“A gripping tale, fast and action-packed, the story will drag its readers along, with interesting and lively characters, and a most credible setting.

“I really, truly loved ‘Days Like This’ for a number of reasons. Alison Stewart has done an impressive job of making heroes out of her young protagonists; the kinds of characters you can cheer for and live their bravery vicariously. The novel is also a brilliant mesh of past histories, so that the Dystopia-setting feels like a culmination of this century’s worst political and societal mistakes – making the bleak setting all the more terrifying for its pseudo-reality. But, above all else, Stewart’s ‘Days Like This’ invokes chest-swelling, fist-pumping pride purely for being a true-blue Aussie YA Dystopian novel! Let’s just hope this it is the first of many.” Rating:5/5

“It’s rare to find a dystopian novel set in Sydney – in an age when parents don’t trust kids … who are kept as prisoners in their own homes. Lily and her brother Daniel start to question the committee that enforces the laws and, as tension starts to build, Daniel goes missing. Knowing she is next, Lily escapes but the truth she finds out there is worse than anything she could have imagined. Younger readers will love the thrills and action, while older readers will note references to actual past events. A good read for all ages.”

”Alison Stewart has created a dystopian world where global warming has reached a critical point and resources such as water are the preserve of a privileged few who live inside a walled city on Sydney’s north shore. Ruled by the anonymous Central Governing Committee, the people inside the wall are controlled by a special drug that gives them the appearance of eternal youth. The drug is made from the body fluids of young people who are literally harvested to keep the old looking good. At the same time, parents who participate in this program lose their love for and attachment to their children ... written with conviction and clarity."

“A riveting dystopian novel for secondary students, Stewart’s descriptive writing style and fast paced plot make this book an easy, enjoyable read. I will most definitely recommend Days Like This to my students. The fast pace of the story and abundance of action ensures that it will appeal to more than just fans of dystopian fiction. Lily’s story of betrayal, heartbreak and redemption, her amazing courage, survival instinct and compassion makes her a character that young adults will want to relate to.
The themes include, corruption in society, powerlessness of teens and people wanting to ‘play God’ with science. ... Despite the protagonist being female both boys and girls should enjoy this novel, particularly fans of Ally Condie’s Matched. Days Like This could be used to great effect in literature circles, as it covers issues that question morality and encourage students to address the issues that could arise as global warming takes its toll and natural resources disappear. This novel really blew me away. The possible topics touched on in this book are nearly endless. ... Because of the easy to read style and many layers within the novel it also has a very wide potential readership. The dystopian themes mean that this is a book that can be enjoyed by older readers as well.”