Following the sudden death of his father, Jack has been finding life tricky. His mother is wrapped up in work and Jack has found himself growing increasingly close to boys at school who are leading him down the wrong path and he is now regularly skipping school and even starts shop lifting. He knows it's wrong but the pressure that is building up in him is too difficult to deal with and he just wants to block everything out. Then as the Christmas holidays are due to begin, Jack's mum announces that she thinks they should head off on a trip together. They have never been close so Jack is shocked by this; nevertheless, he agrees to go. With very little knowledge of where they are going, Jack certainly doesn't anticipate ending up in the middle of the rainforest, a place with more dangers than Jack had expected. Jack may be actively seeking danger, but will this prove too much?
From the very beginning of the book, I wanted to do nothing more than to reach in and hug Jack. It is evident that he is desperately struggling since the death of his father with whom he was incredibly close. Now he has gone, he is finding it difficult to come to terms with things (and his mum is also struggling to know what to do and how to grow closer to Jack). He finds it difficult to talk to his mum (or indeed anybody) and instead has turned to a group of boys who are leading him to more trouble. The one person he needs to talk to is the only person he can't talk to. The journey he goes on during the book (both physically and mentally) is brilliantly written and, I believe, will be of help to anybody who has lost a parent. Jack is a relatable character and one who felt very real.
I also very much felt for Jack's mum who is trying desperately to navigate the death of her husband, her career and Jack, with whom she now has a very different relationship. She finds herself trying to walk a fine line between giving him the space he needs and coming down hard on him for the trouble he is getting into. For her, the trip seems like the best way to escape from everything.
The contrast between Jack's home life and the rainforest is stark and Ele vividly paints a picture of life there whilst seamlessly highlighting very real environmental issues that this part of the world is facing. The dangers portrayed are a reminder to readers that this is a part of the world that needs protecting for more than one reason.
I have been a big fan of Ele's work since reading Boy 87 in 2019 so I knew that I would enjoy Wild; however, the book was so much more than I was expecting. It is an immersive read that portrays family, grief and learning how to move on in a very real way; it shows bravery in many different guises whilst seamlessly weaving in strong messages about deforestation.
Publishing on the 4th May, Ele has done it again with Wild and it's a book you absolutely need to pre-order.
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