Catch

Lots of things have changed in Grace’s life over the summer. She’s had a growth spurt and is now extremely tall; her sister is pregnant and is going to have the baby while finishing high school; her sister’s best friend, the handsome Etienne, is suddenly attracted to Grace and has convinced her to join the basketball team; and, most importantly, Grace has discovered a special talent for catching people who fall from high places. When she gets a nauseating feeling in her stomach, she knows that someone nearby will fall soon. She is utterly compelled to run to wherever her instincts tell her and catch that person, even if they don’t want to be saved.

This surreal novel has such an unlikely premise, yet it is utterly believable and completely compelling. The author has crafted a narrative that generates empathy in the reader, especially towards Grace and the complications in her life. She has the normal challenges of navigating family, friendships and first romance in those tricky high school years. But then she also has her superpower of catching people, which she, her family and her friends must come to terms with. This is a beautiful novel that is a delight to read and keeps you thinking long after the last page is turned. It will be enjoyed by readers of romance and contemporary narratives aged 12+.