Fallout

by Nikki Tate

Tara's sister died a year ago, on the day that Tara didn't answer her phone when Hannah called. And Hannah stepped in front of a bus. Now Tara lives with the guilt of wondering if things would be different if she had been there when Hannah needed her most. Competing in slam poetry competitions is the only way Tara can keep her sister's memory alive and deal with all the unanswered questions. But at some point, Tara is going to have to let Hannah rest in peace, and she will need to find a way to move on.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Ebooks, Realistic Fiction, Grief

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Nikki Tate was born in Birmingham, England, but spent her childhood roaming the globe. In Australia, Nikki battled a tarantula, in Banff she was chased by a mother black bear, and in Ontario she wrestled with a Canada goose.

Despite the fact that she has been kicked, bitten, stung, pecked, and sprayed, she has never been able to resist injured, lost, or lonely-looking animals. Over the years, her menagerie has included horses, dogs, cats, birds, snakes, squirrels, rabbits, rats, gerbils, spiders, crayfish, hamsters, and a pond full of koi fish. These critters and their antics often find their way into her stories. Not surprisingly, Nikki's favourite book when she was little was Black Beauty, though she also loved The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and The Hobbit.

Nikki has always enjoyed writing stories and still has the notebooks she used when she was eight years old. She made up stories about animals, plane crashes, outhouses, and Doctor Dolittle's travels in outer space.

A born ham, Nikki danced, acted, and modeled her way through her younger years. She still loves to perform, most often as a storyteller. She also enjoys camping, kayaking, horseback riding, travel, and building big things with sticks and string. Nikki lives on a tiny farm on Vancouver Island in British Columbia with a collection of furred, feathered, and finned creatures.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this YA novel with my son for his English class, and I became absorbed in it! The book is about a young woman dealing with guilt over her sister’s suicide. Tara blames herself for Hannah’s death, and the guilt is overwhelming her. She copes by expressing her feelings through poetry and performing the poems during slam competitions. She is fixated on winning the final competition, but will that alleviate her pain? This book is very moving. The poems throughout are harsh and full of pain. It was challenging to read at times, especially as a parent, but the author handled the topic of suicide in a sensitive manner.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start off by saying I am definitely NOT the target audience for this book.

I hate poetry, mainly because I prefer my books to be more to the point, so I have zero patience with poetry.

This book is structured in a way where the lead character is living life, then suddenly a poem shows up in her head, that can be associated with whatever few sentences the main character just described. Sure, these are all "in the name" of competing in poetry competitions but, for me, it was more along the lines of "less poetry" more real scenarios. The book felt very slow.

This book is possibly great for someone who appreciates poetry, but that is not me.

[Saje · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF wasn't for me. No real reason. I'm sure it will resonate with the right readership.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tara's sister, Hannah, committed suicide by stepping in front of a bus. To deal with the emotional pain and the guilt of not answering her phone when Hannah called on the day she died, Tara writes poetry and competes in poetry slams.

Mature, intense content is handled thoughtfully in this Orca Soundings book. Tara struggles with the same questions that readers might if they know someone who committed suicide. Descriptions are not graphic but does create vivid mind images.

[jester · Rating 1 out of 5]

the poetry in this was so dragged out, painfully edgy and uncreative. It did next to nothing developing the story narratively, which is a huge disappointment since the entire backstory with the main character and her sister is told mostly through the poetry.

If there is one good thing to take from this book, it made me motivated that *I* can write better than this. I am not a poet. That's how mediocre everything was.

[Manoshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so short yet powerful. Tara’s story about her sisters death and her poetry were very impactful. I wish there was more backstory to why her sister died but I still really enjoyed this book! I was always pulled back into it even when I haven’t been reading it for awhile which doesn’t often happen! I also think the poems were well done. Overall a good read !

[Shannon Rickert · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was not the orca im use to. i didnt like this one very much.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and eloquent!! Realy talented poetry!!

[Wordy Nerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my style of reading.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good hi/lo book, especially for poetry-writers!

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short and not enough detail. It was okay, but I think the story was good enough that I'd like to have read more from both Tara's and Hannah's perspectives.