Novel: If I Fall, If I Die

Michael Christie's debut novel is a heartfelt and wondrous tale about family, fear, and skateboarding, praised by author Karen Russell as "A bruiser of a tale...a death-defying coming-of-age story." At least not since he can remember, Will has never been outside. He has never gotten to know anyone other than his fiercely loving yet wildly eccentric agoraphobic mother who panics at the thought of opening the front door. Their world is filled with art, science experiments, and music but confined to their small house. Will's thirst for adventure cannot be contained, so he finally ventures outside, clad in a protective helmet and unsure of how to talk to other kids. He meets Jonah, an artsy loner who introduces him to the high-flying freedoms of skateboarding. Together, they search for a missing local boy, help a bedraggled vagabond, and evade a dangerous bootlegger. The adventure pulls Will far from the confines of his closed-off world and into the throes of early adulthood, exposing him to all the risks and uncertainties of everyday life. Michael Christie writes in buoyant, kinetic prose, delivering an emotionally resonant and keenly observed novel about mothers and sons, fears and uncertainties, and the lengths we'll go for those we love.

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