Acclaimed author Tegan Bennett Daylight has released her latest young adult novel, How to Survive 1985, a time-travel story that juxtaposes 1980s Australia with the present day, offering both nostalgic detail and pointed social commentary.
The novel follows Shannon, a modern teenager who finds herself inexplicably transported back to the year 1985. As she searches for her friends—who have also been thrust into the past—Shannon must navigate a pre-digital world and grapple with the era’s social and cultural norms.
Daylight, best known for her Stella Prize-shortlisted Six Bedrooms, says the decision to set the story in the 1980s allowed her to reflect on how far Australian society has come.
“Seeing a less inclusive Australia made me appreciate the progress we’ve made on gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and environmental awareness,” she said.
Decades of Difference
Daylight turned 16 in 1985 and said her own experiences as a teenager provided rich material for the novel.
“That part of your life gets burned into your brain,” she explained. “It was very easy to remember my attitudes, the clothing, the music—everything about how the world looked and felt.”
Shannon’s interactions with her teenage mother in the book are partly inspired by Daylight’s relationship with her own family. When she asked her eldest child what they would do if sent back to 1985, they replied, “I’d look for you.”
“That was a lovely thing to hear,” Daylight said. “And it made me realize I’d probably do the same.”
A World Without Phones
One of the central narrative challenges in How to Survive 1985 is the absence of modern technology. Without mobile phones or the internet, the characters must rely on intuition, communication, and exploration to reconnect—a dynamic Daylight says adds dramatic depth.
“Taking phones out is a great thought experiment,” she said. “It creates a genuine adventure.”
The book also revisits characters from Daylight’s debut YA novel Royals, though it functions as a standalone title.
“I never set out to write YA fiction,” she said. “After Royals, I thought I was done. But the idea for this one kept hanging around, and now I’m working on a third book I never intended to write.”
A Changing Literary Landscape
Since publishing her first adult novel Bombora in 1996, Daylight has found writing for young adults to be both rewarding and enlightening.
“YA is a different space. It’s less curated and more relaxed than the literary world,” she said. While she notes there is often less media attention or festival coverage for YA writers, she finds the audience deeply engaged.
“There’s a loyal and enthusiastic readership. Even though you’re less visible, the books actually sell. It’s a broad market—ages 10 to 25—and it’s been super interesting.”
Daylight recently received a letter from a young reader that reinforced her connection with the audience.
“A 14-year-old wrote to say how much she appreciated a book that’s positive about her generation. That meant a lot.”
How to Survive 1985 is published by Simon & Schuster and is available now.
