Two artists, white feathers, first loves and broken promises: Eventual Poppy Day is a story about learning to look at the world in a different light. Australian writer and poet Libby Hathorn (Thunderwith) has created a story that is both realistic and full of hope. Eventual Poppy Day interweaves the stories of two 17-year-old men: Maurice and his great-great nephew, Oliver.

Maurice’s story allows us to see the brutality of World War I and its propaganda machine, but also introduces us to the camaraderie and friendship, hard won on the shores of Gallipoli and at the Western Front. It is Maurice’s story – preserved in a tin box of his sister’s – that saves Oliver from entering a downward spiral. Despite unstable family circumstances, Oliver learns to find light through Maurice’s words and artwork.

This book is educational and brilliantly researched. It is also a beautiful read. Hathorn has managed to create a story suitable for young adults who are reading books faster than they can find them. It is insightful, gripping and honest, perfect for sophisticated readers 14 and up.

Savannah Indigo