The Lost Island
by Samantha Wheeler Anke Noack

Bestselling and award-winning Australian author Samantha Wheeler returns with this thrilling desert island survival story full of action, mystery and adventure.

Recommended age: 9 - 12

A$17.99

(Paperback)

Ships on 4/08/2026

Overview

Theo thinks there’s nothing worse than being stuck on a Pacific cruise with his dad, new stepmum and annoying stepsister. But when he’s thrown overboard during a storm and washes up on a desert island, he suddenly has much bigger problems.

As Theo tackles castaway life – finding food, water and shelter – he discovers the island is full of mysteries: spooky noises, possible ghosts and the strangest birds he’s ever seen. With survival getting tougher by the day and no rescue in sight, Theo is desperate to get back to his family. But to escape the island, he must first unlock its secrets – and reckon with the power of nature.

Details

Readings Monthly

‘Wheeler has a knack for writing endearing characters and plots that weave in environmental themes that readers 8 and up will love.’

Books+Publishing

‘Samantha Wheeler expertly captures the frustrations felt by a child on the cusp of adolescence.’

The CBCA’s Reading Time

‘Wheeler shows readers there’s always a better way.’

Samantha Wheeler

Samantha Wheeler fell in love with animals when, at the age of six, she received a tortoise. She went on to study agriculture, work with dairy farmers and teach science, until writing her first children’s book, inspired by koalas, in 2011. Her books, which include Smooch & Rose, Spud & Charli, Mister Cassowary, Wombat Warriors, Turtle Trackers and Everything I’ve Never Said, have been shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, the Readings Children’s Book Prize, the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature and the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales Whitley Awards. Samantha hopes her books will encourage everyone to make a difference. www.samanthawheeler.com.au

Anke Noack

Anke Noack is a Melbourne-based illustrator, author and artist known for her vibrant, imaginative visual storytelling. Originally from Germany, she studied architecture in Berlin before working as a senior artist and concept illustrator in the computer games industry in Berlin and London. She later moved to Australia, where she established her design and illustration studio and began focusing on children’s books. Anke’s work is characterised by richly detailed worlds, strong narrative composition, and expressive characters that invite readers to explore every page. Her illustrations often draw inspiration from nature, travel, and storytelling, blending realism with a playful sense of discovery. She illustrated Creature Corridors (CSIRO Publishing, 2025), written by Billie Rooney, a picture book exploring the coexistence between humans and nature through wildlife corridors.

Anke is the winner of the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Award 2025 and has been a finalist in several illustration awards, including the CYA Awards and NEWC Illustration Awards. She is currently working on a range of new picture books and a middle-grade novel scheduled for publication over the next two years, continuing to expand her work across children’s publishing. Her latest illustrated work, The Lost Island (UQP), reflects her ongoing interest in immersive storytelling, combining adventure, environmental themes, and richly detailed visual worlds.