Breaking the Fall
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- $1.99
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
An Edgar Award Finalist: A lost teen allows a friend to draw him into a suicidal game
Stanley chose the house carefully. It has 3 chimneys and a perfect lawn. Stanley knows it’s nicer than any place he will ever live—and tonight, he’s breaking in. His friend Jared calls it a game. Sneak in, steal something, and get out. You’ll be invisible in the darkness, Jared promises. You’ll get high on fear. But when the homeowner awakes during the break-in, Stanley’s not invisible, and the fear tastes like ash in his mouth. The man has a gun, and Stanley escapes just before the bullets start to fly.
Jared says Stanley did pretty well for a 1st-timer; he’ll have to try again. Soon Stanley begins to understand the lure of danger, and as Jared draws him closer and closer to the brink, he learns the games have only just begun.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This chilling novel focuses upon Stanley, a high school junior who attempts to cope with the confusion and chaos pervading his life. At home, his parents' marriage is breaking up; at school, he cannot concentrate; in both places, he feels anxious and uneasy. The only time the boy feels in control of his life is during the dangerous game he and his friend Jared play (breaking into houses and taking an item that proves they were there), pushing their courage and strength to the limit while daring fate to stop them. Gripping narration portrays the depth and darkness of Stanley's struggle; his uncontrollable desire to risk everything is both terrifying and enticing. Cadnum deftly captures the nuances of the relationships between his complex and intriguing characters. Eerie, suspense-laden prose powerfully depicts the frustrating, overwhelming and often painful process of traveling from youth toward adulthood. Ages 12-up.
