Freefall Summer

By: Tracy Barrett Levelidity: The state of being in a level position with respect to another skydiver —The Whuffo's Guide to Skydiving Sixteen-year-old "good girl" Clancy Edwards is staring down a long boring summer at the reception desk of her dad's skydiving business, watching other people enjoy the freedom her father will never ever ever let her have. Not since her mother's long-ago death by skydiving accident. Chafing at her overprotective dad and boyfriend, Clancy meets Denny: skydiving student, college freshman, cool guy. What could possibly go wrong? Clancy lets Denny think they're the same age—and that she's old enough to make decisions for herself. But her one little lie snowballs out of control, threatening Clancy's entire world. Can she make things right before a fateful jump takes away her chances forever? Listen to Tracy talk about Freefall Summer on Charlesbridge Unplugged. If you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: Select Running Full Tilt [TABS] Watch the Trailer Author & Illustrator Tracy Barrett, author Tracy Barrett is the award-winning author of numerous novels, including the recent The Stepsister's Tale (Harlequin Teen), and Dark of the Moon (HMH Young Readers). She met her husband while skydiving. Read more about Tracy here. Awards & Honors Coming soon! Editorial Reviews School Library Journal Clancy, 16, lives alone with her very protective father who owns and teaches at a skydiving school, the Drop Zone. Her mother died in a freak skydiving accident 10 years ago while practicing with her exhibition team. Clancy is very focused on school, but when she is not studying archaeological digs or packing parachutes at the DZ, she spends her free time with best friend Julia and her boyfriend, Theo. He is the classic “overbearing boyfriend” who thinks Clancy is a wilting flower. When Theo unexpectedly goes away for the summer and a very interesting college boy starts frequenting the DZ, Clancy is torn between her current, comfortable, life and a future of freedom that seems closer than ever. Clancy feels constrained by her present situation but has to confront her past before she can move forward in her life. The plot is greatly influenced by the personal and political landscape brought to light by the Gamergate controversy and the #MeToo movement. There is personal hardship, adventure and adrenaline, as well as romance (there is a heavy petting scene, but it is tame enough for older middle schoolers). This classic coming-of-age story begs to be advertised for summer reading. VERDICT Hand it to fans of Cecil Castellucci’s Don’t Cosplay with My Heart and anything written by Sarah Dessen. Downloadables Download the Cover Download the Excerpt Readers' Group Guide Details Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-58089-801-0 E-book ISBN: 978-1-63289-641-4 EPUB Ages: 12 and up Page count: 272 5 1/2 x 8 1/4 [/TABS]