Wildful
A teenager explores the wide world of nature as it’s seen in her neighborhood in the graphic novel Wildful, a magical showcase of non-verbal storytelling.
Poppy’s grandmother died; her mother languishes on the couch. Poppy escapes, taking her dog, Pepper, on walks. But Poppy is distracted by her phone and music; she pays little attention to her environment until Pepper chases a fox past a fence.
Following Pepper and the fox, Poppy winds up in an old forest. There, she meets Rob; his enthusiastic curiosity about nature is infectious. He shows Poppy flowers and birds. They begin meeting in the forest on a regular basis to observe and enjoy nature. And as Poppy becomes more attuned to the daily lives of the plants and creatures around her, she seeks to help her mother out of her malaise by sharing her wonderment.
The book is short on text; instead, its narrative unfolds through detailed, dynamic art in which animals and plants are depicted with stunning realism. Birdsong contrasts with recorded music; watching deer forage is a grand alternative to looking at a screen. And the book deals with grief in a subtle, tender way, as with Poppy’s mother pointing out the stars and remembering her mother.
Modeling pure innocence, Wildful is an outstanding graphic novel in which people discover the healing power of nature.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
