Wilder Country

March 15, 2018
The few hardy survivors left in post-plague, apocalyptic Australia struggle on in this sequel to The Road to Winter (2017).In a land peopled by white Australians--who are either Wilders, ruthless bandits organized under their leader, Ramage, or regular folk trying to get on as best they can--and Sileys, asylum seekers from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, most of whom have been enslaved by the Wilders, potential danger lurks in every stand of trees and abandoned, half-crumbling building. Picking up where the last novel ended, Finn and his loyal dog are living with Kas, an Afghani girl whose sister died after giving birth to a baby (who was then kidnapped by Ramage), and Willow, a little blonde girl they saved from a farm settlement that was under attack by the Wilders. Wanting to fulfill their final promise to Rose that they would rescue her baby and hoping to reunite Willow with her parents, the foursome set off across the bush, facing a series of misadventures and moral dilemmas. The superb pacing, natural dialogue, and vivid descriptions of a country and people ravaged by disaster make this a pulse-pounding read. Kas is a welcome heroine: competent, strong, assertive, and brave--and it is refreshing to have a female love interest who is not traditionally beautiful (she has a large birthmark on her cheek).A strong addition to the genre. (Dystopian. 13-adult)

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April 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-The sequel to The Road to Winter picks up with Finn, Kas, and Willow as winter is ending and spring is blooming. The outlook of the world has remained the same; the virus has eliminated most of human life. The group had survived so much in the first novel, but now must confront old enemies to wrap up loose threads. With Ramage and "The Wilders" still hunting them and Rose's baby, Hope, captured, they must find a way to stop Ramage and save the baby. In a lawless world where resources are slim, these teens must overcome all odds to survive. Readers are instantly thrown back into the adventure with Finn and Kas as the story takes off. Smith brilliantly reminds teens of the characters and plot in the first chapter as a refresher before the story truly begins. Young people will be drawn in by the survivalist elements and the heroic escapes. An epic continuation of an outstanding science fiction adventure tale. VERDICT An adventurous survival story that will keep even reluctant readers engaged, this is a must-purchase for collections where The Walking Dead or the "H2O" series by Virginia Bergin are popular.-Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL

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