Review: The Wild Unknown


It's interesting the number of kids' stories I'm encountering of late addressing social issues surrounding AI and tech advancements. It's little wonder actualisation of this concerning reality is becoming more subject-worthy in kids' lit. Ask any older Gen Alpha or Gen Zer how they feel about the advent of these often-invasive AI platforms and you might be surprised by their response. Middle grade and young adult author, Emily Gale takes this premise and massages it into an action pumped adventure taking us into The Wild Unknown.

Incredulously, some 11 or so years ago, I penned a virtual reality YA short story set in 2040. That date seemed eons away at the time but it's the exact decade Eddie and his mate Kit find themselves in The Wild Unknown; 2045 to be precise, but a skip and hiccup around the future corner!

It's an interesting future, too. Sophisticated AI tech dominates human existence, dictating outcomes wherever possible, guiding humans who apparently are too removed from their own capabilities to manage their own well-being. A daunting thought. Thought is not exactly controlled but influenced by artificial buddies, helpers - influencers? if you like thanks to a connective ear piece called a Mica. This form of influence is less invasive than some other future predications of tech embedded into the human body itself. A redeeming feature as Gale's younger tween and teen readers might interpret this as less ominous. 

There are however plenty more portentous and perilious moments in Eddie's story that will keep fingers page flicking well into the night. Like the investigation of a fellow school mate's sudden and inexplicable disappearance, the disturbing physical changes occurring to Eddie that are defs not puberty, the worrying behaviour of Eddie's favourite school teacher and the relentless bullying by school nemesis, Mason thwarting every effort Eddie is making to find Theo.

The pace is fast and curvy-bally. The banter between Eddie and his older brother affably authentic. The characters peppering Eddie's school life popping with contemporary joie de vivre. This is one enjoyable little mystery spiced with enough tension and humour to distract us from the underlying Big-Brother-is-always-watching-you conspiratorial theme. 

But only just because we are still left with the glaring realisation that as useful as AI appears to be, nature in and of itself cannot easily nor should it necessarily be, enhanced. Some things are perfect just the way they are. And sometimes unless you venture into the wild unknown yourself, you'll never be able to cross the bridges of life you need to.

The Wild Unknown is a comfortably confronting read for upper primary readers that entices our new generations of humans to think deeply and objectively about the colour and shape of their futures. 

Title: The Wild Unknown
Author: Emily Gale
Publisher: Text Publishing, $16.99
Publication Date: 28 April 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781923058835
For ages: 10 - 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

Buy the Book:    Text Publishing


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