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The Fall
Before Luke came into his life, all Ben cared about was skateboarding, and whether his father would ever remember that he was alive. Then there was Luke, and it felt like he was being carried along on some sort of wave. But then Luke died, and everyone at school thinks it's his fault. Maybe it is. The Fall charts the lives of three boys as they deal with the death of their friend and brother. One turns to alcohol to escape his guilt. Another looks to a gang to replace what he's lost. Ben needs to find a way to reconcile his role in Luke's death and prove that he was not to blame. He must also learn that the man he will become is his to define.
197 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Nelson
31 books131 followersColleen Nelson is the author of YA fiction books Finding Hope (2016), 250 Hours (2015), The Fall (2013) and Tori by Design (2011). 'The Fall' and 'Tori by Design' both won the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award. 'The Fall' was also nominated for the White Pine Award. Currently living in Winnipeg with her husband, two young sons and three grown step-children, Colleen manages to eke out time to write everyday, but usually in the early morning after a strong cup of coffee. A junior high school teacher for ten years before having children, Colleen is familiar and comfortable with the tricky phase of life called 'adolescence'. Now a Teacher-Librarian in Winnipeg, Canada, Colleen is constantly on the look-out for books that will catch the attention of her reading-reluctant sons.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 16, 2018
Terrible book with characters the average teen simply cannot relate to.
May 9, 2013
I really did like this book. It was a short read dealing with the process of grieving, but somehow it was more than that. It looked at the nature of why people do what they do. There are no “bad” people, only broken visions of lost aspirations. For the most part I liked all the characters except Tessa/Tess (I can’t remember the way it was spelt). She was very contradictive, pointing out Ben’s flaws but failing to help him fix them. At one moment she seemed like the triumphant friend helping Ben brave the world, and the next, she cowers even greater than Ben. I couldn’t understand her. All the other characters were unique in their own way, and there was a key parallel between Taz and Cory. They both ran away from their problems and dealt with them in their own ways. They were very much alike in their own ways, but here is the thing. Cory’s ending felt rushed, almost as if it was false. Taz’s ending was genuine but Cory’s felt pieced together to create a happy ending for everyone. If his ending way left ambiguous or dark, then I would have enjoyed it a lot more. The other problem was the fact that Ben’s story was told in first person and the rest was in third person; it was as if Ben was somehow more important than everyone else in the story. I understand that he might have been the main character and all, but telling the story of Taz and Cory from the same perspective would have made them more real, solidifying and giving them substance. Other than those issues, I really like the novel. I will try and check out Colleen’s other novel as well. Many thanks to both her and Goodreads for providing me a signed copy of the book!
And P.S. I love the environment-friendly paper used.
And P.S. I love the environment-friendly paper used.
May 2, 2013
The book was difficult to put down. Any parent and teen could relate to this story which deals with grief, bullying and family dynamics. A very good read.
May 31, 2017
The Fall- A Story of Loss, Grief and Recovery
Colleen Nelson’s The Fall is a heart wrenching story that follows the lives of three teenage boys as they deal with the tragic death of their friend and brother after a fatal accident. A realistically written story, this book delves into the darkness of grief and demonstrates the different ways people respond to trauma.
The use of multiple perspectives throughout this novel allows the reader to examine the minds of each character and thoroughly understand their intentions. The main character, Ben, is a shy sixteen-year-old, who normally keeps to himself. He has one good friend, Tessa, with which he shares his strong passion for skateboarding. Then there’s Taz and Cory, two inseparable friends who happen to be the toughest kids in school, often terrorizing and bullying the other students. Finally, there’s Luke, Taz’s younger brother who loses his life due to an accident early on in the novel.
Synopsis:
After witnessing the tragedy of Luke’s death, the lives of Ben, Taz and Cory are changed forever. Taz turns to alcohol to escape the guilt of his brother’s death, Cory joins a gang to look for the acceptance he doesn’t feel at home, and Ben must find the strength to stand up for himself when he is wrongfully blamed for the death of his friend.
One of the main issues that arises in The Fall is substance abuse among teens. The four boys had been using drugs the day of Luke’s death and were looking for a place to secretly smoke weed. They decided to go to a nearby construction site and climbed a tall, unstable structure from which Luke falls to his death. If not for the presence of drugs in this situation, the boys may not have made such reckless and irrational decisions, and could have prevented the loss of Luke’s life.
This book was quite difficult to put down. A short read, it jumps back and forth between characters smoothly, keeping the reader interested and absorbed. The plot is realistic and believable, as it tackles real-life issues that readers can relate to. This powerfully written story shows the way death can affect individuals in different ways. An easy-to-read novel, I would recommend this book to young teens who are interested in a realistic and emotional story about the journey towards healing.
Colleen Nelson’s The Fall is a heart wrenching story that follows the lives of three teenage boys as they deal with the tragic death of their friend and brother after a fatal accident. A realistically written story, this book delves into the darkness of grief and demonstrates the different ways people respond to trauma.
The use of multiple perspectives throughout this novel allows the reader to examine the minds of each character and thoroughly understand their intentions. The main character, Ben, is a shy sixteen-year-old, who normally keeps to himself. He has one good friend, Tessa, with which he shares his strong passion for skateboarding. Then there’s Taz and Cory, two inseparable friends who happen to be the toughest kids in school, often terrorizing and bullying the other students. Finally, there’s Luke, Taz’s younger brother who loses his life due to an accident early on in the novel.
Synopsis:
After witnessing the tragedy of Luke’s death, the lives of Ben, Taz and Cory are changed forever. Taz turns to alcohol to escape the guilt of his brother’s death, Cory joins a gang to look for the acceptance he doesn’t feel at home, and Ben must find the strength to stand up for himself when he is wrongfully blamed for the death of his friend.
One of the main issues that arises in The Fall is substance abuse among teens. The four boys had been using drugs the day of Luke’s death and were looking for a place to secretly smoke weed. They decided to go to a nearby construction site and climbed a tall, unstable structure from which Luke falls to his death. If not for the presence of drugs in this situation, the boys may not have made such reckless and irrational decisions, and could have prevented the loss of Luke’s life.
This book was quite difficult to put down. A short read, it jumps back and forth between characters smoothly, keeping the reader interested and absorbed. The plot is realistic and believable, as it tackles real-life issues that readers can relate to. This powerfully written story shows the way death can affect individuals in different ways. An easy-to-read novel, I would recommend this book to young teens who are interested in a realistic and emotional story about the journey towards healing.
April 23, 2022
Good fall
October 5, 2013
The Fall by Colleen Nelson The Fall by Colleen Nelson was a pretty powerful read for me. It shows the way a death can affect different people in different ways. Where in one character, it gave him the strength to finally stand up for himself, in another it caused a downward spiral from which it seems there is no turning back, and in another, it strengthened a bond that was lost a long time ago.
Ben’s love for skateboarding is something that he can turn to, to escape his hurt and pain caused by a non-existent father who disappoints him time and time again, and with hopes and aspirations of being sponsored and becoming a pro skater, there isn’t much that will stop him from doing what he loves.
After a run in with school bullies Taz, Luke, and Cory, an act of “kindness” from Ben causes Luke to start befriending Luke. Unfortunately for Ben, hanging with Luke and his crew is not really his scene…drinking, drugs, and the trouble. But a fight with his best friend Tess is the deciding factor in Ben’s decision in hanging out with them.
But in the blink of an eye, Ben’s pretty quiet life is turned upside down after a tragic accident. But the accident doesn’t only affect Ben. It affects the new group he’s been hanging with, and some deal with it worse than others. Some end off veering down the wrong path, and into a darkness that sucks them deeper and deeper.
The Fall by fellow Winnipegger, Colleen Nelson, is a read that captured my attention and held it. Even though the book is a fairly quick read, the book ended pretty quick for me as I was completely engrossed in the story, and in the lives of the main character.
All of them have problems at home, which some readers will be able to connect with. Author, Colleen Nelson, does a fantastic job in showing the different lifestyles that these boys come from. The storyline in The Fall is one that cause many different emotions to come to surface. The way in which she shows just how awful fellow classmates can be is pretty shocking. How quickly their impressionable minds can be so quickly swayed was pretty shocking…and to be honest…very real.
I found my emotions running wild while reading The Fall. The way in which the author was able to spin my emotions sadness to happiness to fear in the blink of an eye was fantastic and left my head spinning. Her detailed descriptions of various events as they unfolded were done so well, that you can’t help but feel like you’re part of the story. I do wish that there was more in end. It ended pretty sudden, and left some questions unanswered for me. I know that there’s enough information presented that the reader can come to their own conclusions, but I still found myself wondering what happens to these characters.
I personally feel like this is a book that readers everywhere should experience. To see the impact of death, and to witness the strengths that people didn’t know they had until after tragedy strikes.
Ben’s love for skateboarding is something that he can turn to, to escape his hurt and pain caused by a non-existent father who disappoints him time and time again, and with hopes and aspirations of being sponsored and becoming a pro skater, there isn’t much that will stop him from doing what he loves.
After a run in with school bullies Taz, Luke, and Cory, an act of “kindness” from Ben causes Luke to start befriending Luke. Unfortunately for Ben, hanging with Luke and his crew is not really his scene…drinking, drugs, and the trouble. But a fight with his best friend Tess is the deciding factor in Ben’s decision in hanging out with them.
But in the blink of an eye, Ben’s pretty quiet life is turned upside down after a tragic accident. But the accident doesn’t only affect Ben. It affects the new group he’s been hanging with, and some deal with it worse than others. Some end off veering down the wrong path, and into a darkness that sucks them deeper and deeper.
The Fall by fellow Winnipegger, Colleen Nelson, is a read that captured my attention and held it. Even though the book is a fairly quick read, the book ended pretty quick for me as I was completely engrossed in the story, and in the lives of the main character.
All of them have problems at home, which some readers will be able to connect with. Author, Colleen Nelson, does a fantastic job in showing the different lifestyles that these boys come from. The storyline in The Fall is one that cause many different emotions to come to surface. The way in which she shows just how awful fellow classmates can be is pretty shocking. How quickly their impressionable minds can be so quickly swayed was pretty shocking…and to be honest…very real.
I found my emotions running wild while reading The Fall. The way in which the author was able to spin my emotions sadness to happiness to fear in the blink of an eye was fantastic and left my head spinning. Her detailed descriptions of various events as they unfolded were done so well, that you can’t help but feel like you’re part of the story. I do wish that there was more in end. It ended pretty sudden, and left some questions unanswered for me. I know that there’s enough information presented that the reader can come to their own conclusions, but I still found myself wondering what happens to these characters.
I personally feel like this is a book that readers everywhere should experience. To see the impact of death, and to witness the strengths that people didn’t know they had until after tragedy strikes.
June 16, 2013
Set around the tragic death of a teenager, 'The Fall' explores the effects it has on the boy's three friends. Each teen tries to deal with the tragedy in their own way, which often leads to some very bad choices. Colleen delves into the topic with extreme sensitivity and creates empathy for her characters.
She adeptly brings the three boys to life. The main character, Ben, turns to his passion for skateboarding after Luke's death in an attempt to put the tragedy behind him. Colleen's research into the sport is evident by the terminology and expressions her character uses when he is in 'Benjiland', what he calls the zone he enters when zooming along on his board.
The surviving brother feels he should have been the one to die, not the 'favourite son'. The tensions that arise because of that, push him away from his family instead of having them to lean on during the initial grieving period. He is essentially alone, dealing with the worst event of his young life.
The other friend shifts the blame for the accident onto Ben, hoping that will alleviate some of the guilt he feels. When that doesn't help, he turns to a local gang for the acceptance that he doesn't feel at home.
Each boy comes from a family in which the father is either out of the picture or rather ineffectual as a positive role model. One father died in a car accident that the son survived. Another is an alcoholic, giving the son the impression one can drink away their problems. The third is a 'Deadbeat Dad', bailing on his responsibilities as a father. As a result, the teens are put under greater stress, adding to the downward spiral of their lives. Will they be able to pull up in time to survive? That will be up to you to find out! :)
I will warn you, there may be times when you won't be able to read the words on the page through your tears! I just wanted to hug those boys and help them through their grief - and slap some of their parents! I strongly recommend you read this touching exploration into teen grief.
She adeptly brings the three boys to life. The main character, Ben, turns to his passion for skateboarding after Luke's death in an attempt to put the tragedy behind him. Colleen's research into the sport is evident by the terminology and expressions her character uses when he is in 'Benjiland', what he calls the zone he enters when zooming along on his board.
The surviving brother feels he should have been the one to die, not the 'favourite son'. The tensions that arise because of that, push him away from his family instead of having them to lean on during the initial grieving period. He is essentially alone, dealing with the worst event of his young life.
The other friend shifts the blame for the accident onto Ben, hoping that will alleviate some of the guilt he feels. When that doesn't help, he turns to a local gang for the acceptance that he doesn't feel at home.
Each boy comes from a family in which the father is either out of the picture or rather ineffectual as a positive role model. One father died in a car accident that the son survived. Another is an alcoholic, giving the son the impression one can drink away their problems. The third is a 'Deadbeat Dad', bailing on his responsibilities as a father. As a result, the teens are put under greater stress, adding to the downward spiral of their lives. Will they be able to pull up in time to survive? That will be up to you to find out! :)
I will warn you, there may be times when you won't be able to read the words on the page through your tears! I just wanted to hug those boys and help them through their grief - and slap some of their parents! I strongly recommend you read this touching exploration into teen grief.
December 21, 2013
A bit of a hollower 4 stars, closer to three.
I need to figure out what to do with these issue books. I feel that because they deal with certain subjects that they, and the characters, deserve some sort of sympathy. Normally pulling an emotional reaction out of me is grounds for a five star book, but here I feel that it wasn't the writing that caused the reaction, it was simply the subject.
Yes, I cared about the characters. I thought it was very interesting what was going on plot-wise (though very predictable). I really was interested in the various ways that people dealt with their grief. It was interesting how this affected them so much and how many different paths that they took. I really cared for the characters who went down those horrible paths, and how this was treated throughout the book. I feel that with a book like this, the ending's important. You have to make it realistic. I think that was done very well. It was a little heartbreaking to see this.
But other than certain scenes which shocked me, the writing was pretty bland. It was nothing special, it wasn't bad. It was interesting, but I wasn't fully invested in the book.
I seriously love the cover though.
I need to figure out what to do with these issue books. I feel that because they deal with certain subjects that they, and the characters, deserve some sort of sympathy. Normally pulling an emotional reaction out of me is grounds for a five star book, but here I feel that it wasn't the writing that caused the reaction, it was simply the subject.
Yes, I cared about the characters. I thought it was very interesting what was going on plot-wise (though very predictable). I really was interested in the various ways that people dealt with their grief. It was interesting how this affected them so much and how many different paths that they took. I really cared for the characters who went down those horrible paths, and how this was treated throughout the book. I feel that with a book like this, the ending's important. You have to make it realistic. I think that was done very well. It was a little heartbreaking to see this.
But other than certain scenes which shocked me, the writing was pretty bland. It was nothing special, it wasn't bad. It was interesting, but I wasn't fully invested in the book.
I seriously love the cover though.
April 21, 2014
Quite a good book that circled around the topics of bullying, depression and truth. The struggle for the truth to be heard in an environment that doesn't want to hear it. The people around Ben believed a lie and that was enough to start bullying him; which led him to be depressed. Nelson showed how hard it is to cope with the depression and bullying; but most importantly, getting what you deserve even though you aren't in the best spot to getting it.
One con is that I found this book a little too unrealistic. (Not wanting to spoil the book) Ben seems to easily get over the bullying and depression a little too quickly. A almost-friend died and he goes through depression, makes sense. He seems to have gotten over it after auditioning for this skate-board scholarship. I know all authors try to get that perfect happy ending, but this one was too unrealistic that it left me disappointed. When I was about 5-8 pages left of the book, I stopped and thought, "That's it? How is the author going to solve the problem in 5-8 pages?!" It wasn't a complete end but it was a dissatisfying one.
One con is that I found this book a little too unrealistic. (Not wanting to spoil the book) Ben seems to easily get over the bullying and depression a little too quickly. A almost-friend died and he goes through depression, makes sense. He seems to have gotten over it after auditioning for this skate-board scholarship. I know all authors try to get that perfect happy ending, but this one was too unrealistic that it left me disappointed. When I was about 5-8 pages left of the book, I stopped and thought, "That's it? How is the author going to solve the problem in 5-8 pages?!" It wasn't a complete end but it was a dissatisfying one.
October 15, 2013
Story about how young boys deal with grief and poor father-son relationships.
Cry Anderson and the Dumont brothers (Taz and Luke are the school bullies. Luke the younger brother idolizes his older brother Taz. Cory has guilt feelings over surviving a car accident when his Dad dies.
Cory decides they should target Ben, the skateboarder kid.
Ben and Luke like each other but when Cory leads the way on a high beam in a construction site, Luke loses his balance and falls to his death when Cory throws a stone that scares some birds into flight. Luke looses his balance and falls to his death. Cory goes on Facebook and blames Ben.
Coarse language but the author has created a very realistic story even if it is fiction.
Cry Anderson and the Dumont brothers (Taz and Luke are the school bullies. Luke the younger brother idolizes his older brother Taz. Cory has guilt feelings over surviving a car accident when his Dad dies.
Cory decides they should target Ben, the skateboarder kid.
Ben and Luke like each other but when Cory leads the way on a high beam in a construction site, Luke loses his balance and falls to his death when Cory throws a stone that scares some birds into flight. Luke looses his balance and falls to his death. Cory goes on Facebook and blames Ben.
Coarse language but the author has created a very realistic story even if it is fiction.
September 20, 2015
I read this book b/c my teenage daughter read it for English class. Also, I knew it was based (loosely) on a death that happened to a neighbor of mine. I think it is a great book for what it is...a teenage mini novel..it could definitely open up some important discussions in the classroom, and was a pretty interesting read. I am only giving it 3 stars b/c it was too simplistically written for me, but I think for a 12-16 year old it would be a great read (but for a grade 12 assigned reading? A little easy for my taste)
March 31, 2014
Definitely didn't like it. I finished reading it a month or so ago in a day during school hours. I just hated the main character, Ben. Just overall kind of a jerk to his friend. Also, because of how depressing it was the whole time, I just didn't feel all that interested at all. Just angst, angst, angst. And I know the subject is really hard to address, however I thought it could've been done much much better.
June 10, 2014
A 2014 White Pine Award nominee. A very good book that deals with skateboarding, bullying, wanting to fit in, lack of strength to stand up for one's self, following the crowd, etc. Nelson probes the lives of the three boys who witnessed "the fall." I cannot believe that a boy who doesn't stand up for much, would allow the rumors to continue about his guilt without saying something. In spite of that, I would recommend it for young adults.
December 12, 2013
I loved this book. At first I was hesitant to start reading, because it seemed like an overrated storyline, nothing too relatable for an ordinary teenager. But the ending was very unpreditable making it interesting to read. I honestly couldn't put the book down. As well, the transition between the different character's persectives was very smooth.
April 7, 2014
This book examines the way three male teens deal with such issues as grief, bullying, guilt, and family dynamics. Each one makes poor choices in coming to terms with their guilt and tragic loss. I recommend this for any teen coping with guilt and loss or any parent trying to help a teen deal with such emotions.
May 16, 2013
I really liked this book!
This book deals with how 3 teenagers handled tragic events. Some deal with it better than others. I was glad that the character "Ben" realized that speaking out and defending himself was in his best interest.
This book deals with how 3 teenagers handled tragic events. Some deal with it better than others. I was glad that the character "Ben" realized that speaking out and defending himself was in his best interest.
May 8, 2013
An easy to read, good for preteens. It does read like an after school special but it holds the storyline well. The end is predictable but the journey there is well worth the read.
May 29, 2013
I couldn't stop reading. And then, later, I couldn't stop crying.
The author does a really great job getting into the emotional
journey towards healing of the three different male characters.
The author does a really great job getting into the emotional
journey towards healing of the three different male characters.
October 20, 2013
After 26 pages, I couldn't get hooked even a bit. Did Not Finish.
November 17, 2013
great story
July 6, 2015
I couldn't even finish this book.. Not very exciting to say the least
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews