Children won’t be able to read this book without thinking about the way their lives impact the natural world – but Torday never labour points or becomes ‘preachy’ – everything is contained within a wonderful tale of adventure, bravery and hope. The scale of adventure that follows is fabulous (being pulled across the ocean by dolphins reminded me of James and The Giant Peach being tugged by seagulls) – and the ideas the characters and settings raise on the journey are brilliantly bold. The adventure begins with a call-to-action from something huge and ancient: ‘One watery sound, that leaks deep into my bones and makes me shiver so slow and so old.’ It is the blue whale whose song tells Kester exactly what he needs to do to save the planet. And this is what Torday does so well – he champions ‘the child’ on every page. And it is only when Polly stands up to the adults: ‘You should be ashamed of yourselves… for telling us we couldn’t do it because we’re children’ that Kester realises that despite the hugeness of the task ahead, together with his friends, he might just be capable of doing it after all. Out there, somewhere, a brave mouse holds the key to the futureĪlthough surrounded by his friends, Polly and Aida, and his loyal Wild, Torday begins this book with Kester feeling ‘completely and utterly alone.’ The task ahead, to save the world from complete destruction, finally feels too big for Kester. A mysterious steel dome has risen from the Four Towersģ. The only blue whale on the planet has brought news from across the oceanĢ.

But now he must face his greatest challenge yet, because:ġ. He has rescued the last wild animals in the world, and saved his capital city from destruction. And now it’s time for the final instalment in Piers Torday’s trilogy, The Wild Beyond. I’ve watched Kester rescue the animals with stag, wolf cub, cockroach, white pigeon and mouse in The Last Wild, I’ve seen Kester save the humans in the award-winning sequel, The Dark Wild.

In November 2013 I began a journey with a boy called Kester – and two years later I’m still enthralled by his adventures.

The wild beyond piers torday