A Guide to Falling Off the Map (Zanni L Arnot, Lothian)

A Guide to Falling Off the Map is the absorbing YA debut from Zanni L Arnot, who has previously published books for younger children under the name Zanni Louise (Hazel’s Treehouse). The novel follows Vinnie and Roo on the cusp of adulthood and alternates between the lifelong friends’ perspectives as they find themselves in messy situations while searching for who they’re meant to be. The story takes an unexpected turn when the pair, with their parents’ approval, set off on a road trip in an old van through iconic New South Wales landmarks, including the Promised Land, Bald Rock and Crystal Shower Falls. Along the way, they face unresolved emotions, explore the shifting boundaries of their friendship and begin to see their futures with new clarity. Arnot adds a layer of tension and authenticity to the familiar friends-to-lovers storyline by incorporating weighty themes: navigating grief, belonging, identity, mental health, suicide and the complexities of living with multiple sclerosis. This coming-of-age novel is for readers aged 12+ and anyone who has ever felt torn between hiding and running. Refreshingly unpretentious, fast-paced and filled with whip-smart dialogue, A Guide to Falling Off the Map reminds us we can be broken and special, talented and lost, and still be learning as we go. Perfect for fans of Sophie Gonzales’ Only Mostly Devastated and Nina Kenwood’s It Sounded Better in My Head. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Nadia Heisler is a CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) writer with a background in journalism and a passion for children’s books. 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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