Schoolies week: that strange in-between time when teenagers move from school into the adult world. It''s a week when anything is possible, and everything can change.

Grace is questioning everything she thought about herself, and has opted not to join her clique of judgemental friends for schoolies, instead tagging along with her brother Casper and his friends. Casper, an artist, is trying to create the perfect artwork for his uni application folio. Overachieving, anxiety-ridden Noah is reeling from a catastrophe that might have ruined his ATAR result. And Elsie is just trying to figure out how to hold their friendship group together.

On the first night of the trip, they meet Sierra, a mysterious girl with silver-grey hair and a magnetic personality. All of them are drawn to her for different reasons, and she persuades them to abandon the cliched schoolies experience in favour of camping with her on a remote, uninhabited island. On that island, each of them will find answers to their questions. But what does Sierra want from them?

An empathetic and suspenseful coming-of-age story from the author of All That Impossible Space.

Praise for Before the Beginning:

''Soulful and suspenseful; this #LoveOzYA story doesn''t take you where you think it will, it leads you where you need to be ... ''Before the Beginning'' heralds Anna Morgan as the lovechild of Cath Crowley and Vikki Wakefield for her thoughtful and thrilling storytelling of the highest order.'' - Danielle Binks, author of The Year the Maps Changed and Begin, End, Begin

''Genuine characters, a clever hint of danger and a deep understanding of graduating high school. I was hooked!'' - Emily Gale, author of I Am Out With Lanterns and The Other Side of Summer