Over the Edge

by Laurie Gifford Adams

14 year old Dylan Westcott never expected that his family would move from Manhattan. But after Erik, his 6 year old brother with autism, nearly dies in a freak accident on a city street, the family relocates to rural western New York. In the blink of an eye, Dylan’s summer of freedom is stolen. Instead, he’ll be tied down taking care of Erik - with help from Scout, Erik’s new assistance dog. The one up side to the move is his new neighbor, Willow Anderson - a fun girl who challenges all the rules, not to mention, she’s irresistible. The only hitch is her brother, Brock, a dangerous and unstable bully.
Dylan’s protective nature surges when he learns Willow’s scars and bruises are the direct result of Brock’s abusive behavior. With Erik safe, Dylan vows to protect the girl he’s falling for.
And he’s falling hard. Willow is unlike any girl he’s ever met. While he admires her sense of adventure and love for animals, her rescue efforts are not only breaking the law, they’re becoming dangerous. When she hides the truth, Dylan’s trust is broken. Willow isn’t the angel he thought she was.
But he can’t shake his attraction to her, so standing up to the bully to protect her seems like the right thing – until it puts everything else, including his life, at risk. He wants to prove he’s man enough to keep Erik safe. He wants to maintain his personal integrity. He wants to teach a lesson to the worst bully he’s ever met. And he wants the girl.
But what if having it all means going Over the Edge?

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 24, 2014

About the author

Adams taught middle school English in Connecticut for 26 years before moving back to the Finger Lakes of western New York where she now works at her alma mater, Keuka College.

Writing and telling stories is her passion. She hopes her books not only entertain but also educate, in a subtle way, about contemporary issues everyday people face. Her characters come to life in a setting that's a mix of fact and fiction. Her books have become popular among teens and adults because the stories are "real".

She and her husband live on a small "farm" with horses, a dog and a cat. Many wild animals also enjoy roaming the farm, including coyotes, bear, fox, deer, wild turkeys, rabbits, and woodchucks.

She hopes her books find a place in your heart and that you'll share them with others.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, while written for teens, was read by an adult who loved it. It was gripping, suspenseful, moving, and on topic about bullying and autism. The author really did her research to educate the readers while holding our interest throughout the book. The main character moved from NYC to rural Upstate NY which is beautifully described while also highlighting key differences between urban and rural settings in a teen boy's life.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a book to share. The autism angle was unique. I think the author did justice to it. I enjoyed chuckling as the budding romance progressed. I appreciated the basic decency that flowed through the book. There was some tough issues in this book but they were dealt with realistically.

[Noelle Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a roller coaster of emotions. Almost had me in tears at the end. Highly recommend for teens/young adults who like an emotional romance book.