Brogen Murphy on Wildlands and eco-adventures for early teens

 

When Wildlands landed on our desks, we knew almost immediately that it was going to be a perfect fit for our Macaw boxes. It's a thrilling eco-adventure set in a relatively near future and with a pair of young characters who our Macaw readers will find hugely relatable, who must survive in a world that is almost recognisable to us - but not quite. The landscape is beautifully depicted and the action is gripping. At the book's heart is an important message about our relationship to the natural world around us. The story raises as many questions as it answers and makes for perfect book club reading! Here author Brogen Murphy tells us what inspired the book and which other eco-adventures for this age group they recommend you read next.

What inspired you to write Wildlands?

I first learnt about rewilding studying Zoology at university. I was so taken by the idea that we could not only protect nature - but restore it: to put back the missing animals and let places grow wild again. Writing Wildlands was my way to explore what a wild Britain could really look like.

 What would you say Astrid learns about herself?

I think she learns to balance her logical intelligence with a more intuitive way of moving through the world. She also learns that - whilst she might find her annoying – her little sister Indie has a lot of good ideas! But most importantly, by the end, she learns what family really means.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and how it unfolds?

I hope they’ll be gripped by the adventure from beginning to end. But, after the adrenaline wears off, I hope the story gives them space to explore some big questions: What makes a family? What do they hope the future will look like? And can we learn to live alongside the natural world?

Which elements of the future described in the book would you most, or least, like to experience yourself?

I would love it if there was a real Wildlands I could visit - though maybe only safely in the Buffer Zone! I’d love to see native wild animals - beaver, bison, maybe even bear (from a safe distance!) - making their home again in this land that we once shared with them for thousands of years.

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Astrid and her family?

I often wonder whether Astrid will be quite ready to let go of the Wildlands, after everything that happened there. There are also a few unanswered questions that I know Mum will want answers to! (No spoilers!)

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

I think this is such an important and exciting age. You’re no longer a child – you’re starting to see that the world is bigger and more complicated than it seemed – but you’re not yet squashed down by everything that parents, friends, school and society tell you that you have to be. It’s a time full of possibility and becoming.   

Do you have a favourite place to write?

Outside! (Though near the house so I can plug in my laptop or look things up if I need to.) I feel so much more peaceful with the sun on my face and birds flitting through the air. And if I’m lucky an insect will land on my keyboard – then I get to stop writing and just stare at them for a bit.

Which other eco-adventures for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next?

One of my favourite books growing up was Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. It’s about a twelve-year-old boy who gets stranded in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet. He has to find food, build shelter, and fend off wild animals. It’s relentless and brutal and I loved it!

I also just read Beyond the Frozen Horizon by Nicola Penfold. A beautiful story about the preciousness of wild places, with big questions around how we humans live in them.

Copies of our Wildlands pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

You may also be interested to read our blog post: 6 cli-fi, eco-dystopian and eco-thriller novels for 12, 13 and 14-year-olds.

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