Erin Gough, Into the Mouth of the Wolf, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, May 2024, 384 pp., RRP $22.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760507558

Erin Gough’s Into the Mouth of the Wolf is an emotionally layered YA novel that blends queer romance and coming-of-age mystery. This is a novel about survival, both physical and emotional, and about the fierce bonds we form when everything around us begins to fall apart. Set against a vividly imagined backdrop of environmental collapse and social unrest, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is as urgent as it is heartfelt.

Seventeen-year-old Iris has spent her life on the run with her activist mother, Rohan Moretti, evading earthquake-ravaged cities. But it’s clear they’re also fleeing something far more dangerous, something even her mother refuses to explain. When Rohan suddenly disappears, leaving behind only a cryptic letter and a faint trail to follow, Iris is forced into survival mode and into the arms of a stranger who might just become her anchor.

Enter Lena. Smart, cautious, and quietly struggling with her own identity. Lena’s juggling Year 12, the stress of running her family’s coastal hostel, and the secrets she’s too afraid to say aloud. When she receives Iris’s desperate message, she doesn’t hesitate to help. Against the backdrop of a small town steeped in secrets, romance begins to blossom between the two girls. Their bond growing through trust, danger, and courage. But Glassy Bay is no safe haven. A body has just washed up on the beach, an old friend has returned with shadows in tow, and danger is closer than either girl knows.

Gough doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of climate change, political corruption, and personal loss. At its core, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is a story about finding connection in chaos. This book tells a story about grief, resistance, and finding your voice in a collapsing world. It’s a sharp and compassionate Australian novel.

Content Warnings: violence, murder, forced separation, parental loss.

Reviewed by India Boon