The Edge of Everything (Miranda Luby, Text)

In The Edge of Everything, Miranda Luby (Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over) tells a poignant story of a teenager recovering from tragedy. It’s been eleven months since Lucy’s older brother died, but she’s struggling to re-engage with life. She’s drifted away from her schoolmates and her only friend is a girl who used to ride the same bus and thinks Lucy’s brother is still alive. While Lucy’s parents appear happy on the surface, she begins to notice chinks in their façade. When an endangered plains-wanderer bird crashes into her bedroom window, it precipitates a journey to finding romance, reconnecting with old friends and discovering an interest in animal rescue. The story has strong philosophical themes and delves into the complexities of life, death and the search for meaning. As Lucy is still coming to terms with the random way her brother died, she grapples with the unsettling reality that death could strike her or anyone she loves at any moment. This existential musing permeates the novel, with references to her brother’s metaphysical leanings in the past and Lucy’s struggle to find hope and purpose after tragedy. While the trope of a dead family member is common in young adult literature, The Edge of Everything stands out for its thought-provoking exploration of existential questions. Miranda Luby’s powerful and compelling writing adds depth and nuance, offering a fresh perspective that will resonate with readers of contemporary fiction aged 12 and up and fans of Lauren Draper’s The Museum of Broken Things.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Crocombe is a senior buyer for Readings bookshops and program manager for Clunes Booktown Festival 2025. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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