Prince of Afghanistan (Louis Nowra, A&U)

When a hostage rescue mission in a remote region of Afghanistan suddenly goes wrong, 18-year-old Corporal Mark Hollis and an army sniffer dog, Prince, are the only survivors—and now they face a dangerous journey back to base. The pair must navigate an unforgiving landscape as they try to avoid capture or death at the hands of the Taliban. As they travel, Mark reflects on his childhood back in the small Australian town of Emerald Creek and his reasons for joining the army, but it’s the inseparable bond he forms with Prince that keeps them both strong as they brave the threats and uncertainties of their war-torn surrounds. Louis Nowra is one of Australia’s most versatile authors—he’s published plays, novels, memoirs and other nonfiction and written for stage, screen and radio. Although Prince of Afghanistan is only Nowra’s second foray into YA after 2012’s Into That Forest, it’s a remarkably assured and evocative tale that balances serious themes of survival and loyalty with an absorbing, well-paced plot and a vivid narrative voice. The novel informs as effectively as it entertains, offering teen readers a poignant and thought-provoking portrayal of the war in Afghanistan and Australia’s involvement in it. 

Carody Culver is a freelance writer and editor and part-time bookseller at Brisbane’s Avid Reader bookshop