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Description
Two years after the last days Australia has become a dangerous place and a battleground for survival.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a survival story that actually puts a fresh spin on the post-apocalyptic genre, Taronga is a solid pick and the fact that it's set in Australia makes it feel totally different from most books in this genre. Two years after some kind of catastrophe, the world has become brutal and dangerous, and the characters are fighting to stay alive in a landscape that's as beautiful as it is threatening. It's tense and occasionally scary, with that edge-of-your-seat intensity that keeps you turning pages, but there's also real heart to the story when it comes to the characters and their relationships. Kids who love books like The Last of Us or other survival-focused fiction will probably eat this up, and the writing is strong enough that even reluctant readers tend to get pulled in once things get moving. A heads up that it's definitely on the darker and more intense side, so it's best for older middle graders and up but if your kid can handle some genuinely thrilling moments mixed with genuine stakes, this one delivers.