The Monster of Her Age

In a neo-Gothic mansion in a city at the end of the world, Ellie finds there's room enough for art, family, forgiveness and love. A coming-of-age story about embracing the things that scare us from the author of The Year the Maps Changed.

WINNER - INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2022, YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY

How do you ruin someone's childhood?

Ellie Marsden was born into the legendary Lovinger acting dynasty. Granddaughter of the infamous Lottie Lovinger, as a child Ellie shared the silver screen with Lottie in her one-and-only role playing the child monster in a cult horror movie. The experience left Ellie deeply traumatised and estranged from people she loved.

Now seventeen, Ellie has returned home to Hobart for the first time in years. Lottie is dying and Ellie wants to make peace with her before it's too late.

When a chance encounter with a young film buff leads her to a feminist horror film collective, Ellie meets Riya, a girl who she might be able to show her real self to, and at last comes to understand her family's legacy.

A story of love, loss, family and film - a stirring, insightful novel about letting go of anger and learning to forgive without forgetting. And about embracing the things that scare us, in order to be braver.

'There is an unexpected intersection where family, grief, forgiveness, and horror films meet, and in the lovely center is Danielle Binks' The Monster of Her Age. Realistic, romantic, inclusive, and full of heart, this book belongs on everyone's shelf' TRISH DOLLER

'A family dynasty, a Gothic mansion, and an angry girl - The Monster of Her Age puts a clever, contemporary twist on the Final Girl horror trope. This is a sensitive and compelling story about one girl's struggle to defeat her monsters, escape the past, and find her place in the here and now. I loved it' VIKKI WAKEFIELD

'Horror films, Hollywood scandals and Hobart are just some of the treats on offer in The Monster of Her Age. Come for the razzle dazzle, stay for the moving portrait of a young woman grappling with love, loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness' ERIN GOUGH

'All kinds of wonderful ... a book I so wished existed when I was a film-obsessed teen. All up this is my favourite kind of YA and this book is perfection' JACLYN CRUPI

'A warm hug of a book that's packed to the brim with tenderness, truth, and timeless charm. The Monster of Her Age is as much an homage to film as it is to family and heart-fluttering crushes. A must-read for fans of Nina LaCour.'
SARAH ROBINSON-HATCH, The YA Room