Author: Pablo Cartaya
Genre: dystopia
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The Last Wild by Piers Torday
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): In a future shaken by climate disasters, Yolanda Cicerón knows that nature is something to be feared. While life in the Valley is brutal and harsh, Yoly dreams of leaving her farm to live in Silo—the most advanced town for miles around. But first, Yoly will need to prove she belongs in a place where only the smartest and most useful are welcomed.
Between her razor-sharp smarts and sheer determination, Yoly is well on her way until she discovers her family can no longer afford her schooling. When forced to take matters into her own hands, the closer she gets to securing her future, the more she uncovers the dangers lying inside Silo’s walls—ones that threaten the entire Valley.
As she cracks long-guarded secrets, Yoly, along with those closest to her, is put in grave peril and the only chance of surviving may lie in the rediscovery of a long-extinct species—the honeybee. Can the last surviving beehive be the key to pulling the Valley out from under Silo’s thumb, or will they destroy what remains of Yoly’s future?
My opinion: The set up here is strong. We have a world where people are increasingly struggling to get by on their own. The environment is failing them and there is little hope that things will get better. Even in the early chapters we get hints of increasing governmental controls, little stories of people banished for shadowy reasons. And as the title suggests, we're exploring the impact of pollinators on an environment. The ecological messaging is pretty much what we'd expect from a middle grade novel. The political aspects might be a bit of a reach but not too much for an engaged reader. The writing itself is a bit chaotic. It doesn't give us enough background into relationships and characters. Only a few have any depth, so there isn't the emotional connection. We have no basis for understanding how they will act and why. The big ideas behind this book are certainly worth discussing and it was an easy enough read. Just not one that will top my list.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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