Lamington Left Behind is the fourth title to be published by Figment, an exciting new imprint of Hardie Grant that is dedicated to publishing graphic novels for young readers. It follows Gavin Aung Than’s Creature Clinic, Karen Wasson and Jake A. Minton’s Inked and Gus Gordon’s Into the Bewilderness. Each of these books has offered readers something unique, and it’s fantastic to see such high-quality publishing of talented Australian creators.

Andrea Innocent has worked across a variety of graphic media, and the bold palettes of yellows, pinks and aquas used in her debut book are striking. The story is set in a strange future populated by authoritarian robots. It follows Lamington from a life alone in the wilderness to a high-stakes supernatural conservation operation alongside talking koalas. There are shades of Mad Max evident, and the author’s love of Australia’s flora and fauna is unmistakable. Readers aged 8+ who have enjoyed Jason Pamment’s books or the Lightfall series are advised to check out this cool debut!