JUNE
It’s summer reading time, and in the first of two-part list of recommendations, we’re celebrating Jeremy Lent’s visionary road-map to a re-imagined civilization; exploring the wildest places on the planet; meeting radical hope among sex workers on a brothel island, finding an elephant in the kitchen, and much more. Enjoy.
June 2026
Non Fiction
The Wild Edge Of Sorrow by Frances Weller
Solastalgia – the word used to describe the grief we feel at the loss of beloved landscapes, creature and ecosystems – is woven through Frances Weller’s much-loved work about the importance of embracing, rather than denying our personal and existential grief. “Grief,” he writes, “offers a wild alchemy that transmutes suffering into fertile ground.” Profound, poetic and comforting, this is a book to stir the soul of anyone who has loved and lost.
Ecocivilization by Jeremy Lent
As climate chaos, inequality, and social fragmentation intensify, humanity faces an imminent choice, argues the renowned ecological thinker Jeremy Lent. We can either continue with a system built on extraction and endless growth – or we can reimagine civilization itself.
The result is Ecocivilization, a radical yet feasible alternative to a world built on exploitation, accumulation and elite power. In arguing that most people instinctively yearn for justice, mutuality, and dignity, Lent maps a path towards a more equal and humane world in which the ecosystems that sustain us are protected and cherished, while our own species flourishes sustainably. A must-read.
The Savage Landscape by Cal Flyn
A modern journey into the heart of what we call wilderness, The Savage Landscape weaves together adventure, philosophy and personal reflection, asking urgent questions about humanity’s relationship with the natural world and the meaning of wild places in an era when no corner of the planet remains untouched. Flyn’s lyrical prose carries readers from the ocean floor to volcanic peaks, blending awe-inspiring landscapes with deep historical and cultural insights.
What makes this book exceptional is its refusal to romanticise wilderness. Instead, Flyn confronts the complexities of how humans have shaped—and been shaped by—the wild, challenging readers to reconsider their own relationship with the untamed. The result is a work that is as intellectually stimulating as it is beautifully written, leaving you with a sharper understanding of the wild’s enduring, if complicated, hold on the human spirit.
The Future: A User’s Guide by Florence Gaub
If you are paralysed by fear whenever you think of what lies ahead, futurologist Florence Gaub’s book is the perfect antidote, briskly challenging that notion that we have no say in the future, either as individuals or citizens. Her advice to everyone, whether or not they are policymakers, is to combine creativity with and knowledge to imagine the best, prepare for the worst and – perhaps hardest of all – to accommodate surprise. A refreshing, empowering take on the near and far horizon.
FICTION
Uprising by Tahmima Anam
A rebellion ignites amongst a community of sex workers on an isolated island in this fiercely moving novel – inspired by the real women of Banishanta, Bangladesh. Set on a desolate, sinking island, a group of children witness their mothers living lives of cruelty and servitude. Bought and sold by Amma, the sadistic madam who was once herself sold into slavery, the women have learned to accept their fate. Yet their children weave fantastic tales of escape, imagining that someday they will leave the island and enjoy a life of freedom.
When Kusum Khan, a young, educated woman from the city, is forcibly brought to the island, she too is subjected to Amma’s violent induction. Yet Kusum refuses to yield, and soon the collective complacency of her fellow prisoners turns into ferocity and defiance. Together, they begin a rebellion that will upend their island, their world and the very order of things.
An earth-shattering drama of resistance and female power, Uprising gives voice to the silenced through the story of a revolution no one saw coming.
Finalist in the Orwell Prize For Political Fiction, 2026.
Daylight Come by Diana McCaulay
This haunting novel is set in a dystopian future where sunlight is rationed and controlled by a tyrannical regime. The story follows a young girl, Ava, as she navigates a world of scarcity, fear, and rebellion, all while grappling with her own family’s dark secrets.
The novel explores themes of power, oppression, and resilience, drawing parallels to real-world issues of environmental degradation and authoritarianism. Ava’s journey is both gripping and poignant, making this a thought-provoking read.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Elephant In My Kitchen! by Smriti Halls. Illustrated By Ella Okstad
When wild animals move into Rafi’s house, he needs to figure out a BIG PLAN to get them back to their own homes. Elephant in My Kitchen! is a laugh-out-loud picture book that turns a chaotic household into a wild adventure. The story follows a family’s attempts to manage an ever-growing elephant in their kitchen and the chaos unfolds from tea parties to laundry mishaps, making it a perfect read-aloud for kids and parents alike.
A positive, empowering and fun-filled picture book about taking care of our amazing planet with imagination, humour, and the joy of embracing the unexpected—even when it’s an elephant in the kitchen!
Suitable for ages 3 to 5 years.
Poem of the Month
All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace
By Richard Brautigan
I like to think (and
the sooner the better!)
of a cybernetic meadow
where mammals and computers
live together in mutually
programming harmony
like pure water
touching clear sky.
I like to think
(right now, please!)
of a cybernetic forest
filled with pines and electronics
where deer stroll peacefully
past computers
as if they were flowers
with spinning blossoms.
I like to think
(it has to be!)
of a cybernetic ecology
where we are free of our labors
and joined back to nature,
returned to our mammal
brothers and sisters,
and all watched over
by machines of loving grace.
Contact our Librarian if you would like themed book lists to support teaching about climate change.
We’re always looking for ideas for books to add to our growing collection of literature on the climate and nature crisis. If would like to share ideas, please get in touch! Contact mattroselibrary@gmail.com.