Freefall

Three guys from the Briar Academy fencing team went up to the cliff that night for a hazing ritual–but only two came back alive. Now Luke’s best friend, Hayden, is in jail and the pressure is on Luke to report what he saw. But what did he see? An accident–or a murder? Luke has always followed Hayden’s lead, but this is one decision he’ll be forced to make on his own. And to do it, he must face the truth about his friendship with Hayden and his own painful past. AGES 14+ GRADES 9+ REVIEWS: “Nineteen-year-old Anhalt displays some definite polish in her debut novel…Teens drawn to boarding-school-scandal dramas will find plenty to gasp about here.”–Booklist “Anhalt seems to know the boarding-school world well, creating a rich setting for this drama of family demons, school friends and rivals, and an anguishing struggle of conscience… . An unusually rich and layered first novel.”–Kirkus Reviews “Teens will love this title because it is full of page-turning events and is difficult to put down.”–VOYA, 5Q, 5P (highest rating) “The high stakes, complex character development, and realistic dialogue and interactions will keep readers riveted-and likely have them imagining themselves in Luke’s position.”–Publishers Weekly “Teens will appreciate the action and the drama, without being overwhelmed by trendy names and labels as in other books set in boarding schools… . Anhalt, a college sophomore, shows great promise in this debut novel.”–School Library Journal “[There are] plenty of jealousy, drugs, and misplaced loyalty to keep the pot boiling.”-Bulletin