Every Wild Soul

Maria Island, off the west coast of Tasmania, is a national park where Tasmanian devils have been rehoused to help conserve the species for the future. Eighteen year old Min lives on the island with her father who is head ranger on the island. Min's relationship with her father is strained though she finds support from other inhabitants of the island including Werner and Carl. As the island is a national park the preservation of the various species on the island is important, however sometimes events occur that cause a challenge to the work of the rangers.

Every Wild Soul by Katherine Johnson explores projects involving rewilding in various parts of the world including Tasmania. The novel examines the experiences of Min on the island but also of an Australian journalist, Lucie, who is writing a series of articles on projects designed to encourage animals living in a natural environment. Lucie visits Maria Island to find out about the project with the Tasmanian devils but also discovers other projects being undertaken to protect the natural environment of the island. The novel also deals with the challenges that Min faces in asserting herself and learning how she wants to live her life in the future. Lucie also discovers that she possibly needs to re-evaluate her life.

Every Wild Soul is the winner of the inaugural The Australian Fiction Prize presented by the Australian Society of Authors and Harper Collins. The award replaces the former Vogel Award and the Banjo Prize.

Maria Island - Maria Island National Park 

Conserving the Tasmanian Devil on Maria Island - Australian Wildlife Journeys

Every Wild Soul - ANZ Lit Lovers