The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn is a gorgeous story. Teenager, Molly, travels from her home in Newcastle to stay with her grandparents in rural Northumberland and learns about nature, herbal medicine, and much more. I won’t give too much away, because it really is worth exploring for yourselves.
This is one of those rare Young Adult books that appeal to all ages. The characters are hugely relatable, and I certainly saw something of myself in Molly, her mother, and her bohemian grandmother – and I fell a little bit in love with her grandfather. The story also shines a light on the Newcastle witch trials, a theme that is still relevant today, particularly with International Women’s History Month in mind. I may be biased because I’m a lover of fantasy and spooky tales, but the inclusion of Molly’s newfound friend was a lovely touch for me. It also describes the imagery of the Northumbrian countryside beautifully, as well as Molly’s teenage angst against the backdrop of the Covid lockdown.
This book, however, isn’t only a great yarn, Sue’s love of language, social history, and nature really shines through in her storytelling. Her use of descriptive imagery, insights into human nature, and her passion for the area are all powerful tools that come together to make this a genuinely lovely book.
I would recommend it to people of all ages, and particularly to anyone with a teenage daughter. A rare treat.
