Welcome to Litsy!

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. The Road to Winter is an unforgettable novel about survival, honour, friendship and love. It announces an extraordinary new talent. Mark Smith lives on Victoria’s Surf Coast where he writes and runs outdoor education programs for young adults. His writing has won a number of awards and has appeared in Best Australian Stories, Review of Australian Fiction and the Big Issue. The Road to Winter is his first book. ‘The Road to Winter is great. Fast-paced, relentless, poignant. What more could you want?’ Written By Sime ‘Engaging…Finn’s strong voice carries the story and leaves you wanting to know what will happen next.’ Books & Publishing ‘Part dystopian-future novel and part survival story, this is a fast moving and enthralling page turner for young adults, set on the Victorian coast. I could not put it down.’ Bev Jacobsen, Library Co-ordinator, Campion Education Perth ‘A read-in-one-session novel. The recognisable coastal setting, a world catastrophically changed by a virus, asylum seekers used as slave labour, and the dangerous Wilders give rise to interesting issues for student discussion.’ Jan May, Teacher & Education Consultant ‘Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I finished it in a few hours…Such a thrilling read and fantastic characters.’ Peggy Miedlar, NewsLink ‘Loved it from beginning to end…Great characters…I can’t wait to sell the pants off The Road to Winter!’ Peter Ingram-Jones, Fullers Bookshop Hobart