Ultrawild - by Steve Mushin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Join maverick inventor Steve Mushin as he tackles climate change with an avalanche of mind-bending and scientifically plausible inventions to rewild cities and save the planet. Jump into his brain as he designs habitat-printing robot birds and water-filtering sewer submarines, calculates how far compost cannons can blast seed bombs (over half a mile), brainstorms biomaterials with scientists and engineers, studies ecosystems, and develops a deadly serious plan for cities of the future. Ultrawild is a tour de force of extreme problem-solving for kids and teens (and anyone else) who love big ideas.

Review Quotes

"A masterpiece of intrepid thinking, this book will delight the imaginations of inventors, futurists, and dreamers. Reviewer Rating: 5"--Children's Literature

"Like a futuristic Where's Waldo for the inner scientist in all of us, Ultrawild is a fantastic read. It manages to be both a dazzling art book and a manifesto for radical thinking, reminding us that solutions to the climate crisis may only come if we allow imagination to guide our understanding of science. Mushin's work is about proving that dreaming outrageously might be the first step toward surviving the future."--AIPT Comics

"This densely packed and hilarious graphic novel about the power of rewilding to fight climate change should delight science-minded kids who love informational, humorous books."--Shelf Awareness

"The author does not talk down to young readers, who will be drawn in by the intricate illustrations of contraptions and the occasionally gross and gory elements of the inventions. Rather, the book invites readers to join the STEAM design process, encouraging ideas that seem out of this world. . . An essential addition to middle and high school libraries, this graphic novel is a green how-to manual for 2025."--starred, School Library Journal

"Silly fun with a serious purpose."--Kirkus Reviews

"Each page is filled to the brim with meticulously drawn cityscapes, mechanical designs, animals of all shapes and sizes, and lengthy text explanations. . . Ultrawild is a brilliantly designed comic that will have wide appeal beyond its target audience, even for adults."--starred, Booklist