Kester Jaynes misses his old life, even if he can barely remember what it was like before the virus. He hasn’t seen his dad for six years, as he has been in a hospital for ‘troubled’ children. He remembers his quirky, scientist-veterinarian dad fondly and longs to see him again but knows that isn’t going to be happening anytime soon.

The virus seemed to appear from nowhere, causing high temperatures and the most telling sign, fiery red eyes, thus earning the nickname Red-Eye. It hit animals especially hard, decimating their numbers. Any left were then exterminated to prevent the virus from spreading. Now there are no animals left.

Kester keeps to himself as much as possible, inside the hospital. When served his meals he often hides in the shadows to eat in solitude. Although thought to be no animals left, a large cockroach often appears from a drain nearby and Kester has come to see it as a friend. He shares his meal of manufactured pink formula slop with the creature.

One day it speaks to him.

This is the beginning of an exciting, terrifying, heart-breaking, and dangerous journey for Kester. He discovers the truth about the animals, his incarceration and his father. He makes a human friend and many furred and feathered ones too. Kester makes a promise, and he’s willing to do just about anything to keep it.

The first in a trilogy, The Last Wild was published in 2013, but is a warning of a possible future. A virus is sweeping the world, wiping the animals off the earth. Fear of it forces human ‘Cullers’ to hunt any remaining animals down. Pointing to the real destruction of the world’s environment and animal kingdom by humankind, it is a sobering topic.

It is also an exciting and magical read as Kester can communicate with animals – from a bossy but brave cockroach he dubs ‘The General’ to a majestic stag who is the wise one in the story. A contrary and seemingly confused white pigeon is funny and a wolf cub impetuous but brave.

A story for animal lovers, young environmentalists, or anyone keen to dive into an adventure. 

Author – Piers Torday

Age – 8+

Read reviews for the rest of the Trilogy (Click on a Cover)

(2013, Animals, Action, Secret, Series, Courage, Future, Dystopian, Bullies, Blended Family, Pigeons, Polly, Rescue, Hospital, Stag, Talk to animals, Grief, Adventure, Crime, Environment, Greed, Trilogy)