Wildlife - by Fiona Wood (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

During a semester in the wilderness, sixteen year- old Sib expects the tough outdoor education program and the horrors of dorm life, but friendship drama and love that gets complicated? That will take some navigating.
New girl Lou has zero interest in fitting in, or joining in. Still reeling from a loss that occurred almost a year ago, she just wants to be left alone. But as she witnesses a betrayal unfolding around Sib and her best friend Holly, Lou can't help but be drawn back into the land of the living.

In this tender, funny story of first love, good friendship, and going a little bit wild, Fiona Wood introduces two unforgettable girls who discover that before you can be true to yourself, you have to figure out exactly who you are.

Review Quotes

Praise for Wildlife: A YALSA 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection A Booklist Magazine's 2014 Editors' Choice A VOYA Perfect Tens 2014 Selection
"Enchanting...[Wood's] unsentimental rendering of the glorious, messy rush of first love elevate Wildlife far beyond standard kids-at-camp fare. The wilderness is exquisitely described, and when it comes to what's on everyone's mind, Wood is frank but never crude, and often hilarious...Wood tackles big themes head-on: identity, friendship, justice, love, death. Her characters are all compelling and believable."
--New York Times Book Review

* "In alternating points of view-Lou's lyrical journal entries and Sib's first-person narrative-Wood builds a believable story of misguided friendship, betrayal, and empowering growth...With exceptional candor, honesty, and nuance, Wood tells a heartening and compelling story of the importance of agency, self-confidence, and true friendship."--Booklist (starred review)

* "Wood eloquently traces the emotional growth of two girls during their high school's required nine-week term of outdoor education...[Sib and Lou's] voices reverberate with honesty, vulnerability, and deep emotions and will leave a lasting impress on readers."--PW (starred review)

"A beautifully crafted novel with achingly real characters that I couldn't get out of my head."--Melina Marchetta, author of the Printz Award-winning Jellicoe Road

"A writer to continue to watch."--Kirkus Reviews

"Sharp, true, and achingly honest, Wildlife totally gave me the feels. I got lost in this smart and beautiful book."--Siobhan Vivian, author of The List

"The mounting interpersonal tension will keep readers deeply engrossed, as will the narrators' honesty and humor...This exceptional novel is Australian author Wood's American debut, but readers will want to get their hands on her first book, Six Impossible Things."--The Horn Book

About the Author

Fiona Wood lives in Melbourne, Australia. Her first novel, Six Impossible Things, was short-listed for the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year (Older Readers). Wildlife, her first novel published in the United States, was named the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year (Older Readers) and was short-listed for various other awards. This year, Cloudwish was also named Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year (Older Readers) and won the Indie Book Award (Australia) for young adult fiction.