Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy

 

Characters
Rowan Hank Jones – husband, biology professor at NYU Rowan’s siblings – Liv, Jay, River (drowned when she was watching him)   Dominic Salt “Dom” Claire – wife, deceased Raff – oldest child, violin player, plays whale sounds Fen – swims and stays with seals Orly – 9 years old   Shearwater Global Seed Vault in Antarctica   Scientists: Hank – senior botanist – research into adapting plants to climate change Alex Tom – Alex’s brother, meteorologist doctor
Animals	Plants
Seals – King Brown, Silver, Freckles Penguins – gentoos (babies) Whale – Raff plays whale songs on violin Humpback whales – protected dead baby gray whale from orcas - empathy Albatross – circles globe three times a year, spreads buzzing burr Giant petrels Sooty shearwaters – birds, follow whales	Dandelions – food for many insects and birds, considered a weed Buzzy burr – depend on animals for survival, hook onto fur for transport Mangrove seeds Pitcher plants – eat insects Wollemi pine Banksia plant – only in Australia

 

NOTE: Page numbers are from the 2025 hardback edition.

1.      This book had fewer characters than many books we have read.  Did you like that?  Could it have worked if the author had added more characters?

2.      As you were reading, what did you think happened to Hank?

3.      How was the information about Rowan and Hank’s house burning to the ground important to the story line?

 4.      There were many hints, especially in the first 100 pages, about what had happened.  For example, early on Dominic cleans up blood (page 13), all the communication equipment was broken (page 48), last three emails from Hank (page 94), and Dom thinks he has to warn the kids who Rowan really is and that she is a liar (page 68).  Did this add to your reading?

5.      Were you surprised that it was Orly who broke all of the communication equipment?  Why did he do that?

6.      As you were reading, what did you think had happened and how the story would end?  For example, were you surprised that Rowan died saving Orly? 

7.      Did you like all of the information about plants and animals?  Which did you find particularly interesting?  How did this add to the story?

8.      Did reading Orly’s description of the importance of dandelions and how they feed many animals (pages 17 and 18) change the way you look at them as a weed?

9.      How do you think the surviving family members are going to fare once they get back to civilization?

10.  Did you find the end satisfying?  Why or why not? 

11.  Discuss your reading experience.  Did you enjoy the book?  How did you feel when you finished the book?

12.  Why do you think this book was chosen for Reese’s Book Club and also was at the top of the USA Today’s best books of 2025 list?