Title: The Surface Trials
Author and illustrator: HM Waugh
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Publication date: 29 April 2025
Themes: Space, reality TV, STEAM, STEM, alien planet, adventure, survival, quest, competition, teamwork, science fiction,
A comprehensive teaching resource is available from the publisher here
The Surface Trials by HM Waugh and published by Allen and Unwin is a unique, contemporary and gripping story, full of unexpected twists that will have readers turning each page with bated breath. This story is set on an alien planet, with carnivorous plants, gigantic predatory insects and a terrain that massively challenges the character’s survival. It is here that one hundred contestants, in squads, compete over three gruelling days in the Surface Trials for admission into the elite Starquest Academy. Only twenty contestants have a chance at being successful. This quest is watched by millions of people as it is a hugely popular reality television show. Every move made and word uttered is judged by the assessors and viewers. The stakes are high, the conditions are harsh, hostile and unforgiving and the characters are driven by their own motives. The story is told from multiple viewpoints through different members of a squad, adding to the intrigue.
This quest is Ammy’s ticket to leave her planet of Proxima, a marginalised, domed planet that is reviled and impoverished. The people of Proxima are feared as they are known for being Mindbreakers. Her motivation to succeed is deeply personal. Ammy battles not just the perilous environment, but the weight of prejudice. Her journey is one of survival, strategising, self-discovery and quiet rebellion.
To add to the suspense there is an expertly disguised character. It is Rian Amalthea who enters the trials incognito. He is considered intergalactic royalty as he is heir to two powerful dynasties. His identity is concealed from all squads, the television viewers and even the assessors. The stakes are incredibly high for this heir; failure is not an option. He must prove he has what it takes based on his actions, not his name or privilege and failure to do so means he will be denied entry to his family’s academy.
The sense of urgency and tension is present and palpable throughout the story. These trials are a race against time and other squads to solve the clues to be one of the twenty to gain admission. There are summaries provided each day to all squads. These contain statistics for the number of contestants eliminated, medivacced and remaining, as well as the number of squads who have deciphered each clue plus the public votes for the top ten contestants. This adds another layer to the competition and highlights that this is just as much a physical quest as it is a psychological one. The ever-present threat of being evacuated plays on each contestants mind. The fact that the trials are being watched live by the assessors and millions of viewers means the contestants cannot slip up in any way and must be seen to display the desired values of courage, teamwork, innovation and exploration. The life-altering consequences for the characters affects each decision made, action carried out and conversations had. Against all of this is the constant speculation about who the heir may be.
At the heart of this arresting middle grade story is teamwork and collaboration. Success is dependent upon this. This highly suspenseful, fast-paced action story with thrilling chases, tested friendships, system failures on the planet and betrayals will hook readers in from the very first page. The epic action will ensure readers keep turning the pages to see who makes it to the extraction point and what will transpire there. It is a story that keeps you guessing right until the very end.