’t want to ruin anything for you. Keep a piece of your heart reserved for them though. They deserve it.

This book has been on my radar for months but for a long time I didn’t think this was the right book for me right now. Between the sheer number of climate change news articles I see daily and the fact that huge chunks of Australia have been burning for the past three months, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be spending my escape from reality time thinking about it as well.

It kept nagging at me though, every time I saw positive reviews piling up. It didn’t hurt that it’s published by Little Tiger Group, one of my favourite children and YA publishers. I’m so glad I finally couldn’t help myself because my initial reasons for hesitating were unfounded. Yes, this book does deal with some big issues. Yes, it’s scary because it’s not farfetched; this could become our world if we don’t make some serious changes to the way we treat the planet. But, yes, there’s also so much love and courage and hope infused in this book.

I knew from the blurb that Juniper and Bear would leave the city at some point, yet I still cried when they did, although I’m definitely not tearing up about it now as I’m writing this review. I also didn’t tear up another time later in the book and I most certainly didn’t notice any additional water in my eyes twice during the acknowledgements. That must have been someone else.

I loved the importance of names in this book. Because Juniper’s name related to the Wild and this was a serious no no in this highly controlled environment, she was called June instead when she was at school. The name of the city’s leader was well suited to their description. Although I didn’t even wonder about its name in the beginning, when I finally learned the origin of the name of the valley where Juniper and Bear were born it had such a lovely symmetry to it. I’m going to pay much more attention to the names of people and places during my inevitable reread.

I kept wondering if the reason given to people for Portia Steel’s absence was a cover up for her having succumbed to the disease herself, or maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. I’m also wondering what became of Annie Rose, Ms Endo and Etienne, and hoping for the best.

Kate Forrester’s cover image was what initially drew me to this book but it’s only now that I’ve finished reading it that I can appreciate all of the details that they included. I’m seeing more of the story in its design the longer I look at it.

Content warnings include bullying, gun violence, injury and death of people and animals, and mention of mental health.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book.

Where The World Turns Wild follows siblings, Jupiter and Bear, two wild things in a cage that is Portia Steele's city. After disease wiped out most of the human race, people gathered into cities for protection. Here, the world is sterile, concrete, and all images of nature and the wild are forbidden. Jupiter and Bear have always planned to escape into the wild, back to their parents many miles away, but when their safety is threatened, they must speed up their plan to leave and venture into a world neither of them have seen before.

Positives:
- I liked the writing style. Nicola Penfold is very clear with her writing and her descriptions of nature are quite beautiful and vivid.
- The characters of Bear and Jupiter - I felt for them and their worry and their tension.
- The message about protecting the wild was a very important one in this day and age.

Things I didn't like:
- pacing. I felt like this was quite a slow book. The chapters are short but the content is long. We were nearly halfway through the book before they even began their journey.
- Ended too quickly. I think there was like one scene missing at the end. Over the journey, Jupiter and Bear focused solely on their mother/parents in their return plans, and the end of the book seems to gloss over that without offering a solid end to that emotional arc.

Overall, I did enjoy the reading experience and I'm glad I pushed on until the end. It's a good middle-grade book that could be a good starting point for a complex talking point. I'd give this book 3.75 but round up to 4 stars!

I adored Where the World Turns Wild. It's necessary and important, but also extremely well written, with wonderful characters and a gripping plot. I will be buying it for all the middle grade readers I know. Here are three reasons why:

1) The relationship between Juniper and Bear was really special. I loved their interactions and the fierce love they felt for each other. My own daughter is five, and it was emotional to imagine her undertaking Bear's journey.

2) Children's stories about the environment, and particularly the aftermath of ecological disaster, is topical and important. Where the World Turns Wild is a stark imagining of the climate crisis, and the colossal human loss that could come from ignoring it. There are a lot of dark aspects to this story and it leaves you with a lot to think about. I haven't been able to stop worrying about Juniper and Bear's world since I finished. This is a novel that will touch the hearts of young readers and encourage them to fight for their future.

3) I loved Ghost, who stays with Juniper and Bear throughout their journey and is a constant source of hope and comfort. She also symbolises the amazing relationship between humanity and the wild, how we need and rely on each other and the ways we can work together if we're paying attention.

I also really enjoyed how Penfold introduced more complex vocabulary, both through Juniper and Bear's clever word game (which I'm determined to start playing with my daughter) and Juniper's memory of the old dictionary she read.

Penfold is a debut author to watch - I'll definitely be reading whatever she writes next.

I wanted to read this title to see if it was suitable as a gift for my stepdaughter who has an interest in nature and climate change. What I found was a great read, that while set within a scary dystopian future was able to instil some hope in the reader. Climate change activists have sabotaged what is left of the natural world and humans are gathered in cities protected by moats. A disease has been planted in the tick population, so the moats have to be able to kill off the insect and prevent anything natural from growing wild in the city. Activists have realised that the only cure for the planet is the eradication of most of its human population.

Most humans seem to have accepted this barren way of life, except for our central characters Juniper and Bear. They can’t accept this new way of living and have a need for the natural world. So they set out to reach a place where ‘rewilding’ is taking place. The author has picked one of my favourite areas of outstanding beauty in Cumbria to site a new ‘promised land’. I loved the relationship between these two people on a new type of pilgrimage. Although there is difficulty and hardship, there is love between these two people and a hope that there is a way of establishing the beauty of this incredible planet.

I absolutely loved this book. It is full of excitement, compassion, struggle and loyalty. The struggles are real and the story compelling. This is a world, that one can envision, is scary and familiar at the same time. Juniper and Bear lead the reader on an epic journey as they seek their parents. They have a far from easy journey both physically and mentally which only serves to endear the, to the reader. This is an adventure story with a heart.

So much here for thoughtful readers to get their teeth into & aid discussion, but this also works as a gripping - and occasionally heart-stopping - adventure story. Terrific sense of place & likeable characters. A very enjoyable & impressive debut.