Return to the Wilds

Balances the dystopian theme with humor, hope and whimsyPresents a new twist on the old story of darkness versus light: good-hearted young people on a scary quest to do right in the face of evil forces who are aided and refreshed by natural and supernatural alliesUnmasks the dangers of conformity and dark forces behind it Revels awesome Southwest desert and mountains through enthralling flora and faunaCaptures the intangible power of the wild and natural and its soul-changing impactsShows a unique and playful perspective on the foibles of urbanization, development, and bureaucracyCombines high-tech geek wizardry and high-stakes adventureFeatures strong female characters with diverse skills and ethnicities and mystical, wonky, and geeky guy sidekicksReveals the power of a teacher who throws open the door to learning, loving, and inspiring changeOffers young readers encouragement to do courageous things with their own unique abilitiesHints to a multi-faceted Creator and creation yet avoids religious jargon or stereotypes