Wildlife - Fiona Wood

Wildlife by Fiona Wood

Series: Six Impossible Things/Wildlife #2 (Book 1: Six Impossible Things)

Publisher: Poppy

Publication Date: September 16, 2014

Source/Format: Borrowed from the library || Hardcover

During a semester in the wilderness, sixteen year- old Sib expects the tough outdoor education program and the horrors of dorm life, but friendship drama and love that gets complicated? That will take some navigating. 

New girl Lou has zero interest in fitting in, or joining in. Still reeling from a loss that occurred almost a year ago, she just wants to be left alone. But as she witnesses a betrayal unfolding around Sib and her best friend Holly, Lou can't help but be drawn back into the land of the living.

In this tender, funny story of first love, good friendship, and going a little bit wild, Fiona Wood introduces two unforgettable girls who discover that before you can be true to yourself, you have to figure out exactly who you are.

I’ll be honest: I tried reading Wildlife once earlier this year and had to set it down because it just was not reading well for me at the time. But after seeing Hannah’s review, I knew I wanted to give it another chance. 

This is not a book for every reader. Wildlife has elements that make it sound universally appealing: a school that offers students a semester in the wilderness, a girl who deals with troubled friendships and romance, and another girl who is reeling with grief over a loss. Bear in mind, these things are certainly in the novel – but the way they are written might not work for most readers. The characters are really complicated individuals, each with their own personalities and problems. The plot meanders about, chronicling a journey through grief (Lou’s perspective) and the pleasures and pitfalls of being a teen (Sib’s perspective). There’s a whole lot of drama, some terrible life choices and so many relationships that felt inauthentic.

And yet, I liked Wildlife. It’s not the type of story I’d return to repeatedly, nor are the characters particular favorites. But it was easy enough to identify with parts of each girl’s experience – Lou’s grief over her loss, Sib’s easy slide into a relationship led mostly by physical attraction and a friend’s coaxing, Lou’s retreat into herself as she tries to figure out how to keep going, Sib’s learning what friendship should really be like and both girls learning how to stand up again on their own two feet. This personal connection is why I was so invested, in spite of the fact that there were certain characters I truly disliked and plots that made me want to smack someone in the face (multiple times). 

While I enjoyed the entire concept of a semester in the wilderness overall, connecting with Sib and Lou is what really made Wildlife a good reading experience in the end. Without that personal connection, I’m fairly certain I would have set it down a second time, unable to stomach all the drama that ensues. But understanding their motivations and their choices - it definitely helped make this story incredibly compelling on a personal level. If you’re at all intrigued, you should give Wildlife a shot.