The Wild Unknown by Emily Gale

STAFF REVIEW

The Wild Unknown is a thrilling and suspenseful book that kept me reading late into the night. Although it starts off a little confusing, the story unfolds brilliantly and becomes more exciting with every chapter. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves sci-fi, mystery and technology.

Reviewed by Myra (aged 12)

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A propulsive middle-grade mystery about changing friendships, growing up, and embracing adventure.

It’s 2045 and the world is full of tech. Eddie has a bot in his ear giving him advice all day, a bathroom scale that identifies illnesses, and classroom bots keeping track of him at school. The streets are full of delivery bots and game tech is amazing.

But tech can’t help the police find a missing boy called Theo, who was last seen at the river. When they abandon the search, Eddie and his friends sneak down to the river to look for clues. What they find doesn’t make any sense.

Then strange things start happening to Eddie. He’s never been sporty but suddenly he’s a brilliant runner. When a friend is caught in the bottom of the pool, Eddie rescues her from drowning by holding his breath for a suspiciously long amount of time. He has excellent night vision-and there are hair-like feathers growing out of his skin.

It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. How can it be both?

And what do the changes in Eddie have to do with Theo’s disappearance?

The Wild Unknown is a gripping adventure set in a near-future world where the truth can be difficult to find and where real friends will always be better than the smartest tech.

PRAISE-

‘Timely and vivid, this brilliant book is a warm hug, a rustle of autumn leaves and the last day of term all rolled into one.’ Fiona Wood, author of How to Spell Catastrophe, on The Goodbye Year

‘Two fabulous characters working out what matters most-I love Cat and Fan so much!’ Sally Rippin on Elsewhere Girls

A propulsive middle-grade mystery about changing friendships, growing up, and embracing adventure

About the Author: Emily Gale’s books include The Goodbye Year, The Other Side of Summer and its companion novel I Am Out with Lanterns, the Eliza Boom Diaries, Steal My Sunshine and Girl, Aloud, as well as her recent collaborations with friend and fellow author Nova Weetman, Elsewhere Girls and Outlaw Girls.

28 Apr 2026

The Wild Unknown by Emily Gale ISBN 9781923058835