The Wild Before by Piers Torday - Ages 9-12 - Hardback

About it

Condition: BRAND NEW. Format: Hardback. ISBN: 9781786541116. Publisher: Quercus Children's Books (Hachette Children's Group). Age Range: 9-12 years. Overview:. On a stormy, snow-lit night, a pure silver calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm - the legendary Mooncalf, whose coming has been foretold since the dawn of time. If the calf dies, the animals believe a great "terribleness" will follow: rising seas, plague, and fire from the sky. Little Hare vows to protect Mooncalf whatever the cost, but soon realises he alone may hold the fate of the world in his paws. A beautifully written, urgent fable about climate, courage and hope.. About the Book:. The Wild Before is a stunning standalone prequel to Piers Torday's award-winning, bestselling The Last Wild trilogy, set generations before Kester Jaynes and his animal allies take their stand. Long before pigeons ever spoke to a boy, an ordinary farm becomes the stage for an extraordinary birth: a silver calf born under a snowy moon, wrapped in ancient prophecy. As word spreads from creature to creature, the animals must decide whether to risk everything for a newborn they barely understand. Little Hare, small and often overlooked, becomes the unlikely hero who must rally badgers, foxes, and every wary beast of the wild to Mooncalf's side. Torday's prose is lyrical and cinematic, balancing tender, intimate scenes with real peril. Threaded through the adventure are timely themes of climate change, environmental stewardship, friendship and resilience. The pacing rewards curious readers, and the emotional stakes are handled with sensitivity, making space for hope even amid warnings of catastrophe. Ideal for independent readers aged 9-12, and equally rewarding read aloud in families or classrooms, this is a story that lingers - a moonlit fable about small creatures doing brave things, and about what we owe to the wild world around us.. Standalone prequel to the bestselling The Last Wild trilogy - no prior reading required. Lyr