If Not Us by Mark Smith
He'd always accepted the mine and power station were part of Shelbourne. On still nights, the thrum of the turbines echoed down the valley and melded with the sound of the ocean until you couldn't tell them apart.Hesse lives a small coastal town, where a coalmine and power station are a part of the scenery, and a part of the ever-growing problem of climate change. His mum is a member of a local environmental group campaigning to close the mine and shut down the power station. It's a no-brainer, of course, but Hesse is more interested in surfing-and in Fenna, the new exchange student from the Netherlands.
But when someone seems to be trying to derail the campaign, and his friends' families face losing their jobs, Hesse begins to realise that things are complex.
Even though he's reluctant to step into the spotlight, with Fenna's encouragement he decides it's time to make a stand. Because some things are too important to leave to everyone else. And even one small, nervous voice can make a difference.
When Hesse agrees to speak at a protest meeting he has no idea of the storm he is about to unleash.
If Not Us is Mark Smith's first standalone YA novel following his hugely successful Winter trilogy. It's another great story with an engaging and relatable protagonist, as well as an impassioned plea for climate-change action that will inspire and empower readers of all ages.
Mark Smith lives on Victoria's Surf Coast. His writing has won a number of awards and has appeared in Best Australian Stories, Review of Australian Fiction and the Big Issue. His acclaimed debut, The Road to Winter, was followed by the rivetting Wilder Country. The series concludes with this third installment, Land of Fences.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781922330796 |
| ISBN 10 | 1922330795 |
| Title | If Not Us |
| Author | Mark Smith |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Text Publishing |
| Year published | 2021-09-28 |
| Number of pages | 272 |
| Prizes | Long-listed for Young Adult, Indie Book Awards 2022 (Australia) |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |