The Last Wild

Twelve year old Kester Jaynes has been unable to speak since his mother’s death six years ago. About that time, Kester was sent to Spectrum Hall Academy for Challenging Children, otherwise known as just Spectrum Hall. Kester practices trying to speak with vermin, who for some reason are unable to get red-eye. Red-eye is a disease worse than a nuclear bomb, which has killed off even the plants, but one day a cockroach starts talking to him, and Kester is able to respond. The animals rescue Kester from Spectrum Hall and bring him to the last safe place. There the last animals, who should be dead, ask Kester to save them from the red-eye.

Kester goes on a journey to bring the animals to his father—a distinguished vet, with the hope that his father can find a cure for red-eye, and save the animals. On the way Kester meets a girl named Polly, whom he communicates with through scrabble tiles, and many other friends. Even though he didn’t always know what he was doing, I liked that Kester always did his best to help. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for part two.