The Burning River

By Lawrence Patchett,

Book cover of The Burning River

Book description

In a radically changed Aotearoa New Zealand, Van's life in the swamp is hazardous. Sheltered by Rau and Matewai, he mines plastic and trades to survive. When a young visitor summons him to the fenced settlement on the hill, he is offered a new and frightening responsibility-a perilous inland journey…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Burning River as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Though not packaged as YA, I think it sits well here. It’s speculative cli-fi, imagining an Aotearoa New Zealand ravaged by climate change. Steeped with Māori references, it’s a rollicking good yarn with a serious undertow and questions about how we care (and don’t care) for our environment, and the things that join and divide us.

Want books like The Burning River?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Burning River.

Browse books like The Burning River

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in dystopian, New Zealand, and the Māori people?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about dystopian, New Zealand, and the Māori people.

Dystopian Explore 543 books about dystopian
New Zealand Explore 52 books about New Zealand
The MāOri People Explore 16 books about the Māori people