Rather gripping tale set in Victorian Otways. I think the cover doesn't do the book justice as this is quite a dark novel in parts. 5 Year 9 students are tasked with hiking by themselves from an unknown destination back to their school in a coastal town. They set off in late afternoon and should know they are on the right track because they will find red backets on the way with instructions on which way to go. They are given torches, an emergency phone and a compass to use but don't have any of their own phones.
However, one of them Fred decides to bring some alcohol - he is angry at the world after neither of his parents seem to want him after he'd been expelled from his previous school. The others convince him to ditch the bag with the grog and keep walking but whoops - all the torches and gear they need are in that bag. When they go back to look for it - its gone! They have to press on in the dark (luckily there is a supermoon to light the way) and try and guess if they are following the right paths. Elle, the leader is worried about the strange exchange student with them. Also, is there a storm coming? And what about the Ute with the noisy drunk men with the guns who accost them and try to grab Elle so they all have to run away? Not only that, Fred has stormed away from the group and is by himself comes across a lost toddler! It is all happening.....will they ever get back to civilisation? Great book that made me mad because as a teacher there is NO WAY In HELL I would have set up my students to do a walk like this - way too many OH& S issues with kids falling over in the dark and breaking bones!! But kids will like it. ( )