Our latest Book on the Bird Table is Wildheart by Daventry-based debut children’s and YA author Bec Manser.
Publishing on 4th June with Puffin, the book – aimed at readers 8+ – is a nature-inspired, inclusive, magical adventure featuring Wild Magic, Tree-Sprites, Hollow Spirits, unbreakable sisterly bonds and a cute wild boar with plenty of spookiness mixed in.
We learn that “the children of Twigswick are taught three things:
1. Never stray past the rune posts at the edge of town
2. Run home as fast as you can when the warning bell chimes
3. Spirits are very real and very dangerous”
Nettle Sourbud lives in the shadow of her older sister, Fern; fearless, tough and confident, Fern is everything Nettle is not. So, when Fern runs off to join the Wildheart Rangers – the protectors of towns from the spirits and ghouls of Dryda Forest – Nettle thinks she’s lost her sister forever. When news reaches Twigswick that Fern has abandoned the Rangers to join the infamous Shadow Stalkers, Nettle knows something isn’t right. Fearing her sister is in danger, she ventures into the forest to find the truth…
Joining the Rangers, Nettle realises she’ll have to face her fears and defeat the Hollow Spirits who haunt the forest if she wants to rescue Fern. But soon Nettle starts to wonder if her sister needs saving at all, or Fern is the one who must be stopped.
Wildheart is set in a haunted forest, with twists and turns galore on the journey to solving an eerie mystery, but also deals with the important subjects of belonging, how to deal with our fears, navigate friendships and understand how to truly be ourselves with sensitivity, kindness and acceptance.
An exciting and inclusive read that will ignite young imaginations and encourage positivity and growth.
Wildheart is available from 4th June from bookshops including Amazon and Waterstones.
About the author:
Bec Manser describes herself as half sparkle, half spooky, a pink-obsessed animal lover, whose hobbies include gaming, woodland walks, horror films, and eating at every vegan restaurant possible. A proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Bec is passionate about representing queer and diverse characters in children’s and YA literature.
She says, “A need for inclusivity…shaped my writing. At school I always felt different…because growing up queer under Section 28 was not a fun time. I wrote Wildheart to be the book I wish younger me could have read. With LGBTQIA+ characters front and centre, a diverse cast and characters with disabilities, I hope that whoever reads it feels seen in some way.”
Wildheart
£8.35
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