First published 2021
Robert Anderson carries a burden his brothers never knew. He is the first in his family to live beyond seventeen years. The weight of survival follows him as he wonders whether death will claim him soon too. Meanwhile, teenager Ella faces her own crossroads when an older boy asks her out. He rides a motorbike and seems like a man compared to her bookish world. Their friendship develops slowly, but shadows gather around them. Misogyny lurks in her school hallways and on the streets outside. Ella must learn to recognize the signs of a healthy relationship while navigating these dangers. These five interconnected stories explore how young people confront isolation and the regrets that shape them. Written by Alex Morrall and Man Booker shortlisted Clare Morrall, the collection examines the delicate moments when teenagers step toward adulthood and discover the boundaries that will define their lives.
Genres: literary-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Period: 21st-century
68 pages · Paperback · Independently published
Content warnings: mental-illness, suicide