There's an all-girls boarding school on an island and all of the people on the island succumbed to an illness about 18 months ago. Many of them are dead. There are only two adults left. Not only have the humans been attacked, but the animals and plants are all bizarrely affected -- growing larger and stronger.
A few girls are assigned to leave their fenced enclosure to go get supplies when they are delivered. Hetty has always been a lookout on the roof protecting the grounds with guns, but she has been elected to be one of the girls that go to get the supplies. It is dangerous, but she learns a lot by leaving the grounds -- some of it not very good. Then Hetty's best friend, Byatt, gets sick and disappears. Hetty will do anything to find out where they have taken Byatt.
First of all, the world-building is really good -- unique, deadly, and utterly terrifying. Secondly, the build-up of tension, from so many directions really sucks you in. The characters are somewhat mysterious. I'm not sure if that's intentional (I suspect it is), but I have questions about some of the motivations and decisions that were made.
Of course, we don't get much closure, although this episode ends at a good spot. Throughout the entire book, the situation seems hopeless, and in the end, I still didn't have much hope. The more I read, the faster I read, and that's a good thing. I think this is going to be a popular book with teens, and it has been well-received by the professionals. I'm "all-in" for the sequel. Write fast Rory Power! I haven't read Lord of the Flies (I should since my son says it's the only book he read for school that he enjoyed), but Wilder Girls has been compared to a female Lord of the Flies. Go for it.
Published by Delacorte, July 9, 2019
eBook obtained from the library
368 pages
Rating: 5/5
I've been seeing this book EVERYWHERE and wondering if it could possibly live up to the hype it's been getting. Sounds like it does. I love it when that happens :) Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI love books with solid world-building, so I’m excited for this one. Great review!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I am certainly going to look for this book. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteLord of the Flies was pretty intense and very boy. I know tons of teen girls who would like to read a female version for a change of pace.
ReplyDelete