Traumaland

The deliciously dark new thriller from award-winning YA author Josh Silver, perfect for fans of Black Mirror and Holly Jackson.

Welcome to TraumaLand. You are now Jack.

Your story will start in 3... 2... 1...

Eli has been in a near-fatal accident, which has left him with no memory and no emotions. According to his therapist, he suffers from an Overwhelming Emptiness.

Desperate to feel something again, Eli winds up at TraumaLand, an underground club where crowds of emotionally numb party-goers seek a new thrill. Through hyper-real virtual reality simulations, they can experience nightmarish events happening to other people.

But when Eli immerses himself in Jack's story, he starts to suspect there may be a darker - more dangerous - truth to the club.

Review

'A dystopian seam runs through this compelling, thought-provoking thriller, which reads like Black Mirror in book form.' Observer

'A mind-bending, dark and compulsive YA thriller from the author of HappyHead.' The Guardian

'As thrilling as it is heartbreaking, Traumaland grabs you from page one and never lets go... Silver guides the reader through its harsh land with a quiet promise of hope. A true gem to be savoured and shared.' David Arnold, author of I Loved You in Another Life

‘An absolutely wild read which becomes tenser with each page, this operates on two levels - a captivating thriller and a deep delve into the way society deals with trauma.’ Ravena Guron, author of This Book Kills

'Silver, the author of the critically acclaimed HappyHead duology, is back with an even better YA... Think Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind mixed with Juno Dawson's Wonderland. This is a truly phenomenal book.'

-- The Bookseller, '10 Titles not to miss in May'

'One of the best thrillers I’ve read. Heart-breaking, unflinching and stunningly dark, I absolutely inhaled this book and can’t stop thinking about it.' Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First

'Josh Silver’s books are in their own lane. Raw, tragic, magic, bold, funny and punk! I love this writer so much and everything he does. I wish his books were around when I was a teenager.' Laura Dockrill, author of Big Bones

'Josh Silver has written a book that is both highly relatable and continuously imaginative. Eli’s journey makes us laugh, cry, gasp, and look into the scary depths ourselves. It’s a story for the seeker in all of us, told in such an original way. I loved it.' Jeffery Self, author of Self-Sabotage (And Other Ways I've Spent My Time)

'I was completely swept away by the effortlessly flowing dialogue, beautifully written characters, and genuinely unexpected left-turns that hit me like a truck on several occasions... A brilliantly clever concept expertly executed.' Ben Oliver, author of The Loop series

‘A mind-bending gut-punch of a thriller, Traumaland is this generation’s Donnie Darko. Buckle up and brace yourself for the mindf**k of a lifetime.’ Kat Ellis, author of The Devouring Light

'Traumaland is a breathless roller coaster ride through a twisted virtual reality world where everything is not as it seems ... will appeal to older teens looking for a stimulating, thought provoking thriller with tender queer representation.' Books for Keeps

'Silver paints a richly detailed picture of an alarmingly relatable world, examining how people cope with trauma in a digital age.' Scotland on Sunday, 'Pick of the best YA fiction for the summer break'

'Silver's pacy writing and twisty plot makes this a delicious read as well as providing much food for thought.' Irish Times

About the Author

Josh Silver grew up on a farm in the Lake District, before moving to Manchester with his family, where he spent his teenage years loving the city. He trained as an actor at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and went onto perform in the West End and on Broadway. After deciding to change careers, Josh now works with teenagers as a mental health nurse. Josh lives in Manchester.