Following the end of their VCE exams, four teenagers embark on Schoolies intent on celebrating the end of high school and the start of their new-found adulthood. There, they find themselves inexplicably drawn towards a mysterious guitarist named Sierra, who persuades them into joining her on a camping trip to Shearwater Island, an uninhabited natural park known to the locals. Their leisurely getaway, however, soon takes a turn as tensions ripple and secrets in the group are slowly uncovered.

At first glance, the protagonists of the book feel in some sense familiar – there’s the artist, the responsible figure, the activist and the overachiever. What the reader is treated to, however, is something more than any conventional trope, with each teen having their own distinct voice, quirks and insecurities that render them unique. It is through these characters that Anna Morgan creates a remarkably authentic tribute to the modern high- school experience. This is exemplified in her thoughtful portrayal of the anxieties that surround exams and the difficulties that every teen inevitably faces in deciding what comes next. Flashbacks throughout the book feel like small nods to fond moments in the school year that will likely resonate with many.

The novel features several sections, each told from a different teen’s perspective, along with excerpts from historical newspaper articles and a dictionary of mythical sea beings that gives the plot a darker edge and pushes it forward. Morgan has ultimately crafted an enjoyable read that is a comforting hand reaching out to anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. Suitable for readers aged 13+.

Xiao Xiao Kingham works as a bookseller at Readings Kids.