Wildwood uses a children’s fantasy adventure as a vehicle to explore political themes. The book examines which form of government is best to promote the happiness of all its citizens. The various regions of the Wood employ distinct forms of government and distinct views toward diplomacy with their neighbors. South Wood is a mercantile society governed by a cumbersome bureaucracy. It represents the interests of commerce. North Wood is an agricultural district that can best be described as an agrarian commune with overtones of a mystical theocracy. The Avian Principality is a hereditary monarchy that tries to avoid conflict with its neighbors, much like Switzerland. Wildwood is a no man’s land that houses a tribal bandit clan as well as the totalitarian regime of the Dowager Governess and her coyote army.

The various regions must overcome their doubts and suspicions toward their neighbors before they can work together for the common good. This is no easy feat since North Wood residents resent the bandits in Wildwood who frequently raid their export products. South Wood views North Wood as a region populated by barbarians. The avians simply want to be left alone, but their borders are being compromised by incursions from Wildwood.