Freefall

By Ariela Anhalt

Book Overview

Three guys from the Briar Academy fencing team went up to the cliff that night for a hazing ritual--but only two came back alive. Now Luke's best friend, Hayden, is in jail and the pressure is on Luke... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152065679
• ISBN13: 9780152065676
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 6.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

I am always impressed with new authors. The idea of all the hard work involved in writing a book, and then putting it out there for public criticism for the first time, must take an amazing amount of courage. It is especially impressive when I turn to the info on the back cover and see that the author is a 19-year-old sophomore in college. That's the case with a new release called FREEFALL. Just how tough are you? When life hits you with a father who commits suicide and a mother who can't seem to get past it, how do you handle the other tough stuff that comes along? Ask Luke Prescott. One might think that Luke has it all. He attends a fancy boarding school and has hopes of attending a nice college. Money isn't really an issue for him or for the friends who surround him at Briar Academy. He and his best friend and roommate, Hayden, are on the fencing team, enjoy the company of the occasional attractive female, and both get excellent grades. What could go wrong? Although Luke feels he knows Hayden pretty well, Hayden has been acting strange lately. When a new kid named Russell shows up and demonstrates his excellent fencing skills, Hayden doesn't seem able to cope. When Russell also moves in on Hayden's girlfriend, things come to a head. Unfortunately, Hayden's temper may have gotten the best of him during an initiation ritual that involves the new fencing team member and a jump from a nearby cliff. Luke finds himself faced with testifying either for or against Hayden at a trial accusing Hayden of killing Russell. He was there, but answering the question about what exactly happened is much harder than Luke ever imagined. Debut author Ariela Anhalt has crafted a sure winner. Readers will be drawn into the culture of Briar Academy with its cliques and rituals. Luke's family story adds depth and emotion that underline the complicated situation he faces at school. Anyone who gets involved in his story will no doubt find themselves measuring their own strength and convictions against those of Luke and several other characters. I look forward to seeing more from Ms. Anhalt in the future. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

terrific

Anhalt's novel hooks the reader immediately -- even one thoroughly senior to subjects and author. Her clever introductions of characters, crisp style, and interweave of plot keep tensions high enough that not only must one keep reading; it all lingers in mind long after. AK

loved it

This book is incredibly well written and well plotted -- it held my interest from beginning to end, even though I am well over the target age.

Gripping and Unpredictable Novel

Even eye-witness Luke is not certain what happended the night a boarding school hazing ritual leaves one boy dead and Luke's best friend on trial for murder. How well does Luke know either his friend or himself? And what does he owe to friendship and to the truth? Exploring teen-aged loyalties, self-understanding, and priorities, first-time novelist and college sophomore(!) Ariela Anhalt crafts a gripping and unpredictable story. Freefall's setting and themes invite comparison with John Knowles's classic A Separate Peace, and its inventive plot, compelling characters, and pitch-perfect dialogue revitalize the current prep-school genre and keep the reader turning the pages. Vividly depicting adolescent concerns and consequences, Freefall is a must-read for any teenager or former teenager.

So surreal, and oh so complicated

Freefall: to fall through the atmosphere without the aid of a device like a parachute. Freefall: the initiation rite of the fencing team of Briar boarding school. The plot seemed so simple. Luke and Hayden were best friends, roommates and fencing teammates. Enter Russell, the smug kid who moved to Briar from his old school in Texas. Russell was a good fencer, even though Hayden didn't want the obnoxious boy on their team. Hayden and Luke took Russell to the cliff from which students jumped, free falling to the water below, as their initiation rite. That's when it became surreal. Hayden and Russell had words once again, Hayden pushed Russell - one hand or two? and did Russell trip? - and Russell fell to his death. Was it an accident, murder, or premeditated murder? Only Hayden knew for sure. and protagonist Luke was the only witness. Woven into this strong plot are threads of high school romance, cliques, and the fencing team. Beautifully patterned, author Ariela Anhalt has a gift for storytelling and for understanding teenagers. Freefall is highly recommended for the reader who wants a young adult book about young adults, not about fluff.