War of the Wind US Edition

Victoria Williamson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Boundless Publishing Group Ltd

Published:23rd Apr '24

Should be back in stock very soon

War of the Wind US Edition cover

A Financial Times Book of the Year

Nominated for The Yoto Carnegies Medal for Writing 2024

Shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Prize in 2023

An award-winning climate fiction novel that explores unlikely friendships as a group of children with disabilities find themselves at the heart of an eco-mystery.

On a remote Scottish island, 14-year-old Max’s life is changed forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. He has to navigate a new silent world alone—even his parents don’t understand that wearing a hearing aid doesn’t mean he can hear clearly. On top of that, he’s placed in a special educational needs class surrounded by kids he once picked on.

When people start acting strangely and Max’s hearing aid picks up odd sounds from a new wind farm off the coast, he suspects a sinister scientist is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. Could being different be an advantage? Max enlists the help of his classmates to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control…

“The depiction of deaf and disabled characters is convincing, honest and nuanced, and Max’s fury with his hearing aids is almost tangible. Themes of loss, dyslexia and bullying are also woven neatly in. A page-turning adventure with a great cast of characters, powerful food for thought around disability language and preconceptions, plus a timely environmental theme.”


‘Full of empathy & rich relationships. An incredibly nuanced YA book!’


"When Scottish island dweller Max loses his hearing in an accident, he thinks that life can't get any stranger. Then the wind farm appears... Teens with additional needs star in this eco thriller.”

* iNews *

"After losing his hearing, 14-year-old Max is disgruntled to be schooled alongside pupils with special needs. An influx of the military on their remote Scottish island, and a bizarre change in the islanders’ behaviour linked to the new offshore wind farm, catapults Max and his new cohort into a gripping eco-adventure."

* Financial Times *

‘An environmental thriller for a teen audience with positive representation of children with additional support needs, this book needs to be in every school!’ ’


‘Max struggles with the sudden loss of his hearing. When wind turbines appear in the bay, events turn sinister. Victoria Williamson cranks up the tension perfectly until the book’s thrilling ending. We are reminded not to underestimate those different from ourselves. Bravo, Victoria!’


‘Excuse the pun, but Victoria Williamson’s fantastic environmental thriller with a great cast of inclusive characters has blown me away!’


‘Places kids with different needs centre-stage. This book puts the turn in page turning. Go pre-order now!’


‘War of the Wind is an exciting adventure story with an important message about accepting differences.’


‘An exciting environmental thriller with an empathy-fuelled inclusive twist. Excellent positive representation … we can all learn a little something from this!’


‘What a pacy, engaging read! This exciting eco-thriller held me from first line to last: young teen characters realised with such warmth and insight; a threat to their island community that starts insidious, turns sinister and then terrifying. This is a writer handling her material – not least the characters with special needs – with confidence, care and skill. Strongly recommend.’


‘The book that absolutely needed to be written: children with additional support needs see themselves reflected in the characters of a contemporary story...a fast-paced adventure with real heart which does not gloss over the challenges faced by young people who are different. Empathetic, honest and compelling.’


‘Showing we should never make prejudiced assumptions about what people are capable of, Victoria Williamson’s War of the Wind is a page-turning, inclusive eco-thriller for our times.’


‘A powerful eco-adventure driven by four teenagers who have additional support needs.’


‘The book was brilliant! My 13-year-old daughter and I both really enjoyed reading it. The story was thrilling and a real page turner.'


'A thought-provoking, contemporary, utterly fabulous story with a brave protagonist.'

ISBN: 9781915584618

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 290g