Book: The New Wilderness

In "The New Wilderness" by Diane Cook, readers are thrust into a gripping tale of survival and maternal sacrifice as they follow the story of Bea and her daughter, Agnes. The novel unfolds in a dystopian future where the environment of urban life has become uninhabitable due to severe pollution and overpopulation. In a desperate bid to save Agnes from this grim reality, Bea joins a group of volunteers who agree to live in the Wilderness State, the last untouched stretch of nature, participating in a radical experiment to see if humanity can adapt to a truly wild existence.

As they navigate this untamed land, Bea grapples with the nuances of leadership, community, and the relentless tug of her bond with Agnes. The mother-daughter relationship serves as the heart of the tale, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the primal instincts that emerge when civilization is stripped away. Cook crafts a haunting narrative that questions what humanity is willing to sacrifice for survival and what it truly means to live in harmony with nature. A poignant exploration of environmental collapse and resilience, "The New Wilderness" challenges readers to reflect on mankind's relationship with the planet and each other.