A suspenseful survivalist novel about 13-year-old Max, who faces some tough choices when a tsunami hits his beachside town.

From the acclaimed author of Run comes this exhilarating survivalist novel about 13-year-old Max, who is home alone when a tsunami warning hits his coastal town.

Max loves surfing, the beach, and the chilled-out island he calls home – though he doesn't love all the tourists that swarm his peaceful beach town every summer. When a warning comes that an unexpected tsunami is just hours away, Max is home on his own and he can't find his beloved dog, Ralph.

With precious time ticking away and people speeding past him out of town, Max is running out of time to get to higher ground. Ultimately, he will have to choose between trying to survive a tsunami on his own, or banding together with whichever strangers are left behind, even if they're tourists. And he'd better hurry, because the tsunami is going to hit any moment …

Perfect for fans of Tristan Bancks and Katherine Rundell, this gripping novel explores couarage, misplaced loyalty and survival in the face of disaster.

Ideal for readers who:

• Are aged 9‚Äì14 and love high-stakes adventure set in the real world.
• Want high-stakes/high intrigue plots without too much grit or violence.
• Are fans of suspenseful novels such as Tristan Bancks's Scar Town and Bren MacDibble's The Dog Runner.
• Are book club members, teachers and educators wanting a page-turner that also has meaningful themes for discussion.

Praise for Sarah Armstrong:

• ‚ÄòBrilliant and original! Gritty characters, a wild setting, action, suspense ‚Äì I was hooked from the start.‚Äô ‚Äì KATRINA NANNESTAD, multi-award-winning author of We Are Wolves
• ‚ÄòA wild survival story that treks along at a cracking pace ‚Äì I read this in one sitting.‚Äô ‚Äì BREN MACDIBBLE, award-winning author of¬†The Dog Runner
• ‚ÄòWhat a wild ride! I was on the edge of my seat until the end.‚Äô ‚Äì KAREN FOXLEE, multi-award-winning author of Dragon Skin
   

Details

ISBN13: 9781761217951
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 288
Edition:
Publication Date: 18 Aug 2026
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
Publication City, Country: Australia
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.8(L)217
Weight (gm): 217

Author Biography

Sarah Armstrong is an award-winning journalist and the author of several acclaimed novels for children, including Run (CBCA Shortlisted Book of the Year for Younger Readers), The Wave, Big Magic (CBCA Notable Book of the Year for Younger Readers) and its sequel, Magic Awry. Her adult novel Salt Rain was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin. Sarah lives with her partner and daughter in the NSW town of Mullumbimby.

Reviews

Praise for Sarah Armstrong:

• ‚ÄòBrilliant and original! Gritty characters, a wild setting, action, suspense ‚Äì I was hooked from the start.‚Äô ‚ÄìKatrina Nannestad, multi-award-winning author of We Are Wolves

• ‚ÄòA wild survival story that treks along at a cracking pace ‚Äì I read this in one sitting.‚Äô ‚Ä쬆Bren¬†MacDibble, award-winning author of¬†The Dog Runner

• ‚ÄòWhat a wild ride! I was on the edge of my seat until the end.‚Äô ‚Äì Karen Foxlee, multi-award-winning author of Dragon Skin

• ‚ÄòAction-packed right to the end. Keen readers of adventure novels might just read this in one sitting!‚Äô ‚Äì Sue Osborne, Magpies Magazine

• 'Gripping, heart racing, suspenseful writing ... If you want to know what will solve the reading crisis for young males, it‚Äôs books like this.‚Äô ‚Äì @middlegrademusings