
age range: 12 and up
genre: survival; cli-fi
setting: a post-oil era, government-abandoned, wild-fire-ravaged, climate-altered Alaska
Paul Greci’s website
This fast-paced book contains all the hallmarks of a classic wilderness survival novel (deadly terrain, vicious predators, literal cliff-hangers) and the best of the postapocalyptic genre … The author’s decades of Alaskan wilderness experience is evident throughout … A great high-stakes wilderness survival tale.
—School Library Journal
Heart-thumping suspense for readers who liked Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave. —Booklist
This rugged survival story places a group of teens in a dark, burned-out post-apocalyptic nightmare. Your heart will pound for them as they face terrible dangers and impossible odds. Gripping, vivid, and haunting!
— Emmy Laybourne, international bestselling author of the Monument 14 trilogy
A compelling story that wouldn’t let me stop reading. Greci has created both a frightening landscape and characters you believe in and want to survive it.
— Eric Walters, author of the bestselling Rule of Three series
A brutal vision of things to come. Greci delivers an apocalyptic odyssey that’s honest, relentless, and backed by his firsthand knowledge of the wilderness.
— Lex Thomas, author of the Quarantine series
Heart-racing… A rugged wilderness lover’s post-disaster survivalist tale.
—Kirkus Reviews
Please tell us about your book.
The Wild LandsWhat inspired you to write this story?
I spend a lot time in the Alaska wilderness and love writing wilderness survival stories. I am fascinated both with survival and with climate change, so putting the two together was a story idea that resonated with me.
Could you share with readers how you conducted your research?
I regularly read about climate change, and much has been written speculating about how Alaska will change over time given the current warming trends. I have visited many of the places in the book, imagining how they might look in the future with climate change.
What are some special challenges associated with writing a story set in the future?
In writing The Wild Lands, I wanted the story grounded in reality, meaning that it was not that much of a leap from current political, economic, and environmental conditions for a reader to be able to connect with both the story events and the settings in which they take place.
What topics does your book touch upon that would make it a perfect fit for the classroom?
My book is a coming-of-age story for the main character, Travis. It also has three strong female characters, who all go through their own coming-of-age journeys. It would also be a good story to use to discuss the qualities of good leadership. And, of course, if you are into wilderness survival or want to shine a light on climate change and/or resource use, there’s plenty there for rich discussions and writing projects. Also, exploring sibling relationships would be a good topic for classroom discussions. Finally, the idea that sometimes you have to be your own “mentor” when there is no one to turn to is a major theme in the story—standing on your own and taking care of yourself, while at the same time, being there for the people you care about.
Ooh. This one is going on my list. I think my kids would really enjoy this one, too.
YES. This one pushes all the best buttons!
Sounds like a must-read for anyone who liked The Hatchet!
Agreed. Which is why it’s must-read for me!