The Year We Escaped: Winner of the 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize, Children & Young Adult category, and a 2026 CBCA Notable, this incredible and moving adventure is not to be missed
By Suzanne LealNarrated by Elizabeth Brennan, Alfie Baker
Length6h 15m
About this audiobook
For fans of Jackie French and Katrina Nannestad, The Year We Escaped is a heart-stopping and remarkable World War II story by talented author Suzanne Leal.
Europe, 1940
With war on their doorstep, German classmates Klara and Rachel, and French brothers Lucien and Paul, are forced to leave their homes. They are taken to Gurs, a French detention camp in the south-west of France. It's a crowded place, with little comfort and even less food.
When Klara and Rachel are promised safe refuge in a remote French village, Lucien and Paul are anxious to join them — and will risk their own lives to get there.
Filled with adventure, danger and intrigue, this is the story of four unlikely friends desperate to escape from a war that keeps coming closer.
AWARDS
Winner - 2025 ARA Historical Novel Prize - Children & Young Adult category
CBCA Notable for Younger Readers 2026
Audiobook details
GenreYoung Adult, Children's Literature
Length6 hrs 15 mins
Narrated byElizabeth Brennan, Alfie Baker
FormatAudiobook
Publish dateJun 4, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1#1
23#23
2#2
24#24
3#3
25#25
4#4
26#26
5#5
27#27
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6#6
28#28
7#7
29#29
8#8
30#30
9#9
31#31
10#10
32#32
11#11
33#33
12#12
34#34
13#13
35#35
14#14
36#36
15#15
37#37
16#16
38#38
17#17
39#39
18#18
40#40
19#19
41#41
20#20
42#42
21#21
43#43
22#22
About the author
Suzanne Leal
SUZANNE LEAL is the author of novels The Teacher's Secret, Border Street and The Deceptions, for which she won the Nib People's Choice Prize and was shortlisted for the Davitt Awards, and the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. A senior member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and facilitator at community, corporate and literary events, Suzanne is the host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly book club connecting readers online. www.suzanneleal.comView all by Suzanne Leal
