If I Fall

A heartfelt and wondrous debut about family, fear, and skateboarding, that Karen Russell calls "A bruiser of a tale . . . a death-defying coming-of-age story." Will has never been outside, at least not since he can remember. And he has certainly never gotten to know anyone other than his mother, a fiercely loving yet wildly eccentric agoraphobe who panics at the thought of opening the front door. Their world is rich and fun- loving—full of art, science experiments, and music—and all confined to their small house. But Will’s thirst for adventure can’t be contained. Clad in a protective helmet and unsure of how to talk to other kids, he finally ventures outside. At his new school he meets Jonah, an artsy loner who introduces Will to the high-flying freedoms of skateboarding. Together, they search for a missing local boy, help a bedraggled vagabond, and evade a dangerous bootlegger. The adventure is more than Will ever expected, pulling him far from the confines of his closed-off world and into the throes of early adulthood, and all the risks that everyday life offers. In buoyant, kinetic prose, Michael Christie has written an emotionally resonant and keenly observed novel about mothers and sons, fears and uncertainties, and the lengths we’ll go for those we love.

Brooke and Heath should never have become friends, let alone fallen in love A year ago, Brooke Covington lost everything when her beloved older brother, Jason, confessed to the murder of his best friend, Calvin. Brooke and her family became social pariahs, broken and unable to console one another. Brooke’s only solace remains the ice-skating rink where she works, but she no longer lets herself dream about a future skating professionally. When Brooke encounters Calvin’s younger brother, Heath, on the side of the road and offers him a ride, everything changes. She needs someone to talk to…and so does Heath. No one else understands what it’s like. Her brother, alive but gone; his brother, dead but everywhere. Soon, they’re meeting in secret, despite knowing that both families would be horrified if they found out. In the place of his anger and her guilt, something frighteningly tender begins to develop, drawing them ever closer together. But when a new secret comes out about the murder, Brooke has to choose whose pain she’s willing to live with—her family’s or Heath’s. Because she can’t heal one without hurting the other.

Twins Ashleigh and Aiden have always promised to protect each other, but after an accident on a school trip, Aiden starts behaving strangely. Are they just growing apart, or is something more sinister going on? In a future Australia ravaged by climate change, twins Ashleigh and Aiden Delatour have always promised to protect and be there for each other, no matter what. Their privileged upbringing and loving, wealthy parents leave them with little to worry about. But when Aiden is seriously injured during a school trip, the twins’ entire world begins to unravel. Back home from the hospital, something about Aiden seems different and Ashleigh’s quest to find out why will uncover dark truths about the world they thought they knew, challenge their bond as twins and push how far they are willing to go to keep their promises. Catch Me If I Fall is a thrilling, timely examination of the possible future of our planet, the true meaning of family and our responsibilities to each other. Key Text Features chapters dialogue epilogue explanation prologue Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6 Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Four university friends, four devastating secrets. I’m really sorry for what I’m about to do... It’s fifteen years since graduation, and Connie, Jonas, JJ and Layla have managed to remain close despite the odds. They’ve supported each other, but are some things too big for friendship? Connie is desperate to maintain the veneer of perfect family life. Jonas is feeling the pressure at work. Layla’s career is unravelling thanks to her ill mother JJ’s past is catching up with him. When they stumble and fall, who will be there to catch them? A truly powerful and unforgettable story of love, friendship, and real life, If I Fall is perfect for readers of Alice Peterson, Amanda Prowse and Lianne Moriarty. Praise for Ella Harper: ‘You won’t be able to stop reading’ Heat Magazine 'Such a beautifully heart-breaking novel, written with such poise, strength and power.' The Writing Garnet 'I couldn’t put it down. I went without sleep to finish this book... If I Fall would definitely make my 2018 must-read list' Writerly Ways 'Highly recommended, but be prepared for tears!’ Stardust Book Reviews ‘This book was heartbreaking but beautiful...Such a joy to read, while holding back tears’ Til Then Smile Often ‘Only very rarely does a book come along that captures me and engages me as much as this one did... But don't despair, the ending was uplifting and filled with promise’ Bookish Bits ‘I finished the book with a whopping big lump in my throat but with joy in my heart’ JaffaReads ‘Wonderful, heart-breaking and poignant... The story touched me to the core with its deeply moving plot, beautiful characters and a unique, inspiring and insightful plot’ Read Day and Night ‘A great book to curl up with’ Daily Mail ‘I had tears in my eyes’ Bookworms and Shutterbugs ‘A beautiful emotional story... I shed quite a few tears while reading this book. It's a marvellous must-read’ With Love for Books ‘I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a long time’ Lilac Mills ‘Warm, perceptive and razor sharp. It’s everything you want from a novel’ Veronica Henry

After a duke's betrayal, the resilient Sarah Forrester reinvents herself as society's leading light-the life of the party. It's all a façade of course. When an old friend returns to London, he's determined to rediscover the true and trusting Sarah he once knew. But it'll take more than a kiss and a promise-it might even call for an innocent and necessary deception.

Be careful who you trust. It just might be the death of you... Holly Krauss lives in the fast lane. A successful young businesswoman with a stable home life, she is loved and admired by all who meet her. But that's only one side of Holly. The other sees her take regular walks on the wild side, where she makes ever-more-reckless mistakes. And when those mistakes start mounting, the two sides of Holly blur, and her life spins out of control. She thinks she's being stalked, someone is demanding money from her, threats lurk around every corner—and those closest to Holly are running out of patience. But is she alone responsible for what's happening? Are her fears just the paranoia of an illness or intimations of very real danger? And if she can no longer rely on her own judgment, who can she trust to catch her when she falls?

’A heart-breaking tale of love, grief and devotion’ THE SUN ‘Exceptionally beautiful, emotionally charged and inspirational’ MIRANDA DICKINSON, Sunday Times bestseller ‘A wonderfully told tale of devastation, grief and ultimately hope’ KATHRYN HUGHES, bestselling author of THE LETTER and THE SECRET

If you don't get lost, there's a chance you may never be found. Jenna McGovern has spent her whole life training for the stage. She's taken dance classes, voice lessons, and even earned her performance degree from one of the most prestigious musical theater programs in the nation. At graduation, she's stunned when a chance audition lands her a prime supporting role in the hottest Broadway touring production in the country. In more exciting news, Jenna discovers acclaimed television star Adrienne Kenyon is headlining the production. Jenna settles easily in to life on tour and has a promising career laid out in front of her, if only she plays her cards right. She's waited for this opportunity her entire life and will let nothing stand in her way. The one thing she didn't prepare for, however, was Adrienne. Her new costar is talented, beautiful, generous, and the utmost professional. As the two women grow closer onstage and off, they must learn how to fit each other into a demanding lifestyle full of unexpected twists and difficult decisions. But is Jenna ready to sacrifice what she's worked so hard for in exchange for a shot at something much deeper?