What’s the book about?
What if one day soon never comes?
When Alex’s parents receive a message that brings shocking news, his whole world is turned upside-down: Alex’s uncle has been diagnosed with a genetic form of Motor Neurone Disease. The ripple effect is immediate – it means his dad has a fifty per cent chance of carrying the fatal gene. And if Dad has the gene, Alex has a fifty per cent chance of carrying it, too.
But even as Alex grapples with mortality, he discovers the unexpected joy, deep love and impromptu dance parties that come from living closer to death.
Told in verse, One Day Soon is a story of how, ultimately, a few special moments can matter most.
Recommended for:
Ages 9+
Three reasons to read it:
- One Day Soon helps readers understand big feelings in a gentle and careful way. Alex is faced with frightening news about Motor Neurone Disease and the possibility that it could affect his family and even himself. Instead of being overwhelming, the story slowly shows how those emotions unfold. This makes it easier for readers to connect with what he’s feeling and recognise their own emotions too, even if they’ve never faced something this serious.
- Another strong reason to read the book is how it introduces real-life science. The idea of genetics is explained through Alex’s situation, where his dad has a fifty-percent chance of carrying a gene. Rather than feeling like a lesson, this information is part of the story and directly affects what happens, which makes it much easier to understand. It shows how science isn’t just something in textbooks but something that can shape real lives, helping readers grasp ideas like probability and inheritance.
- One Day Soon is also written in verse, which makes it a unique. Instead of long chapters and dense paragraphs, the story is told in short, poetry-like sections that are easy to follow. It also means the book can be read quickly, while still leaving a strong impact, because every word has been chosen carefully by the author.
Buy a copy of One Day Soon here.
About the author:
Cristy Burne grew up climbing trees, jumping drains, chasing cows and inventing stories. She has a passion for learning through doing, and loves to inspire creativity, daring and resilience in her readers. Cristy is a children’s author and science writer with degrees in Biotechnology and Science Communication. She has also worked as a science circus performer, garbage analyst, Santa’s pixie and atom-smashing reporter. Cristy Burne’s children’s fiction book, Off the Track, was shortlisted for the 2022 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award (WAYRBA). Her other titles with Fremantle Press – Into the Blue, Beneath the Trees, and To the Lighthouse – have all been popular with young readers.
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