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Face at the Edge of the World: A Haunting Young Adult Novel About Retracing a Friend's Final Weeks After Suicide
Haunted by Charlie Curtis's suicide, Jed sets out to retrace his friend's last weeks and discover why Charlie took his own life.
- GenresYoung Adult
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
311 books409 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 29, 2018
I actually liked this book. I thought I was going to hate it.
May 22, 2013
PEACE OR PIECES OF TRUTH AT THE PRECIPICE
This story about teenage suicide is narrated in the first person, thus intensifying the emotions, by 17-year-old Jed Lennox, who is devastated by the senselss hanging of his best friend. These coastside California kids have more on their minds than surfing and hang-gliding. Much action and self-scrutiny is crammed into about a week, so the unity of time also incrases literary tension.
Suicide is obviously a depressing topic, but this book reads swiftly and seems almost a mystery. WHY did Jeff's best friend, Charlie--a gifted writer with great promise--ruthlessly take his own life? Various theories emerge as the high school senior is suddenly thrust into the role of detective, coping with adult problems without parental or police guidance. The trail of emotional discovery snakes its way through a maze of intrigue and deception, guilt and despair. Jed encounters a secret girlfriend, a gang of dopers, grief-stircken parents, a private code called Gemini Man and young teens delu! ged by the voracious media.
Jed is torn between loyalty to his friend's memory and the gnawing suspicion that he may have been holding out, that Charlie was involved in something shabby, even immoral and illegal. But Jed is supposed to know him better than anyone, so of course he knew all about his friend's private life. Then how could something like this happen? Did Jed fail his buddy somehow, by not recognizing the pre-Suicide signs?
All he can do now is grimly follow up the post Suicide clues, which have him searching for the 2nd half of Charlie's last message, plus "interviewing" the people whose lives have intersected Charlie's. He learns a lot about himself in this uncomfortable new role, as he tries to cope with grief, rage and his own fears. Fortunately he gets emotional stability from his faithful girlfriend. Jed recognizes the value of friendship and trust, and appreicates the kindness of neighborly adults, as he staggers through this web of horror during his father's absence.
But he honors his fri! end's memory (and figures out the anguished WHY of Charlie's distraught parents) by his relentless pursuit of the Truth, so that The Hawk may go free. Will Jed prove true to his friend's last wish, despite the personal and social cost? How much should one get involved in another person's dark secret, or sacrifice to retain one's personal sense of Justice? Jed is the only one who can free the kids attending his school dubbed Suicide High. A fascinating and poignant read.
(August 10, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
This story about teenage suicide is narrated in the first person, thus intensifying the emotions, by 17-year-old Jed Lennox, who is devastated by the senselss hanging of his best friend. These coastside California kids have more on their minds than surfing and hang-gliding. Much action and self-scrutiny is crammed into about a week, so the unity of time also incrases literary tension.
Suicide is obviously a depressing topic, but this book reads swiftly and seems almost a mystery. WHY did Jeff's best friend, Charlie--a gifted writer with great promise--ruthlessly take his own life? Various theories emerge as the high school senior is suddenly thrust into the role of detective, coping with adult problems without parental or police guidance. The trail of emotional discovery snakes its way through a maze of intrigue and deception, guilt and despair. Jed encounters a secret girlfriend, a gang of dopers, grief-stircken parents, a private code called Gemini Man and young teens delu! ged by the voracious media.
Jed is torn between loyalty to his friend's memory and the gnawing suspicion that he may have been holding out, that Charlie was involved in something shabby, even immoral and illegal. But Jed is supposed to know him better than anyone, so of course he knew all about his friend's private life. Then how could something like this happen? Did Jed fail his buddy somehow, by not recognizing the pre-Suicide signs?
All he can do now is grimly follow up the post Suicide clues, which have him searching for the 2nd half of Charlie's last message, plus "interviewing" the people whose lives have intersected Charlie's. He learns a lot about himself in this uncomfortable new role, as he tries to cope with grief, rage and his own fears. Fortunately he gets emotional stability from his faithful girlfriend. Jed recognizes the value of friendship and trust, and appreicates the kindness of neighborly adults, as he staggers through this web of horror during his father's absence.
But he honors his fri! end's memory (and figures out the anguished WHY of Charlie's distraught parents) by his relentless pursuit of the Truth, so that The Hawk may go free. Will Jed prove true to his friend's last wish, despite the personal and social cost? How much should one get involved in another person's dark secret, or sacrifice to retain one's personal sense of Justice? Jed is the only one who can free the kids attending his school dubbed Suicide High. A fascinating and poignant read.
(August 10, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
May 15, 2022
Well written and great premise however the ending I felt could’ve been a bit expanded with more closure.
Potential for bigger story on that school/town with all these tragedies.
Potential for bigger story on that school/town with all these tragedies.
March 13, 2008
This book is about a young man who commits suicide. His best friend, through out the whole story, tries to figure out why...? His life was good and from his best friends eyes there wasn't anything wrong in his life. So why did he do it?....you will have to find out for yourself...!
To me this story was predictable and boring. Honestly, if i had none any better i wouldn't of read it.
To me this story was predictable and boring. Honestly, if i had none any better i wouldn't of read it.
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February 19, 2009JAR6+Bun
March 19, 2012
I found it and read it again! :)
December 17, 2012
twisted
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews