- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Dystopia
When the Wild Calls
Book 2 of 2 in Where The World Turns WildView the full series
The gripping sequel to Where The World Turns Wild, told in dual voices: Juniper, safe in the rewilded Wild but desperate to rescue those she left behind, and Etienne, still trapped in a disease-struck city ruled by a ruthless leader and simmering with rebellion.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length288 pp
- Read aloud~4 hr5 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
Tone
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Thought provoking
- Adventurous
- Bittersweet
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Juniper Green and her brother Bear have made a new home in the Wild, living with their father's family in the reclaimed valley of Ennerdale. Every day brings a fresh wonder, but Juniper cannot stop thinking about her grandmother and her best friend Etienne, left behind inside the walled city - and when word reaches her that the deadly disease has broken through the city walls, she resolves to bring her loved ones to safety. Back in the city, Etienne is living that nightmare. As sickness spreads and a ruthless leader tightens his grip, the guards grow more brutal and a rebellion begins to stir. Etienne longs for the Wild, and he is ready to fight for his freedom. Nicola Penfold's tense, dual-perspective follow-up weaves survival, ecological hope and quiet courage into an adventure that stands on its own while deepening everything the first book began. A powerful, thought-provoking story of freedom, loyalty and the pull of the living world.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best for 9-12s reading independently, ideally after the first book, with a dual-perspective structure that suits confident readers. It reads aloud from about 8 for families comfortable with peril and a dystopian setting, but the tension makes it a poor bedtime pick.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Tougher fit
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: illness or disability, violence.
Bedtime suitability
1 / 5 · Wide awake
Sensitive-child
2 / 5 · Use judgement
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Eco adventure
- Dystopia for kids
- Survival stories
- Nature lovers
Avoid if
- Wants gentle bedtime
- Sensitive to peril
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in science
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Two stories race side by side: Juniper braving the wild to save the people she loves, and Etienne fighting to escape a locked-down city on the edge of rebellion. The dual voices keep the tension high and the stakes personal right to the end.
- Surviving danger
- Adventure and freedom
- Making a difference
- The underdog winning
Why parents love it
Penfold's skilful dual narrative turns freedom, loyalty and the natural world into a genuinely tense adventure that carries real emotional punch. It rewards readers of the first book while standing on its own, and gives families plenty to talk about.
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
In the series
Where The World Turns Wild.
2 books · open the series →
About the author
Nicola Penfold.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
