The book we are focusing on in class as of now is The New Wilderness, by Diane Cook. Honestly, so far I am not a fan. This novel is a dystopian novel with, what should be its essential idea, a focus on environmental doom. One of the main problems I have with this novel so far is that the environmental issues of the City act as the background to the novel, rather than the central issue. Further, the environmental disasters provide a reason for the novel to have a plot, but isn’t central enough a theme for the reader to feel the impact of it. For example, in Shuggie Bain, the main themes were alcoholism and gender fluidity. These themes were explored through the lens of the different characters, leaving the reader with an urge to “take action.” We don’t get any of this from The New Wilderness.
I also struggle with the writing style of the novel, as it all seems so juvenile. There isn’t a lot of character development or growth which is so different from the other three novels we’ve read in class so far. Conversations seem to lack depth or meaning and everything seems so on the surface.
Another problem with this novel is the “study” that’s taking place. As someone with a Medical Biology minor and hopes for graduate school in the medical field, I have completed several of my own studies and written many lab reports. The study within the novel has a number of flaws that would immediately discredit the study. For example, the sample size is all gathered from the same city. Also, there is only one child in the study. A larger issue is the concept of death. Most people who enter this study will, inevitably, die. Which, as we’ve seen, happens somewhat fast for several of the characters.
Not to be entirely negative, I do think it is interesting to see Agnes develop in the Wilderness. Her mother wanted her to be a part of the study in order to save her from the bad air in the city, but her development in the Wild is essentially curving who she is or who she could be. She has become somewhat animalistic and lacks a lot of empathy that most others would or do have. I think it will be interesting to see where she progresses.
