Dusty in the Outwilds

An enchanting new adventure. An unforgettable land. And the perfect read for young fans of Kate DiCamillo and Karen Foxlee

Dusty has grown up hearing whispers about her mysterious aunt Meg, who went off to live ‘out wild’ and never returned. Yet Dusty’s father refuses to discuss what happened – and her only clue is a photograph of her aunt as a young girl with a strange, monkey-like creature on her shoulder. 

But when Dusty learns that her family’s beloved bushland property might be sold, she’s convinced that only Meg could stop it happening. So Dusty sets off to find her … and that’s when she discovers what ‘out wild’ really means. The Outwilds are beguiling. Dangerous. And full of creatures Dusty half-remembers from old bedtime stories – beautiful, but deadly. Is Meg still out there? And even if she is, how will Dusty bring her home?

Bursting with fantastical creatures and starring a bold young girl determined to uncover the truth, this thrilling fantasy-adventure is destined to be a modern classic.

Originally from Taradale, Victoria, Rhiannon Williams now lives and writes in Germany. She studied English and history at the University of Sydney, and completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours at Flinders University. Rhiannon has a background in theatre and hopes to tell stories until the end of her days. Her debut novel, Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt, was the first middle-grade novel to win the Ampersand Prize. It is part of a trilogy that has since been published internationally.