The Coast

Set in 1910 Sydney, this compelling novel follows nine-year-old Alice as she is sent to a remote hospital where she learns she shares a diagnosis with her mother, who has disappeared years earlier. Surrounded by a small community of patients and staff, Alice’s world is both confined and enriched by its vivid descriptions of the surrounding natural beauty. Her life changes when she befriends Guy, a war veteran, sparking new hopes and connections. Through evocative storytelling, the novel explores themes of love, resilience, and courage in a setting marked by isolation and hope.