The Wilderness of Girls

By Author / Illustrator

Madeline Claire Franklin

Genre

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Chicken House

ISBN

9781915947857

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-01-2025

Synopsis

A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2024. While hiking, Rhi discovers four young women living wild and guarded by wolves. The girls tell her that they are lost princesses raised by a man called Mother. Shocked, Rhi takes them to hospital, all the while haunted by memories of her family trauma. Surely, the girls have been abducted, misled or abused? Yet she can see a bond between them that blurs fantasy and reality. As media hysteria surrounding the young women grows, Rhi comes to a decision that will change all of their lives forever.

An unflinching and ambitious novel by debut author Madeline Claire Franklin, an outstanding new talent. Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood. A gripping exploration of trauma and the pressures placed on young women in a modern society.

Praise for the Wilderness of Girls: 'A compelling, thoughtful, and original debut.' KIRKUS 'Tender and raw, this debut isn't afraid to dig into the agonizing interior lives of teen girls, the ways our world tries to break them, and the bonds they create to survive it.' BOOKLIST

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Reviews

Sam

At first glance, this debut YA novel appears to be a fantastical fairytale but is in fact a rather dark and emotionally fraught story of the wild girls. The Wilderness of Girls' themes are hard hitting and include PTSD, suicide, eating disorders, family and domestic violence, emotional abuse, cannibalism and abuse. This book is most definitely NOT for the faint hearted or younger readers.

Following the arrest of her father, Rhi's stepmother ups and leaves and she is sent to live with her uncle, who she hardly knows. Her uncle works at the Happy Valley Wildlife Reserve and at first, Rhi spends her time wandering through the woods, so it is no surprise that when they need a new ranger they ask Rhi to help out. It's here that she stumbles upon a pack of wolves guarding four feral teenage girls.

Once Rhi gains the girls' trust, they reveal that were raised by a man they call Mother; he has led them to believe that they're princesses from another world and that they must return to save their kingdom once they find their fifth sister. Unsure what to believe, Rhi tries to help the girls transition into civilisation, where they're met with local concern and scrutiny. They are desperate to return to their kingdom, and look to Rhi for help. She is certain the girls are deluded, but at the same time she's drawn in by their boldness and authenticity. As the hunt for answers intensifies, Rhi must make a decision that will change the course of her life and the lives of the wild girls forever.

With the continually changing perspective, this is not an easy read; the reader needs to stay focused to keep track of each character's point of view. The pace of the read also changes throughout, with some parts adrenaline-packed and fast paced, while others include so much detail the reader might be at risk of getting rather lost.

That aside, this is a great read. There are no doubt many teen readers who would really enjoy following this unusually disturbing tale of the 'Wild Girls'. However, I think that it needs to be shared with young readers with care, and it is not an regular classroom bookshelf filler. Adult guidance is vital; the reader's maturity and emotional strength should be considered first.

448 pages / Reviewed by Sam, school librarian