The Edge of Anything

(Hardback)

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Description

Set in the mountainous outskirts of Asheville, North Carolina, The Edge of Anything follows the start of an unexpected friendship between Sage and Len. Len is a loner photographer haunted by a guilty secret that prevents her from creating quality work, while Sage is a popular high school volleyball player desperate to find a way around her sudden medical disqualification. Both girls want to rediscover their lost talents and win scholarships to the colleges of their dreams, and a chance encounter between the two in their high school's parking lot sparks an unlikely friendship. Strengthened by the newfound power of their deep bond, the girls begin to face their inner demons and exit the shadow of the past. But when Len catches Sage endangering her health by practising volleyball for the upcoming YMCA championship, a fight erupts and threatens to unravel all the progress the girls have made.

Written by a successful author making her YA debut, The Edge of Anything explores the transformative power of friendship and how it can help you find yourself and the goodness in life, even when everything feels broken.

Reviews

"The Edge of Anything is a gorgeously imagined, tender, irresistible examination of shame and the secrets we keep even from ourselves, but more than that, it is a reminder that vulnerability and truth telling are the best paths to healing and triumph. I can't wait for the world to meet Sage and Len!"

--Estelle Laure, author of This Raging

"A heartfelt, poignant, and candid story about the power-and danger-of magical thinking, and the grounding strength of good friends."

--Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

"An unforgettable story about the power of friendship."--Martha Brockenbrough, author of The Game of Love and Death
"Carpenter's debut is written with a sure hand; her descriptions of anxiety and OCD are spot-on. Hand to fans of John Green immediately."--Booklist
"Equal parts humorous and heartwrenching. . . . A powerful, tender reminder of the importance of friendship in times of trauma."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"The link between the two units is advocacy, for it is of vital importance to have an advocate in life, whether this person be a family member or friend. This is a dynamic story about the power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit."--School Library Connection
"This evenly paced book shines a light on the power of friendship and a true friend's ability to hear a cry for help no matter how quiet.... For readers who enjoy realistic, emotional journeys such as John Corey Whaley's books or Nina LaCour's We Are Okay."--School Library Journal

Author Bio

A graduate of Vermont College of Fine Art's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program, Nora Shalaway Carpenter is a contributing author of the forthcoming YA anthology Rural Voices (Candlewick, Fall 2020) and author of the picture book Yoga Frog (Running Press, out now). Before she wrote books, Nora worked as associate editor of Wonderful West Virginia magazine and has been a Certified Yoga Teacher since 2012. Originally from rural West Virginia, she currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband, three young children, and the world's most patient dog and cat.