The Road to Winter, by Mark Smith

In post-apocalypse Australia, teenager Finn has been fending for himself for a couple of years, thanks to his survival skills and his Dad’s foresight. He keeps sane with the company of his dog and by surfing – his escape from dismal reality. Into Finn’s isolated and relatively safe life bursts Rose, who is on the run from a gang of ‘wilders’. She brings excitement, danger and a world of possibilities. Tense and thrilling, this assured debut novel is a worthy addition to the growing genre within YA fiction that looks into a dystopian future. It rushes a bit to the conclusion, which nevertheless works, while leaving room for a potential sequel.