The Wild Ones – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Journey, trust, perseverance, disappointment, acceptance.
Children’s book title: The Wild Ones.
Children’s author: Steve Cole.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Scholastic.
ISBN: 9780702349157.
Recommended for children aged: 8-12.
First published: Paperback September 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: Discussing how change can happen suddenly and alter our outlook or situation, and how a book can leave questions unanswered but still be a satisfying reading experience. (There is a possible trigger warning for the death of one of the animals at the end of the book.)
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Our review:
Scamp quite likes his life at the pet care centre, where he has friends, and it is warm and safe, even though he does miss his owner. Then came the Night of the Great Growl, when things changed. Suddenly, there are no carers at the centre, and he knows it is difficult for pets to survive without them! Determined to find somewhere safe, he and his six friends head out into a city fraught with danger and realise there are no humans anywhere!
Together, the friends begin learning the valuable lessons they will need to survive, but they are not the only animals who are abandoned and desperate for food, water and shelter. There are also others out there, known as the Things – scary, vicious and very dangerous creatures who are easily able to destroy them without a second thought! Gradually, as they travel together, they trust strangers far less as they set goals and strengthen the friendship they share. Unfortunately, that alone is not enough for them to be able to stop running; they need to understand and discover their own wildness in order to locate another sanctuary they can call home.
Our verdict:
In The Wild Ones, Scamp and his pampered friends find themselves in a world beset by a nameless but catastrophic disaster where only animals, both wild and domesticated, now exist. They remain at their pet care centre until they have to leave to survive, even though the world they discover is not one they recognise.
As the six friends journey through a desolate landscape inhabited by desperate, starving beasts known as the Things, they have to adapt quickly to their new reality, or they will die. Nothing is quite as it seems; new acquaintances let them down, any respite is temporary, and despair is never far away. When they finally reach a safe haven, there is still tragedy to endure, and they have no idea how their future will play out.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Scamp is the leader of this group of friends. Why do you think that is?
- Each of the six animals had talents needed to help in their journey. Of all the other creatures they met, who do you think was the most helpful?
- Chandelier stayed with the cat and dog in the block of flats. Were you surprised when they turned back up towards the end of the journey?
- If you could choose one of these pets, or two hamsters, for yourself, which one would it be?
- There is no reason given for all the humans vanishing. Do you think that makes this story scarier than if you did know?
Many thanks to Scholastic for the review copy.
Steve Cole is also the author of New You For Ever.
To order a class set of this book, please click below to order via uk.bookshop.org, an organisation that supports local bookshops, or Amazon.co.uk.
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Browse our Books for Year 6 list.
