A Walk in the Dark

Jane Godwin is the highly acclaimed and internationally published author of many books for children and young people, across all styles and ages. Children's Publisher at Penguin Books Australia for many years, Jane was the co-creator with Davina Bell of the Our Australian Girl series of quality historical fiction for middle readers. Jane's books include her novels A Walk in the Dark (September 2022), Falling From Grace, As Happy as Here (a CBCA Notable Book) and When Rain Turns to Snow (shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards) and picture books Tilly, illustrated by Anna Walker (shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award), Sing Me the Summer, illustrated by Alison Lester, and All the Words I Need to Know, illustrated by Andrew Joyner. Jane is dedicated to pursuing quality and enriching reading and writing experiences for young people, and spends as much time as she can working with them in schools and communities and running literature and writing programs.
janegodwin.com.au

A gripping and suspenseful rite-of-passage novel about five teenagers and one night that will change them all, from award-winning author Jane Godwin.

'It's just a walk in the dark. What is there to worry about?'

That's what the head teacher, Johan, says. And so the Year Nines from Otway Community School set out on an overnight hike, with no adults.

But doesn't Johan know that a storm is coming?

When five teenagers head in to the forest that late afternoon, none of them is aware what the night will bring. Each will have to draw on their particular strengths to survive. Each will have to face the unknown, battling the elements, events beyond their control, and their own demons. It's a night that will change everything.

Set in the rainforest of Victoria's Otway Ranges, A Walk in the Dark is about friendship, trust, identity and family, consent and boundaries, wrapped in a compulsively readable, suspense-filled adventure.

Five head into the forest, but will all five make it out?

'Quality storytelling . . . gripping' The Australian Women's Weekly
'Unique and intriguing' Better Reading
'Fantastically tense in places, A Walk in the Dark is a great read for all kids ages 11 plus' Readings
'Suspenseful and exciting . . . Extremely engaging . . . highly relatable and real. This novel has everything to keep the audience enthralled. No reader will be able to put the book down until the very end' ReadPlus
'This is deft, intuitive writing, deeply sympathetic, non-judgemental, canny. Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages. Importantly, she values these concerns, treats them with due respect and creates stories in which her book people mature and blossom through the overcoming of self-doubt and their fear of the new and unknown. Good lessons for adults there, too' Living Arts Canberra