Flight from Ledron

Bug Club

by Diana Noonan

After fourteen-year-old Amon finds an injured bird in the desert outside Ledron, his whole world is turned upside down. Ledron is the last community to survive the water wars - no other life exists. Or so their Leaders have told them. Now his mother, Lydia, is ill and Amon knows his community does not have the resources to help her. The bird seems to offer hope, but hope of what? If somehow they manage to escape into the desert, how will they survive, and what will they find?

A science fiction novel.

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Diana Noonan is a celebrated New Zealand author who has made a significant contribution to children's literature. Born in Dunedin in 1960, she attended Waihola Primary School and Tokomairiro High School before completing a degree in English at the University of Otago in 1980. She followed this with a teaching diploma and spent four years teaching in secondary schools before turning to writing full-time.
In 1993, Noonan was appointed Writer in Residence at the Dunedin College of Education. She also served as editor of the New Zealand School Journal for eight years, further solidifying her influence on educational and children’s publishing in New Zealand.
Her writing career includes a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles, many of which have been recognized with national awards. Among her most celebrated works is Quaky Cat, a picture book written in response to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The book, which tells the story of a cat experiencing the disaster, raised over $150,000 for the Christchurch earthquake appeal through donated royalties. For this contribution, Noonan and illustrator Gavin Bishop received the North West Christchurch Award in 2012.
Over the years, Noonan has earned multiple accolades. Her picture books and non-fiction titles have frequently been finalists in the LIANZA Awards and the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. She won the Aim Children's Book Award for Best Junior Fiction in 1994 with A Dolphin in the Bay, and for Best Picture Book in 1995 with The Best Loved Bear. Her commitment to both storytelling and education was acknowledged in 2022 when she received the prestigious Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal, honoring her outstanding contribution to literature for young people in New Zealand.
Diana Noonan’s work continues to resonate with readers, educators, and critics alike, combining storytelling with empathy, environmental awareness, and educational value.

Reviews

[grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely love it! it was so engaging and i constantly was wondering what was going to happen next. considering i read on rare occasions, it says a lot in the sense that i enjoyed this.

[AccioBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was ok. I thought the end brought it up to 3 stars but I do not know why but I did not care AT ALL for the characters therefore did not care what happened but lots of people in my class loved it so try it and see if you agree or disagree.

[Scott Tubman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 13 yr old son got this book, and after telling me about it, I thought I'd give it a shot. It was great! She creates a compelling dystopian world and the characters feel real. The twist at the end draws everything together really well. She could have dispensed with the epilogue however and gone straight for a sequel.

[Elsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally didn't enjoy the book that much. I found it boring and it took WAY to long to get to the plot. I also found that due to this, the plot appeared to be rushed. I found the book boring but recommend giving it a try to make up your own mind. It had a really good message of water conservation.

[Quandale Dingle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting concept but very poor execution. The characters were flat and uninteresting, they barely grew as characters. The plot dragged on for way too long and the ending was very rushed. 1/4 of the book was actually plot and the rest was filler. I do not recommend this book unless you are an avid Diana Noonan fan or are obsessed with water conversation.

[Jacob Sinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I read in Primary school. From what I remember it was the very first Dystopian novel I had ever read, introducing me to the genre. I really enjoyed this book and over a decade later I still remember it and think of this book fondly.

[Matilda Maine · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book for school in 2019 (i was 12) and LOVED it. I had forgotten the title and author so had been searching for it for ages and finally I found it. Definitely want to re-read.