Dusty in the Outwilds by Rhiannon Williams
The award-winning Australian creator of the Ottilie Colter trilogy has gifted us an enthralling new standalone adventure: Dusty in the Outwilds. Willa, or Dusty to everyone but her dad, has grown up listening to her Gran tell fantastical stories about a mysterious place with incredible creatures called the Outwilds. For some reason her dad really doesn’t like these stories and forbids them from being shared with Dusty.
Dusty suspects this has something to do with her Aunt Meg, who everyone says is ‘out wild’. Dusty dreams about her strong, capable aunt and her brilliant adventures in the bush. When she hears that Gran is sick and that Gran’s cherished house may have to be sold, Dusty is convinced the only person who can fix things is Meg and that the only place she’ll find her is in the Outwilds. But what Dusty doesn’t realise is that the Outwilds aren’t just the bush behind Gran’s house, they are so much more … and they mean more to her family than she can ever know.
Dusty in the Outwilds is the story of a family facing the tough challenges of grief, and discovering the importance of being honest with yourself and your loved ones. It is an exciting tale of exploration, both physical and emotional, for ages 8+.
