Since a deadly virus and the violence that followed wiped out his
parents and most of his community, Finn has lived alone on the rugged
coast with only his loyal dog Rowdy for company.
He has stayed alive for two winters--hunting and fishing and trading
food, and keeping out of sight of the Wilders, an armed and dangerous
gang that controls the north, led by a ruthless man named Ramage.
But Finn's isolation is shattered when a girl runs onto the beach. Rose
is a Siley--an asylum seeker--and she has escaped from Ramage, who had
enslaved her and her younger sister, Kas. Rose is desperate, sick, and
needs Finn's help. Kas is still missing somewhere out in the bush.
And Ramage wants the girls back--at any cost.
'Tense and atmospheric...Mark Smith's debut is assured, gripping and
leaves you wanting more.' Best Books for Younger Readers 2016, Sydney
Morning Herald
'It's easy to see why Mark Smith's dystopian thriller has been compared
with John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War Began. I barely came up for
breath as the pages flew. So strap yourself in for a high action ride.'
Kids Book Review
'A riveting story of survival that questions the prices of freedom and
safety as well as the value of an individual life...A breakout new
series full of romance, danger, and a surprisingly engaging world.'
STARRED Review, Kirkus Reviews
'A solid debut.' Publishers Weekly
'It's been suggested more than once that dystopian fiction has had its
day...but The Road to Winter is a welcome sign that there's still life
in the genre.' Armadillo
