This text is largely concerned with the importance of the past and history. Appropriately, the novel takes place in a town called Stoneygate in the North East of England, which was heavily affected by the closure of the mines in the 1980s. Some families, such as the Askews and the Watsons have lived in Stoneygate for generations. This is something Kit's grandfather comments on when he tells Kit about the Askew family: "They're like the Watsons. True Stoneygate folk. Generation after generation of them, stretching back into the deep dark past."
The fact that Kit and Askew are both "true Stoneygate folk" is perhaps why they are both haunted by the past in the novel and have a deep fascination with the history of the mines. For Askew, this takes the damaging form of a frightening game, which is concerned with death and darkness. For Kit, he comes to term with his past through storytelling, and writes a story about Silky, inspired by his grandfather's tale. Throughout the text, Kit helps Askew to connect with his part in a healthier way and to be less obsessed with the darkness of the past.
We see that Askew's negative relationship with the past is impacted by the attitude of his father. His father is presented as violent and bitter, blaming the closure of the mines for his misfortune and demise. As such, he has indirectly taught Askew to associate the past with darkness and bitterness.
In this novel, Almond poignantly shows the impact that the closure of the mines had on certain communities. The North East of England was particularly affected by the closure of mines, which presented through the town of Stoneygate. Almond describes the street where the Askew's live, emphasizing its ruination and disrepair: "The Askews lived in the final street, a potholed cul-de-sac of old pit cottages... Most of the cottages were boarded up. Close by were a shuttered Co-op Store and a tumbledown pub." As such, Almond is showing the unfortunate impact that the closure of the mines had on communities.
Though the text is dark in places, Kit's Wilderness shows the importance of storytelling, family, and friends. Almond celebrates having a strong and healthy connection to the past, represented by the relationship between Kit and his Grandfather. The text emphasizes the importance of speaking to grandparents and learning about the past first-hand before it is too late.
