Imagine walking out of a movie and discovering you’ve somehow landed back in the 1980s — that’s the situation facing Shannon, the teen heroine of How to Survive 1985, a new young adult novel by Tegan Bennett Daylight.
The book follows Shannon’s quest to reconnect with her friends — who have also traveled back in time — and find a way home. While it embraces its 1980s setting, the story avoids clichés and instead uses the time-travel premise to offer thoughtful social commentary.
A Time-Travelling Lens on Social Change
Rather than just a nostalgic throwback, How to Survive 1985 prompts reflection on how far society has come. Shannon observes the less inclusive environment of 1980s Australia and becomes more appreciative of modern advances in gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental awareness, and medical progress.
Daylight, author of the Stella Prize-shortlisted Six Bedrooms, said she’s noticed a growing compassion in today’s youth and wanted to highlight that shift.
“I often hear Gen Xers say all the hard work was done by us, or that Gen Z is somehow lost,” she said. “But after decades of teaching and raising my own kids, I’ve found young people just keep getting kinder.”
Reliving Teenhood with Vivid Detail
Having been a teenager herself in 1985, Daylight didn’t need to do much research — her memories of the era are still sharp.
“Teenage years stick with you. I remember the music, the clothes, the world,” she said. “It was very easy to bring it all back.”
The book includes a touching storyline where Shannon meets her teenage mother, reflecting on her dreams and aspirations. This idea was inspired by a conversation Daylight had with her own child.
“I asked them what they’d do if they went back to 1985, and they said, ‘I’d look for you.’ That stayed with me — I think I’d do the same.”
No Phones, More Adventure
A major difference in the book’s setting is the absence of mobile phones and internet — a deliberate choice that adds tension and creativity to the plot.
“It’s a fun thought experiment,” Daylight said. “What do teens do when they can’t just text their friends? It becomes an adventure in itself.”
A Surprise Return to YA
Daylight never intended to write young adult fiction. Her debut novel, Bombora, was published in 1996, and she entered the YA space with Royals, about six teens stuck in Penrith Plaza. Though she initially resisted a sequel, How to Survive 1985 took shape organically — and now, a third book is in the works.
YA: Quiet but Loyal
She’s found promoting YA is very different from literary fiction. “It’s less polished and curated,” Daylight said. While YA gets less media attention and presence at literary festivals, its readers are deeply engaged.
“YA might be quieter in the spotlight, but the books sell — and they really connect with a wide age range, from around 10 to 25.”
Daylight is especially thrilled by the feedback she’s received, including a heartfelt letter from a 14-year-old reader.
“She wrote, ‘It’s so nice to have someone be positive about our generation.’ That means the world to me.”
How to Survive 1985 is published by Simon & Schuster and available now.
