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Brightest Wild
Paperback

Brightest Wild

$16.99
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A gently lyrical story about discovering Country and the importance of family, friendship and the magic of the bush, from an emerging Indigenous talent and winner of a black&write! Fellowship.

When eleven-year-old Alex moves to Adelaide from London after her mother gets engaged to a man across the globe, Alex must negotiate a new country, a new school, and (most difficult of all) a new stepbrother, the prickly teenaged Koen.

What sustains Alex in this strange new world is the wonder of the natural world around her, particularly a magnificent tree that comes to represent magic, resilience and strength.

Alex discovers the mystery of the bush, the true impact of climate change and a passion to fight for what is right.

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MORE INFO
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Hachette Australia
Country
Australia
Date
29 January 2025
Pages
240
ISBN
9780734420657

A gently lyrical story about discovering Country and the importance of family, friendship and the magic of the bush, from an emerging Indigenous talent and winner of a black&write! Fellowship.

When eleven-year-old Alex moves to Adelaide from London after her mother gets engaged to a man across the globe, Alex must negotiate a new country, a new school, and (most difficult of all) a new stepbrother, the prickly teenaged Koen.

What sustains Alex in this strange new world is the wonder of the natural world around her, particularly a magnificent tree that comes to represent magic, resilience and strength.

Alex discovers the mystery of the bush, the true impact of climate change and a passion to fight for what is right.

Format
Paperback
Publisher
Hachette Australia
Country
Australia
Date
29 January 2025
Pages
240
ISBN
9780734420657
 
Book Review

Brightest Wild
by Tania Crampton-Larking

by Kim Gruschow, Feb 2025

Eleven-year-old Alex has just moved halfway around the globe from London to live with her mother’s partner and his son in South Australia. It’s a lot of big changes for a young person to contend with at once: a new climate, school and family life. Alex finds comfort in the natural world as she endures bullying and struggles to feel at home in her new environment. Gradually though, she makes new friends, and the bonds with new family members strengthen as she experiences the wonder of Country with them. When their environment is threatened by fire, Alex is driven to help protect it alongside what is now her community.

The big themes of this book are treated skilfully by Mirning author Tania Crampton-Larking; no one is perfect, and all of the characters are given opportunity to grow as they adjust to the various big changes in their lives. It’s an exciting book and a story that values courage and honesty as well as respect for each other and our environment. This is a heartfelt and relevant read for ages 9+.

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