Into the Wild

by Hayley Lawrence

There are places in the world so remote, that if you get lost, you may never be found. Olive, Ted, Knox, Birdie and Silas enter a challenge to survive in the wild, without technology. Their stage? The majestic Blue Mountains. Working as a team, they must read maps, build fires, camp and trek through the most dangerous of terrain, in subzero temperatures.

But when the teenagers are split over a decision to climb a dangerous rock, disaster strikes. And in their quest for survival, one of them makes an unforgivable choice. With catastrophic consequences. Nobody is blameless. And they may not all make it home. But those who do, may never forgive each other.

Genres: Young Adult, Adventure, Survival

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2025

About the author

Hayley Lawrence worked as a lawyer in a commercial firm in Sydney before trading city life for the coast when she married a pilot. Hayley and her husband had many adventures while she worked for a small law firm on the Mid-North Coast of NSW. They now have five vivacious daughters who continue to bring immense joy and utter mayhem to their life.

Despite leaving legal work, Hayley could not leave behind the stories of the people she’d encountered. They are stories that provoke questions about the nature of humanity, and it’s these questions that haunt her novels.

Reviews

[hannah! · Rating 4 out of 5]

sobbing, laughing, screaming coz i just love hayley lawrence so much. her writing style is absolutely beautiful and she is so so amazing at capturing the vivid details of the aussie wilderness. loved the characters in this one, needed more of knoxolive AND tedbirdie tho!!!!! only downside was some writing is a bit confusing but that might just be from my exam brain lolsies

[rhi rhi (a literal angel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

౨ৎ | “[…] thank you for letting her be okay.” “[…] i was relived too. we almost lost them both.” “i meant you.”

— ★ 4.5/5

i am so obsessed with the way the author portrayed ted and olive so differently. the writing was quick and nothing dragged, and i liked the way the book was laid out.

i liked the characters in their own little ways (silas a little less till the ending). they were all so uniquely different and the author wrote them so well that i couldn’t help but love and root for them.

the plot was engaging and it was never stuck in one place of the story for too long which i absolutely adored. also the ending was so heartwarming i almost shed a tear.

also this is hayley lawrence’s hint to give me bonus scenes of knoxolive because their relationship crumbs made me love this book 100x more. i need it now THANKYOU!!

anyway highly recommend this!!

[Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I kind of forced myself kids to read these holidays (kids who usually don’t read a lot), and they chose this book because it kind of hooked them… well, jokes on them cos it hooked me real good.

For a story about teens, it wasn’t as cringe as I expected it to be. It was actually quite realistic, and the team dynamic worked really well. Ted was kind of cringe and annoying, but he made up for that in the end. I really liked Olive and Birdie - they were strong female leads. I liked Knox too. And even Silas came to terms with his own shortcomings. At the end of the day, they’re kids, but they’re more than that?

I liked the action, the adventure, the parts during the hike where they slowed down. I liked how fast paced it was, and there was always something happening (well, once you got past the preparing for the hike). Really reminded me of Tomorrow, When the War Began - one of my absolute favourite Aussie novels.

Overall, I’m glad I read this, and I can’t wait to chat to my kids about it when we’re back at school. Let’s hope I can remember what happened!

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense, interesting structure. Lovely characterisation.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was crackers brilliant.

A #LoveOzYA that found its way onto my bedside table (“They kiss in it, Miss!”), and I finally finished reading on the first day of the school holidays.

Five teenagers join up to the Earth Committee’s Challenge to hike over three nights. The path they choose is the (real life K2K) Kanangra to Katoomba route - a challenging mountainous route in the Southern Blue Mountains.

Each team member is assigned a role, and has signed up for different reasons.

What could go wrong?

Well, the first page is from Olive’s journal (Location:The Children’s Hospital):

I’m the chosen one.
First, because I lived. Second, because I’m not in surgery.

What an opening!

This is a roller coaster of a ride, told from multiple perspectives.

Strong male and female voices leading, challenging and fuelling this story along.

The reigns are held tightly, meaning the violence, budding romance and suspense are tweaked to just the right levels for that early Young Adult Fiction audience.

Publisher, Scholastic reports this book is for readers aged 10-14.
Personally, I think this would be for very confident upper primary readers - with trigger warnings.

A character is grappling with the death of her mother to cancer, while a couple of others have unsettled home lives. Not a book for all primary school readers, but a thriller for those ready for high school/high school audiences.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: death of a parent (in the past), violence, physical injury, blood, grief, assault, emergency situation, hospitalisation

3.5 stars

The early stages of this reminded me a lot of Tomorrow When the War Began for fairly obvious reasons - it's a group of kids going hiking alone in the middle of nowhere and ending up in a survival situation. As a result, I found myself inevitably comparing it to TWTWB, even though this is an adventure/survival story and not a war story.

The start was very definitely solid and I liked the way the ending played out. But personally, I found that the middle dragged more than I would have liked.

[Helen Farch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayley Lawrence has written a number of amazing #loveozya books and you should definitely read all of them.

This new book is definitely one you won't stop thinking about long after you have read the last page.

What would you have done in the same situation as Olive, Ted, Knox, Birdie and Silas find themselves in?

It is probably one of those questions we will never be able to answer unless you find yourself in the sort of desperate situation that these teems to - and hopefully that will never happen.

I really enjoyed how this story was told from the perspectives of Olive's and Ted's journals and it shows the skill of @hayleylawrenceauthor that they have two such distinct and different voices.

Go into this book knowing you are in for a wild ride.... and you are going to love every minute of it.

Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover and blurb had me wanting to read this and now becoming quite the fan of Hayley's work.
5 teenagers on an expedition through the Blue Mountains. I loved the references to locations that I have been and also references to explorers such as Burke and Wills. It made me google some aspects of history. The characters get into a bit of strife and it gets quite tense on the mountain and creates a bit of a cliff hanger literally and makes you think of a Macpac ad.
Olive is a character who has lost her mum, Silas is the leader with a tough exterior, Ted is the least experienced hiker and he is faced with some extreme conditions to survive. It was great it was a happy ending but not sure how realistic but the hope it provides is encouraging to the reader. Maybe Year 6 above

[Scuffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a book of two. I really didn't enjoy the beginning section of the story, setting up for the hike, and very nearly gave up during that part. (about 60 pages). However once into the hike the story became more gripping, interesting and I found this part and the aftermath of the hike gripping.

[Keira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Knox and Olive plus the first 2/3 were great, but honestly the ending was predictable and anticlimactic.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into the Wild by Hayley Lawrence follows five teenagers who take on the challenge of leaving technology behind to embark on a survival expedition through the Blue Mountains.

What stood out to me was the multi-perspective narration. I especially connected with Olive and Birdie, two strong female leads who brought real depth and emotional resonance to the story. They were definitely the highlight for me. Ted, on the other hand, was a bit of a struggle early on. His attitude and the choices he made made it hard to warm to him, but I have to give credit where it’s due; his character development felt genuine, and by the end, I found myself appreciating the complexity he added.

The plot had its ups and downs. While I enjoyed the survival elements and the exploration of how being unprepared in the wild can have serious consequences, the pacing lagged in places, especially in the middle. Also, some parts didn't have the emotional pull they should have had. However, I liked the adventure and survival aspects of the novel, and the overall themes of healing, connection and self-discovery in unfamiliar places.

The setting was stunning, and the novel offered a good mix of adventure, character growth, and introspection. While Into the Wild didn’t quite reach the heights of Lawrence’s other works, it was still an enjoyable character-driven YA story with a wilderness twist.

[Kirren Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Wild by Hayley Lawrence is a compelling young adult novel with references to the Blue Mountains, bringing a sense of familiarity and rugged beauty to Australian readers. The story follows a group of teenagers on a wilderness survival adventure that challenges not only their physical endurance but also their emotional resilience.

As they journey through the bush, each character carries personal burdens—grief, fractured family relationships, and inner doubts. The novel explores how they manage these circumstances under pressure, leaning on each other while also confronting their own limitations. With references to real trails and terrain, the setting enhances the authenticity of their challenges and triumphs.

What sets this novel apart is its thoughtful treatment of trauma and loss. Through Olive’s story, in particular, readers see how nature can become a place of healing. The narrative balances tension with tenderness, making it an excellent choice for students completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award or any young person drawn to adventure, reflection, and growth.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a thrilling read! I loved the exploration of Olive’s grief, it reflects so much of my own having lost my mom to cancer as well when I was 17. I loved how cringe and over the top Lawrence made Ted’s voice, it fits him perfectly and he just ends up worming his way into his heart. The parts where they are hiking takes up the first 100 pages and is meant to build character but it is not as thrilling as the rest of it. I loved the first blooms of romance but parents, teachers and fellow librarians don’t worry, it’s just some kissing, closed mouthed first blushes of romance kissing. There’s no swear words or real gore. Just expertly built tension and survival thrills. Had me reading late into the night to finish. While the characters are 16, I feel like it’s a younger 16 and find that this book would be fine for older middle grade and younger YA (I’d say 12+).

[Victoria Murfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baddie book. Especially love how it was set in Australia so the setting and lifestyle was familiar. The book really displays what it is truly like working in a team under a stressful environment, and also highlights the dangers of being out in the bush without adequate knowledge and judgement. Has thoroughly made me reconsider whether going for a hike with my friends is really the safest activity we can do on the holidays😁. I would totally read this book again, a great read as usual from Hayley Lawrence🩷.

[Bella Abrahams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loves this book! It made me laugh and cry in all the best way. We get to follow a group of 5 teens in the bush and watch them struggle and come together to solve problems. When a difficult decision is made it leaves both them and the audience pondering about if it was the right choice. I loved every page of this book!

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tense and exciting adventure story told from different perspectives. Loved the characters and the storyline zipped along at a good pace. Possibly not the best book to read before heading off on a week long bushwalking adventure?!

[Julia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Vicki Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great YA novel. No bad language or gruesome scenes, just gripping, toe tingling survival adventure.

[rhi 2.0 · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5] knoxolive on top

[Lyndallanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters, great setting.

[Atlanta Bushnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the Wild by Hayley Lawrence is a YA wilderness survival adventure story set in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia.

From the very first chapter I couldn’t put it down. Five teenagers enter a challenge to survive in the wild, going on a weekend trek through the blue mountains. But the Australian Bush is not just beautiful, it can also be deadly.

I loved the way this is written with the different POVs. Some chapters are in third person and others are first person diary entries, which I found worked really well. It’s clear from chapter one that something went very wrong and that propels the reader through the story. I just had to find out what happened!

I highly recommend this one for upper primary school and YA readers. I think it would even make a great book to study in the classroom for Year 7s.

Five Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Scholastic Australia for the gifted review copy.

Trigger warnings: grief & survivalist theme

[anabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5