The Wild Lands by Paul Greci

When a raging fire razed Alaska and it was disconnected from the rest of the United States, Travis's father chose to stay. However, food is now running low and the land is unusable. The few people that they meet are hostile. His father, finally realizing staying means death, gets the family ready to leave. The trip will be brutal. When tragedy happens and Travis and his little sister need to set off on their own to get to the lower 48 states, they must somehow survive the terrible weather, dangerous people, and maybe even form strong alliances with others.

I liked reading this survival-adventure novel. The idea of living in a destroyed, isolated place and struggling to survive the aftermath of the apocalypse was an interesting premise that I enjoyed reading about. The characters seemed realistic and their motives and actions were also very well written. The mindset of some of the characters was also fun to read about- such as the ideas of the hardcore survivalists. However, I felt as if the novel did not have a satisfying ending, something I hope the author will remedy with another book. People who like reading about post apocalyptic scenarios and survivalism would love this book and its intense action. Overall, I would recommend this novel as a great read for anyone.

Reviewed by NK, Grade 10

Montrose Library