The Upside of Falling: Guest review

This review was written by teacher Elizabeth Cook.

 

Written by Alex Light

HarperTeen

9780062918055

288 pp.

Ages 12-18

February 2020

 

Also available as an audiobook from

HarperAudio

 Narrated by Caitlin Kelly and Austin Rising

6 hr 41 min

 

The Upside of Falling is a YA novel that focuses on two teenagers in high school who improbably come together under unique circumstances. Coming together is weird enough; staying together is another matter.

 

Brett Wells is the most liked guy in high school. He's captain of the football team and is helping the team achieve great success this year. Moreover he's a really good guy, known for being kind to everyone, a trait which he may have inherited from his generous parents who've just donated a ton of money to redo the football field.  Brett Wells would be considered the guy who had it all. 

 

Becca Hart would be the opposite. Few people at school would know who she is. A bookworm, Becca regularly has her nose between the pages of a book while she sits under a tree on the far side of the school property. Unlike Brett, Becca's life is one that is far from perfect. Her father left her and her mother five years ago and her best friend abandoned her for the popular crowd two years ago. It's no surprise that Becca prefers to shy away from any connections just to avoid being left behind and disappointed yet again.

When Becca finds herself being publicly accused of being a loveless loner by her former best friend, she lies that she is in a secret relationship. Brett, overhearing this declaration, steps in and puts his arm around Becca to save her from a horrible confrontation. Later, they agree  to continue the fake relationship so they might both achieve something they need: for Becca, to avoid being made into a laughing stock and for Brett, to appease his father about getting a girlfriend. Along the way, they both learn more about the other and what they need for themselves.

 

Written in the alternating voices of Becca and Brett, a style of writing I especially like and which was enhanced by the audiobook's dual narrators, Alex Light's portrayal of her characters was authentic and powerful. Becca's character especially resonated with me as, like many readers, Becca uses books as a personal means of escape. Her anticipation of the happy ending in her books is a balm to daily stresses, as it is for so many, and helps her deal with feelings of abandonment. It's no wonder she carries a book around everywhere, even to a high school football game where she's expected to be paying attention to her boyfriend.

As a young adult novel, The Upside of Falling offers a fabulous read while addressing important and true-to-life issues of belonging, divorce, relationships, and love, and still giving readers the happy ending Becca always looked for.

 

~ Reviewer Elizabeth Cook is a teacher in the Halton District School Board. She is an avid reader and fan of Canadian literature.