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The Fall
Through his journal a boy deals with the death of a classmate, who committed suicide as a result of bullying.
The summer before school starts, Sam's friend and classmate Morgan Mallen kills herself. Morgan had been bullied. Maybe she kissed the wrong boy. Or said the wrong thing. What about that selfie that made the rounds? Morgan was this, and Morgan was that. But who really knows what happened?
As Sam explores the events leading up to the tragedy, he must face a difficult and life-changing question: Why did he keep his friendship with Morgan a secret? And could he have done something—anything—to prevent her final actions?
As he did in Bystander, James Preller takes an issue that faces every student and school in the country, and makes it personal, accessible, and real.
The summer before school starts, Sam's friend and classmate Morgan Mallen kills herself. Morgan had been bullied. Maybe she kissed the wrong boy. Or said the wrong thing. What about that selfie that made the rounds? Morgan was this, and Morgan was that. But who really knows what happened?
As Sam explores the events leading up to the tragedy, he must face a difficult and life-changing question: Why did he keep his friendship with Morgan a secret? And could he have done something—anything—to prevent her final actions?
As he did in Bystander, James Preller takes an issue that faces every student and school in the country, and makes it personal, accessible, and real.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2015
27 people are currently reading
2495 people want to read
About the author
James Preller
203 books142 followersJames Preller (born 1961) is the children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in 1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced (through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986. Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with his wife Lisa and their three children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesp...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesp...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
June 17, 2019
3 Stars.
So I liked this one, I enjoyed the journal entry style of writing. I feel the characters could have used more background and depth but I did find that they were likeable. It was a quick read and I did find myself wanting to read more which also lead me to wish this was a longer one with more detail and story added because I really thought the premise was interesting.
So I liked this one, I enjoyed the journal entry style of writing. I feel the characters could have used more background and depth but I did find that they were likeable. It was a quick read and I did find myself wanting to read more which also lead me to wish this was a longer one with more detail and story added because I really thought the premise was interesting.
September 11, 2015
3.5 stars
The Fall by James Preller is one of those books that are difficult to read and even more difficult to rate, but nevertheless extremely important. It addresses some crucial issues and subtly points out things we should all keep in mind. There are many books that deal with the subject of bullying, but usually it’s from the victim’s perspective or even the bully’s. Rarely does it come from a passive observer and reluctant participant, someone who does things they’re not proud of due to peer pressure and fear. In that, The Fall is very unique and successful in explaining how a series of small things can amount to something insurmountable.
The story isn’t told in the usual, linear narrative. It’s a diary of sorts, a collection of jumbled thoughts and poems written by a boy so deeply affected by a schoolmate’s suicide. His voice was done extremely well, the unapologetic, defiant parts mixed with desperation, regret and shame. Sam doesn’t hide his part in the girl’s suicide, but he reveals the full extent of it slowly, and through tragedy, he slowly builds himself into a much stronger individual.
The best part of Preller’s work is a very clear portrayal of the distance between adults and teens, especially in such situations, the ever-present ‘us and them mentality. Sam is forced to listen to so many adults in the aftermath of this tragedy, and he even knows that what they’re saying is important, but it’s just background noise from him because no matter how useful it might be, it’s coming from the wrong source.
Overall, The Fall misses some marks but gets some so very right. It may not be obviously, superficially emotional, but it’s a strong, important read that doesn’t fully reveal itself until the very end.
July 21, 2015
Keep a handkerchief close when reading this story. We all know how big a deal bullying is in our schools today. This is the journal kept by a boy about a bullying episode in his school.
Morgan Mallen killed herself. And Sam Proctor is trying to come to terms with it. He knew her probably the best of any of the kids in their school. But he was ashamed to admit it and he joined in the online bullying. Peer pressure and the fear of having the bullies turn on him had him doing things that he knew were wrong. Morgan and Sam were friends who met while walking their dogs and who hung out together once in a while. Sam says it was fourteen times.
Now, with the encouragement of a guidance counselor, Sam is writing a journal. He says he'll spend fifteen minutes a day putting down his thoughts. Some days it is a recounting of time they spent together. Some days it is a poem. Some days he is thinking about what he did wrong or what he should have done. Some days the page has just a few words.
Gradually, over the course of a school year, Sam grows and comes to some conclusions about Morgan and himself. He comes to know himself better and makes some decisions but he never does really understand why Morgan made the choice she made.
This is a very wonderful and thought-provoking story that will be in my middle school media center this fall.
Morgan Mallen killed herself. And Sam Proctor is trying to come to terms with it. He knew her probably the best of any of the kids in their school. But he was ashamed to admit it and he joined in the online bullying. Peer pressure and the fear of having the bullies turn on him had him doing things that he knew were wrong. Morgan and Sam were friends who met while walking their dogs and who hung out together once in a while. Sam says it was fourteen times.
Now, with the encouragement of a guidance counselor, Sam is writing a journal. He says he'll spend fifteen minutes a day putting down his thoughts. Some days it is a recounting of time they spent together. Some days it is a poem. Some days he is thinking about what he did wrong or what he should have done. Some days the page has just a few words.
Gradually, over the course of a school year, Sam grows and comes to some conclusions about Morgan and himself. He comes to know himself better and makes some decisions but he never does really understand why Morgan made the choice she made.
This is a very wonderful and thought-provoking story that will be in my middle school media center this fall.
August 13, 2020
I found this book at my local Dollar store and didn't really expect much from it. My expectations were exceeded and I'm glad to have read it.
This book packs a punch as it is a story about a boy named Sam who feels guilty after a girl he bullied kills herself. He sets a task to start writing in a journal everyday for at least 15 minutes.
The story is set-up as the journal entries which made it easy to read. The chapters were also really short so I blew through this book fast. This book deals with some serious issues and shows the aftermath when something traumatic happens. I would have liked more growth from the other bullies in the story but since it was Sam's journal, it would've been hard to include that in the story. I still enjoyed it for what it was though.
This book packs a punch as it is a story about a boy named Sam who feels guilty after a girl he bullied kills herself. He sets a task to start writing in a journal everyday for at least 15 minutes.
The story is set-up as the journal entries which made it easy to read. The chapters were also really short so I blew through this book fast. This book deals with some serious issues and shows the aftermath when something traumatic happens. I would have liked more growth from the other bullies in the story but since it was Sam's journal, it would've been hard to include that in the story. I still enjoyed it for what it was though.
August 5, 2015
This book - short but big impact. THE FALL by James Preller talks about a nationwide problem - bullying in high school and it's effects on human beings. Told in the interesting perspective of a teenage boys journal, THE FALL brings forth an irksome feeling long after the words end.
RELEASE DATE: September 2015
PUBLISHER: Feiwel and Friends
DISCLAIMER: Novel sent via NetGallery in exchange for a honest review
SYNOPSIS: Through his journal a boy deals with the death of a classmate, who committed suicide as a result of bullying. The summer before school starts, Sam's friend and classmate Morgan Mallen kills herself. Morgan had been bullied. Maybe she kissed the wrong boy. Or said the wrong thing. What about that selfie that made the rounds? Morgan was this, and Morgan was that. But who really knows what happened? As Sam explores the events leading up to the tragedy, he must face a difficult and life-changing question: Why did he keep his friendship with Morgan a secret? And could he have done something—anything—to prevent her final actions?
REVIEW: This novel is short - I read it in 1 hour, tops. Don't kid yourself though - there's a lot of power in these words.
Sam (Sam, I am) is a normal teenage boy, attending high school and trying to fit into the popular crowd. Being popular means making Morgan, a fellow teenaged high-schooler's, life a living hell. Sam is not immune from partaking in bullying Morgan - both on her social media feeds and in person - but he finds himself in a private kinship with the girl. When Morgan throws herself off the water tower in town, Sam is both shocked and racked with guilt. Told through the perspective of a journal, you get first hand insight into Sam's world and just where Morgan fit in.
What I enjoyed the most is the fact that the novel is written like a teenage boy's journal. "Chapters" are less than 2 to 3 pages long (most of the time), and each chapter has a header. Some chapters are a mere stringing of words together. It's written in the flow in which a teenager would write a journal, and with the anguish that comes with those teenage years. It's a different perspective and outcome on this type of story, and one that I enjoyed reading.
The voice of Sam is brilliant - both saddened and guilt-ridden over Morgan's death, he really pours his soul into the journal. He also brings up a lot of hard hitting issues that are extremely relevant today: how culpable are you to words you've said online? How much strength do those words have? Is there a line between joking around and serious harm? Sam goes through all these questions in his journal, in a way that is reflective of who he is as a character (after all, he is a flawed narrator).
I would recommend this novel be used in high school settings - it tackles all the major issues known today and really showcases the sting of words and the after effects of suicide. A great, and very deep and dark, read.
RELEASE DATE: September 2015
PUBLISHER: Feiwel and Friends
DISCLAIMER: Novel sent via NetGallery in exchange for a honest review
SYNOPSIS: Through his journal a boy deals with the death of a classmate, who committed suicide as a result of bullying. The summer before school starts, Sam's friend and classmate Morgan Mallen kills herself. Morgan had been bullied. Maybe she kissed the wrong boy. Or said the wrong thing. What about that selfie that made the rounds? Morgan was this, and Morgan was that. But who really knows what happened? As Sam explores the events leading up to the tragedy, he must face a difficult and life-changing question: Why did he keep his friendship with Morgan a secret? And could he have done something—anything—to prevent her final actions?
REVIEW: This novel is short - I read it in 1 hour, tops. Don't kid yourself though - there's a lot of power in these words.
Sam (Sam, I am) is a normal teenage boy, attending high school and trying to fit into the popular crowd. Being popular means making Morgan, a fellow teenaged high-schooler's, life a living hell. Sam is not immune from partaking in bullying Morgan - both on her social media feeds and in person - but he finds himself in a private kinship with the girl. When Morgan throws herself off the water tower in town, Sam is both shocked and racked with guilt. Told through the perspective of a journal, you get first hand insight into Sam's world and just where Morgan fit in.
What I enjoyed the most is the fact that the novel is written like a teenage boy's journal. "Chapters" are less than 2 to 3 pages long (most of the time), and each chapter has a header. Some chapters are a mere stringing of words together. It's written in the flow in which a teenager would write a journal, and with the anguish that comes with those teenage years. It's a different perspective and outcome on this type of story, and one that I enjoyed reading.
The voice of Sam is brilliant - both saddened and guilt-ridden over Morgan's death, he really pours his soul into the journal. He also brings up a lot of hard hitting issues that are extremely relevant today: how culpable are you to words you've said online? How much strength do those words have? Is there a line between joking around and serious harm? Sam goes through all these questions in his journal, in a way that is reflective of who he is as a character (after all, he is a flawed narrator).
I would recommend this novel be used in high school settings - it tackles all the major issues known today and really showcases the sting of words and the after effects of suicide. A great, and very deep and dark, read.
December 30, 2019
The Fall is about a girl named Morgan Mallen commiting suicide. This book is told from the perspective of Sam (I cannot figure out his last name.)
Morgan was bullied a lot at her school. A girl name Athena made it so everyone hated her. Athena is the most popular/pretty person at Sam's school.
Athena and Morgan used to be friends, but Morgan secretly went out with a guy that Athena had a crush on. I thought that it was a little dumb that Athena got everyone to make Morgan's life bad because she went out with a guy that nobody else was dating.
Morgan killed herself by jumping off a water tower, hence the name of the book, The Fall.
When I finished this book I felt kind of sad. Not because I felt bad for the characters of this book, but because I know how much this happens in real life. It also made me wonder if anyone I know would commit suicide.
There is one line of this book that I really liked because I find it true, (by the way, I don't know if this is the exact line so forgive me if I am wrong,) "Reading is the most alone thing in the world." I think that this is true for me, but it might not be true for you.
I liked the school counselor because he always seemed to be right. I also like how good he is at his job.
This book is on the shorter side so I read it in about two hours. It is written in the form of a journal, but without the "Dear Diary," and other stuff.
While I read this, I found the paragraph about Morgan liking to take baths. After I read this line, I took a bath reading the rest of the book.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, sad read.
-Sam Kuntz
Morgan was bullied a lot at her school. A girl name Athena made it so everyone hated her. Athena is the most popular/pretty person at Sam's school.
Athena and Morgan used to be friends, but Morgan secretly went out with a guy that Athena had a crush on. I thought that it was a little dumb that Athena got everyone to make Morgan's life bad because she went out with a guy that nobody else was dating.
Morgan killed herself by jumping off a water tower, hence the name of the book, The Fall.
When I finished this book I felt kind of sad. Not because I felt bad for the characters of this book, but because I know how much this happens in real life. It also made me wonder if anyone I know would commit suicide.
There is one line of this book that I really liked because I find it true, (by the way, I don't know if this is the exact line so forgive me if I am wrong,) "Reading is the most alone thing in the world." I think that this is true for me, but it might not be true for you.
I liked the school counselor because he always seemed to be right. I also like how good he is at his job.
This book is on the shorter side so I read it in about two hours. It is written in the form of a journal, but without the "Dear Diary," and other stuff.
While I read this, I found the paragraph about Morgan liking to take baths. After I read this line, I took a bath reading the rest of the book.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, sad read.
-Sam Kuntz
July 14, 2015
We get the heart wrenching opportunity to read Sam's journal. After a suicide at his school rocks his world, his counselor suggests keeping a journal. It is within this journal that we learn Sam's participation in the cyber-bullying that led Morgan to her untimely death and his semi friendship with the deceased. A high school student pursued and ridiculed online by fellow students in a supposed game. There is nothing funny about bullying and though many participate, her death leaves the students in shame and horror. The way that they anonymously treated her. The isolation at school. The lack of friends. The "fat ugly bitch" name calling. Sam tries to come to terms with his part. First, he must be broken before he can be repaired. It is a great book and provides an honest look at the reality of bullying. Must read for all teenagers.
August 10, 2017
I loved the voice in this book.
Sam feels guilty. He probably is guilty. But he also needs to find a way to cope with this guilt.
Lovers and fans of the current Thirteen Reasons Why phenomenon will enjoy this swift read with brief chapters and an impactful, dark, biting tone.
Morgan killed herself and Sam might have motivated her to do so because he wasn't brave enough to avoid the pressure of trying to please the popular kids in school.
In the beginning of the book, Sam mentions that he'd won a writing contest the years before and his talent with words is highlighted throughout the story. Powerful lines express his humor and avoidance and regret and discovery.
My favorite is, "I grew up thinking that deep down inside me there waited the real boy, huddled in a corner. And if I just chip-chip-chipped away at it, it would finally be revealed: the true me" (190).
Sam feels guilty. He probably is guilty. But he also needs to find a way to cope with this guilt.
Lovers and fans of the current Thirteen Reasons Why phenomenon will enjoy this swift read with brief chapters and an impactful, dark, biting tone.
Morgan killed herself and Sam might have motivated her to do so because he wasn't brave enough to avoid the pressure of trying to please the popular kids in school.
In the beginning of the book, Sam mentions that he'd won a writing contest the years before and his talent with words is highlighted throughout the story. Powerful lines express his humor and avoidance and regret and discovery.
My favorite is, "I grew up thinking that deep down inside me there waited the real boy, huddled in a corner. And if I just chip-chip-chipped away at it, it would finally be revealed: the true me" (190).
June 10, 2020
The Fall by James Preller is a good book. Preller does a very good job of explaining the characters, which allows you to picture the characters as if they are real. This book really allows the reader to look in the mind of the character and his thoughts. I really enjoyed how the book was set up like a journal because it allows you to know more about the character. I have not read many books with this layout so I was not sure if I would like it, but I greatly enjoyed it.
In The Fall, James Preller uses a large amount of figurative language. For example, in the chapter ¨Super Awkward¨, ¨It was like a peacock exploded on it. Neon barf. He wore a thick, droopy mustache¨. When reading this part of the book, the reader can really imagine the man being described. Next, in the chapter ¨The Shrine¨, there is a large amount of figurative language, ¨Pink-strings, heart-shaped balloons, hand-made friendship bracelets, photographs...¨. In this chapter the reader can imagine what the shrine for Morgan Mallen looks like because of the large amount of figurative language that Preller includes. When reading this part, I felt as though I was looking at the shrine. Finally, in the chapter ¨The Water Tower¨ it states, ¨There´s a big fence there now, topped off with barbed wire, and a locked gate¨. When reading this chapter, the reader feels as though they can see the water tower because Preller describes it so well. Overall, this entire book had a large amount of figurative language in it.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone within my age range. It is a great book and I believe that anyone would enjoy it.
In The Fall, James Preller uses a large amount of figurative language. For example, in the chapter ¨Super Awkward¨, ¨It was like a peacock exploded on it. Neon barf. He wore a thick, droopy mustache¨. When reading this part of the book, the reader can really imagine the man being described. Next, in the chapter ¨The Shrine¨, there is a large amount of figurative language, ¨Pink-strings, heart-shaped balloons, hand-made friendship bracelets, photographs...¨. In this chapter the reader can imagine what the shrine for Morgan Mallen looks like because of the large amount of figurative language that Preller includes. When reading this part, I felt as though I was looking at the shrine. Finally, in the chapter ¨The Water Tower¨ it states, ¨There´s a big fence there now, topped off with barbed wire, and a locked gate¨. When reading this chapter, the reader feels as though they can see the water tower because Preller describes it so well. Overall, this entire book had a large amount of figurative language in it.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone within my age range. It is a great book and I believe that anyone would enjoy it.
May 17, 2019
In diary entries, teenage Sam (Sam I am. I am Sam) combines poetry and prose to deal with his complicated feelings for classmate Morgan, in the wake of her suicide. What role did he play in her death, and in her life? Were they friends, more, or something else altogether? Sam tackles these issues with gut-wrenching honesty, weighing whether there is a difference in knowing someone exists and truly seeing them.
This is a quick read, that asks some hard questions, and has a better my appetite for more Preller. Highly recommended.
This is a quick read, that asks some hard questions, and has a better my appetite for more Preller. Highly recommended.
July 16, 2024
Yea so this was a really quick, straightforward read! Wasn't very groundbreaking reading the thoughts of a teenage boy but I found him to be very endearing and ended up enjoying reading his journal entries. I wish they were a bit longer sometimes and more fleshed out, as the longest one I swear was only like 2 or 3 pages.
September 22, 2022
Suggested by one of my students, I agreed to read it before she checked it back into the library. I finished it in one sitting. Definitely had some teary-eyed moments and I also began to miss Morgan. The book is written in a journal entry format with small chapters.
July 30, 2024
“You did not die.
I still see your passing light
In the fireflies
That flicker and fade
Outside my window
In the invincible night.
I guess I will remember
Everything.”
Book made me cry and now I am sad 😭
I still see your passing light
In the fireflies
That flicker and fade
Outside my window
In the invincible night.
I guess I will remember
Everything.”
Book made me cry and now I am sad 😭
January 5, 2018
Very good! Recommend it because it is very entreating and pulls you in every which direction.
July 10, 2020
Pretty good book. I read it in a day. I really like how it was written. The only thing is I wish there was a little more to it. Wasn't quiet enough for me but I always want more.
March 17, 2016
Anyone who's ever uttered--or posted--an unkind comment about someone else--and that would probably be most of us--needs to read this book. Despite the old adage that sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us, words wound deeply, and for an already-fragile middle grade girl, they send her over the edge. Morgan Mallen kills herself by jumping from a water tower after months of relentless cyberbullying and name calling at school. The narrator, Sam Proctor, has no idea what started the campaign against the girl, but he does know who started it--the class teen queen, Athena Luikin, and he has some idea how he and his classmates got reeled into the plot against Morgan. After her suicide, he is consumed with guilt, at first trying to distance himself from what happened, and then as he records his thoughts in his journal, facing head-on his own culpability. But guilt can only take a person so far, and eventually, Sam comes to realize that being kinder tomorrow may be the best way to atone for his part in Morgan's death. Readers will find much to discuss in this book since Morgan had plenty of reasons to live but also seemed inordinately preoccupied with social media and what others thought about her. While it might be easy to dismiss her feelings, she is exactly like a lot of teens today. I liked seeing Sam's growth and his confusion about his own role in all that happened. I also appreciated the author's exploration of a complicated issue and his refusal to provide easy answers to a very real problem. While Morgan may have been more vulnerable than the typical teen, she still deserved better treatment than she received. The book reminds readers that while doing nothing may be an act of cowardice, we are much more than our mistakes. Sam cannot go back and change the past or his actions, but he can move forward with full awareness of the consequences of his actions and the realization that a little kindness can go a long way. It's hard to say whether Morgan could have been saved, but it would have been wonderful if someone had tried a little harder to do so. Anyone familiar with Morgan's favorite book, Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, might have seen the warning signs.
October 17, 2015
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
This is a very powerful book and it is brings up the issue that a lot of people face now a days especially young kids to teenagers to even adults. BULLYING. That is the key within this book but there is also suicide within this story. The Fall is written as a journal type story and it all focuses around the main character and his actions of following the in crowd. Sam is the one writing in the journal and you know you can't help but not like the guy, I mean he knows what he did was wrong by calling Morgan names and what not but still didn't stop doing it. I can understand not wanting to be on the receiving end of bullying but as a person who knows right from wrong you know better. He knew who she was and even got to know her a bit but was ashamed to be seen with her in public which you can just imagine how Morgan felt, and my heart broke for her.
I was glad to see Sam finally learning that what he had partaken in was something that was very wrong and finally stood up for what was right, even though it was too late to help Morgan.
I truly recommend this for all to read it doesn't matter if you are a pre-teen, teenager, adult it is something that I think all can learn to understand that your words are very powerful. Even if it is just via the internet or anything else.
The only reason I am giving this book a 4 and not a solid 5 is because there was no talk of anyone getting punished. I know that the authorities couldn't pin it on anyone because it was a suicide but what about the parents or even Sam's parents, did they not think to say something to him?
This review can be found on both my blog and my children's blog.
http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...
http://kachildrensbookreviews.blogspo...
This is a very powerful book and it is brings up the issue that a lot of people face now a days especially young kids to teenagers to even adults. BULLYING. That is the key within this book but there is also suicide within this story. The Fall is written as a journal type story and it all focuses around the main character and his actions of following the in crowd. Sam is the one writing in the journal and you know you can't help but not like the guy, I mean he knows what he did was wrong by calling Morgan names and what not but still didn't stop doing it. I can understand not wanting to be on the receiving end of bullying but as a person who knows right from wrong you know better. He knew who she was and even got to know her a bit but was ashamed to be seen with her in public which you can just imagine how Morgan felt, and my heart broke for her.
I was glad to see Sam finally learning that what he had partaken in was something that was very wrong and finally stood up for what was right, even though it was too late to help Morgan.
I truly recommend this for all to read it doesn't matter if you are a pre-teen, teenager, adult it is something that I think all can learn to understand that your words are very powerful. Even if it is just via the internet or anything else.
The only reason I am giving this book a 4 and not a solid 5 is because there was no talk of anyone getting punished. I know that the authorities couldn't pin it on anyone because it was a suicide but what about the parents or even Sam's parents, did they not think to say something to him?
This review can be found on both my blog and my children's blog.
http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...
http://kachildrensbookreviews.blogspo...
May 30, 2016
I'm not sure how to stop bullying and I know schools are trying very hard to do so, but reading The Fall by James Preller can't hurt.
I think the problem sometimes is that kids don't think they are bullying. They don't realize it until maybe it's too late. In The Fall we have Sam looking back on his relationship with a friend, Morgan, who has committed suicide after being bullied.
Sam was a reluctant friend. He wanted to keep his friendship a secret. After all, who wants everyone to know you are friends with the person that everyone is bullying. There is one girl who is the instigator. No one knows why she hates Morgan so much, but that doesn't matter. She gives her "minions" assignments to post mean and hurtful messages to Morgan's online account. Sam is a participant because he fears the consequences if he refuses.
Our narrator is a bit unreliable. Who wouldn't have a hard time writing down in a journal the ways in which he contributed to someone's ending their own life? But he gets there.
Is The Fall the best book about bullying? I don't know. I've read quite a few. They all make you think -- at least they make me think. There is a powerful message here, and I hope a lot of teens get it. The Fall is a very short and easy read. It's appropriate for boys or girls. This one should be widely recommended and would be a great classroom read.
I think the problem sometimes is that kids don't think they are bullying. They don't realize it until maybe it's too late. In The Fall we have Sam looking back on his relationship with a friend, Morgan, who has committed suicide after being bullied.
Sam was a reluctant friend. He wanted to keep his friendship a secret. After all, who wants everyone to know you are friends with the person that everyone is bullying. There is one girl who is the instigator. No one knows why she hates Morgan so much, but that doesn't matter. She gives her "minions" assignments to post mean and hurtful messages to Morgan's online account. Sam is a participant because he fears the consequences if he refuses.
Our narrator is a bit unreliable. Who wouldn't have a hard time writing down in a journal the ways in which he contributed to someone's ending their own life? But he gets there.
Is The Fall the best book about bullying? I don't know. I've read quite a few. They all make you think -- at least they make me think. There is a powerful message here, and I hope a lot of teens get it. The Fall is a very short and easy read. It's appropriate for boys or girls. This one should be widely recommended and would be a great classroom read.
February 8, 2016
Bully? Friend? Can you be both?
If Sam wrote a couple of anonymous comments on Morgan's page, is he part of the reason she killed herself? If he talked to her in secret, but refused to acknowledge her at school, is it his fault she jumped from the water tower? And if is his fault, or it isn't....how does he move past it? How does he grieve for his sort-of-friend, for his loss, when he isn't even really sure
This story is so realistically complicated. Through a journal he is encouraged to keep by a school counselor, Sam tells the story of how Morgan was relentlessly bullied on social media and ruthlessly ignored at school. He tells of how he started talking to her in secret--how they even kind of became friends. And then how they became most definitely not friends. Sam is working through a lot of guilt, but he's also grieving and Preller navigates his complicated feelings with ease and nuance.
The chapters are short, which makes it impossible to put down. Every time I came to the end of a chapter I saw the next was only a page or two and thought, "just one more!"
Uniquely, The Fall is a diary/journal format novel from the perspective of a male character. This almost never happens.
If Sam wrote a couple of anonymous comments on Morgan's page, is he part of the reason she killed herself? If he talked to her in secret, but refused to acknowledge her at school, is it his fault she jumped from the water tower? And if is his fault, or it isn't....how does he move past it? How does he grieve for his sort-of-friend, for his loss, when he isn't even really sure
This story is so realistically complicated. Through a journal he is encouraged to keep by a school counselor, Sam tells the story of how Morgan was relentlessly bullied on social media and ruthlessly ignored at school. He tells of how he started talking to her in secret--how they even kind of became friends. And then how they became most definitely not friends. Sam is working through a lot of guilt, but he's also grieving and Preller navigates his complicated feelings with ease and nuance.
The chapters are short, which makes it impossible to put down. Every time I came to the end of a chapter I saw the next was only a page or two and thought, "just one more!"
Uniquely, The Fall is a diary/journal format novel from the perspective of a male character. This almost never happens.
February 13, 2017
Only rated two stars because I'm not a fan of suicide books...... this was a moving story.
February 4, 2016
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
With a book about suicide and bullying, you would think there would be more emotion. But I had a hard time connecting with Sam. The chapters are just excerpts from his journal and they start after Morgan has killed himself, but he flashed back to the relationship he had with Morgan prior to her death. Maybe the reason I couldn't connect with him is because he seemed like such a jerk. I get that high school involves all this peer pressure, but the lead "mean girl" basically recruited everyone in school to bully this girl, both in school and on social media. Sam was leaving anonymous messages before he even knew her. Then when he did know her, he was embarrassed to be seen with her and made sure no one saw them hanging out. His entire journal was rationalizing that he did nothing wrong. The positive thing about the book is that there was some character development by the end and I think he finally understood what was wrong. I do like the underlying message that sometimes people can never know what drove someone to suicide.
With a book about suicide and bullying, you would think there would be more emotion. But I had a hard time connecting with Sam. The chapters are just excerpts from his journal and they start after Morgan has killed himself, but he flashed back to the relationship he had with Morgan prior to her death. Maybe the reason I couldn't connect with him is because he seemed like such a jerk. I get that high school involves all this peer pressure, but the lead "mean girl" basically recruited everyone in school to bully this girl, both in school and on social media. Sam was leaving anonymous messages before he even knew her. Then when he did know her, he was embarrassed to be seen with her and made sure no one saw them hanging out. His entire journal was rationalizing that he did nothing wrong. The positive thing about the book is that there was some character development by the end and I think he finally understood what was wrong. I do like the underlying message that sometimes people can never know what drove someone to suicide.
October 12, 2015
I really liked The Fall so much better than most of the other YA books I've read this year about suicide. First, it's told from a boy's perspective, so that "first person writing in the journal" narrative has a different feeling. Secondly, I very much appreciated how the author made it clear that there were a lot of factors that played into Morgan's suicide, her own severe depression being one of them, as well as social media but not just bullying - her obsession with the "world online" and how it makes us all constantly feel "less than." This book was a nice contrast to Thirteen Reasons Why which really focused on all the outside causes that led the main character to kill herself and All the Bright Places which was such a sad sort of star crossed lovers story with his bad home life and her sister's death (so much sadness!). The Fall was sad and honest and painful, but I feel like this would be an easier book about suicide for kids to read than many that are out there.
September 8, 2015
A month before the first page of The Fall, Morgan jumped from the water tower and killed herself. Morgan's story is told through the journal of a teen called Sam, who had a passing friendship with her, but was also slow to stand up for her in the face of peer pressure at school. The book asks a lot of questions about depression, suicide, bullying and self-doubt. But it manages not to seem preachy, because of Sam's voice. Sam is a normal guy, with normal instincts to distrust teachers, move with the pack and keep out of trouble. Sam is believable and his perceived transgressions against Morgan are small. Therefore, his efforts at kindness, although not an answer to his grief, seem like at least a positive step. This is a short book about small relationships which covers much bigger issues.
April 3, 2016
At page 10, I thought I was going to DNF this one. Something felt "meh" about it. But holy crap I'm glad I went through it. I flew through this one. It helped me get out of my reading slump. It was painfully beautiful. Morgan felt real. Not like many other portrayals of sad girls who committed suicide. She felt different. True. I felt her pain. And it was remarkable. Sam is an interesting storyteller. I loved how honest he was about what he'd done to Morgan, the good, the bad, and the indifferent. He didn't try to paint himself as a victim, when talking about his pain and grief. And Sophie was an interesting character who was a nice additional perspective on things. Overall, this was an incredible read.
December 6, 2016
UHGHGGGGG. What is it with girls who are friends, and then aren't friends anymore because of a FREAKING GUY??? If their friendship is that fragile, they aren't even considered friends. This book really opens up your eyes to the face of bullying now a days. Everyone's a bully. Bystander, bully, and friend. Everyone. Is. a. Bully. You can't deny it. Sam Procter. An amazing character. He shows us that even though you are friends, you can still be a bully to anyone. Sam is truly a respectable person how he admits that he could've done a better job at protecting his friend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2016
This book is amazing, heart breaking and frustrating all in one. I love James Preller's writing style and his use of the journal format. He's also used a unique voice (i.e. the passive bully/friend) that we don't regularly hear from.
The Fall just broke my heart...but in a "this is for your good" kind of way.
The Fall just broke my heart...but in a "this is for your good" kind of way.
August 5, 2019
Sono sempre in difficoltà quando si tratta di recensire libri di questo genere - in parte perché temo sempre di svelare troppo di me (cose che comunque non mi sono quasi mai fatta scrupoli a scrivere sul mio blog personale) e in parte perché so che è necessario.
L'età dei personaggi di questo libro non è specificata, ma credo che si tratti di ragazzi che vanno ancora alle medie. E questo lo rende ancora più importante nell'ottica di educare i giovani.
Un mese prima di un nuovo anno scolastico, Morgan Mallen si getta dalla torre idrica. Era vittima di bullismo, sia faccia a faccia che online, e ora tutti si mostrano oltraggiati - ma dov'erano prima?
Sam Proctor rimane scosso dalla notizia e, spinto da un insegnante che gli consiglia di tenere una sorta di diario, comincia a ripensare a ciò che ha portato alla morte di Morgan e al ruolo che lui stesso potrebbe avere avuto.
The Fall è raccontato sotto forma di diario, ma non di quelli con la data in alto e aggiornati giorno per giorno. Ci sono pagine in cui Sam scrive di più e altre in cui scrive di meno - pagine in cui a volte c'è solo una poesia.
Non segue un ordine cronologico specifico e vediamo come all'inizio voglia prendere le distanze dalla faccenda descrivendo Morgan proprio come la vedevano tutti gli altri e man mano che scrive, inizia a ricordare la vera Morgan - quella che aveva conosciuto lui, quella con cui aveva costruito una sorta di amicizia incontro dopo incontro quando entrambi portavano a spasso i cani.
Ma era un'amicizia che non esisteva a scuola, che esisteva solo fuori in luoghi dove nessuno li avrebbe potuti vedere insieme.
Perché Sam forse non era il bullo di Morgan, ma era comunque un osservatore - ma soprattutto era un partecipante perché quando Athena Luikin ti passava il testimone per scrivere in internet cattiverie su Morgan non ti potevi rifiutare, pena l'essere il nuovo bersaglio oppure un paria a scuola.
Ma scrivere "cattiverie gentili" equivale ad essere meno colpevoli?
La mia empatia con questo libro è sempre stata altalenante durante tutta la durata delle sue 195 pagine. Questo perché io sono sempre stata dall'altra parte della barricata - io sono sempre stata la vittima dei bulli e ogni volta che veniva descritto il modo in cui Morgan camminava a testa bassa e spalle curve nei corridoi evitando il contatto visivo mi si stringeva il cuore perché rivedevo me stessa fin troppo chiaramente.
Con Sam ho avuto un rapporto di alti e bassi, ma mi ha anche fornito molto su cui riflettere. È chiaro che Sam si senta in colpa anche se ora è troppo tardi, ma ad un certo punto si chiede se un solo errore può definirti come persona per tutta la vita. Se uccidi qualcuno o assisti mentre un gruppo di ragazzi si approfitta di una ragazza ubriaca ad una festa, questo sì ti rende una persona orribile - ma partecipare in maniera passiva alla distruzione social e non di una persona ti rende un bullo per sempre?
Per esperienza direi di sì - per il modo in cui l'ho vissuta dall'altra parte della barricata. Chi mi ha dato addosso da quando avevo tredici anni per me resterà sempre un bullo, ma è anche vero che ci sono facce che ricordo più di altre - ricordo fin troppo bene chi mi apostrofava direttamente, chi mi ha messo le mani addosso, chi mi ha fatto venire gli attacchi di panico e chi aveva un ruolo più marginale l'ho relegato in un angolo in cui l'odio brucia meno intensamente.
Partecipare in maniera passiva e commettere un errore (o più di uno) ti rende un bullo per sempre? Non lo so, non ho una risposta definitiva a questa domanda.
Con Sam è stato difficile rapportarsi anche per un altro motivo: i momenti in cui descrive la pressione a cui si sentiva sottoposto, al non voler essere visto e associato a Morgan per evitare di diventare il prossimo bersaglio sono qualcosa che posso capire a livello teorico sempre per il motivo che io ero dall'altra parte della barricata e non sono mai stata abbandonata dalle mie amiche - forse perché io ero un bersaglio troppo divertente e a loro non è mai successo niente.
Ma ad un certo punto Sam parla di come Athena avesse lasciato a loro le armi e di come fossero stati loro ad usarle, senza che lei si sporcasse le mani e lì ho capito - lì mi sono rivista a quasi diciannove anni dopo aver litigato con una mia ex-amica, al picco massimo della mia rabbia e depressione adolescenziale e in classe (una tutta femminile, vi lascio immaginare) hanno usato il mio malumore e la pressione della maturità imminente per lasciare libero sfogo a tutta la cattiveria scagliandosi contro questa mia ex-amica. Senza che lo volessi, ma lo stesso mi sono ritrovata al punto che bastava una mia occhiata perché un'ondata di prese in giro si scatenasse senza che io aprissi bocca. Ero solo la scusa del momento, ma lo stesso non posso fare a meno di sentirmi una bulla se ripenso agli ultimi quattro mesi di quinta liceo.
E per questo Sam un po' l'ho capito e un po' no e per questo motivo questo libro mi ha messa in difficoltà.
Essendo scritto in forma di diario non ci fornisce molto background - la stessa nascita e formazione dell'amicizia tra Sam e Morgan resta vaga - ma resta un libro che mi ha colpita e che mi ha spinta a riflettere.
Sam arriverà ad ammettere la sua parte di colpa, a scoprire cose di Morgan che non sapeva, a voler essere una persona migliore e più coraggiosa senza nascondersi più dietro la codardia e la forza del gruppo e a vedere la falsità nella gente, in tutti quelli che avevano smesso di vedere Morgan come una persona e che ora piangono lacrime di coccodrillo.
Morgan emerge nel diario di Sam e mi è davvero importato di lei, ma nessuno può davvero sapere cosa succede nella vita e nella mente di una persona - motivo per il quale bisognerebbe sempre essere gentili ed essere educati per non diventare bulli.
L'età dei personaggi di questo libro non è specificata, ma credo che si tratti di ragazzi che vanno ancora alle medie. E questo lo rende ancora più importante nell'ottica di educare i giovani.
Un mese prima di un nuovo anno scolastico, Morgan Mallen si getta dalla torre idrica. Era vittima di bullismo, sia faccia a faccia che online, e ora tutti si mostrano oltraggiati - ma dov'erano prima?
Sam Proctor rimane scosso dalla notizia e, spinto da un insegnante che gli consiglia di tenere una sorta di diario, comincia a ripensare a ciò che ha portato alla morte di Morgan e al ruolo che lui stesso potrebbe avere avuto.
The Fall è raccontato sotto forma di diario, ma non di quelli con la data in alto e aggiornati giorno per giorno. Ci sono pagine in cui Sam scrive di più e altre in cui scrive di meno - pagine in cui a volte c'è solo una poesia.
Non segue un ordine cronologico specifico e vediamo come all'inizio voglia prendere le distanze dalla faccenda descrivendo Morgan proprio come la vedevano tutti gli altri e man mano che scrive, inizia a ricordare la vera Morgan - quella che aveva conosciuto lui, quella con cui aveva costruito una sorta di amicizia incontro dopo incontro quando entrambi portavano a spasso i cani.
Ma era un'amicizia che non esisteva a scuola, che esisteva solo fuori in luoghi dove nessuno li avrebbe potuti vedere insieme.
Perché Sam forse non era il bullo di Morgan, ma era comunque un osservatore - ma soprattutto era un partecipante perché quando Athena Luikin ti passava il testimone per scrivere in internet cattiverie su Morgan non ti potevi rifiutare, pena l'essere il nuovo bersaglio oppure un paria a scuola.
Ma scrivere "cattiverie gentili" equivale ad essere meno colpevoli?
La mia empatia con questo libro è sempre stata altalenante durante tutta la durata delle sue 195 pagine. Questo perché io sono sempre stata dall'altra parte della barricata - io sono sempre stata la vittima dei bulli e ogni volta che veniva descritto il modo in cui Morgan camminava a testa bassa e spalle curve nei corridoi evitando il contatto visivo mi si stringeva il cuore perché rivedevo me stessa fin troppo chiaramente.
Con Sam ho avuto un rapporto di alti e bassi, ma mi ha anche fornito molto su cui riflettere. È chiaro che Sam si senta in colpa anche se ora è troppo tardi, ma ad un certo punto si chiede se un solo errore può definirti come persona per tutta la vita. Se uccidi qualcuno o assisti mentre un gruppo di ragazzi si approfitta di una ragazza ubriaca ad una festa, questo sì ti rende una persona orribile - ma partecipare in maniera passiva alla distruzione social e non di una persona ti rende un bullo per sempre?
Per esperienza direi di sì - per il modo in cui l'ho vissuta dall'altra parte della barricata. Chi mi ha dato addosso da quando avevo tredici anni per me resterà sempre un bullo, ma è anche vero che ci sono facce che ricordo più di altre - ricordo fin troppo bene chi mi apostrofava direttamente, chi mi ha messo le mani addosso, chi mi ha fatto venire gli attacchi di panico e chi aveva un ruolo più marginale l'ho relegato in un angolo in cui l'odio brucia meno intensamente.
Partecipare in maniera passiva e commettere un errore (o più di uno) ti rende un bullo per sempre? Non lo so, non ho una risposta definitiva a questa domanda.
Con Sam è stato difficile rapportarsi anche per un altro motivo: i momenti in cui descrive la pressione a cui si sentiva sottoposto, al non voler essere visto e associato a Morgan per evitare di diventare il prossimo bersaglio sono qualcosa che posso capire a livello teorico sempre per il motivo che io ero dall'altra parte della barricata e non sono mai stata abbandonata dalle mie amiche - forse perché io ero un bersaglio troppo divertente e a loro non è mai successo niente.
Ma ad un certo punto Sam parla di come Athena avesse lasciato a loro le armi e di come fossero stati loro ad usarle, senza che lei si sporcasse le mani e lì ho capito - lì mi sono rivista a quasi diciannove anni dopo aver litigato con una mia ex-amica, al picco massimo della mia rabbia e depressione adolescenziale e in classe (una tutta femminile, vi lascio immaginare) hanno usato il mio malumore e la pressione della maturità imminente per lasciare libero sfogo a tutta la cattiveria scagliandosi contro questa mia ex-amica. Senza che lo volessi, ma lo stesso mi sono ritrovata al punto che bastava una mia occhiata perché un'ondata di prese in giro si scatenasse senza che io aprissi bocca. Ero solo la scusa del momento, ma lo stesso non posso fare a meno di sentirmi una bulla se ripenso agli ultimi quattro mesi di quinta liceo.
E per questo Sam un po' l'ho capito e un po' no e per questo motivo questo libro mi ha messa in difficoltà.
Essendo scritto in forma di diario non ci fornisce molto background - la stessa nascita e formazione dell'amicizia tra Sam e Morgan resta vaga - ma resta un libro che mi ha colpita e che mi ha spinta a riflettere.
Sam arriverà ad ammettere la sua parte di colpa, a scoprire cose di Morgan che non sapeva, a voler essere una persona migliore e più coraggiosa senza nascondersi più dietro la codardia e la forza del gruppo e a vedere la falsità nella gente, in tutti quelli che avevano smesso di vedere Morgan come una persona e che ora piangono lacrime di coccodrillo.
Morgan emerge nel diario di Sam e mi è davvero importato di lei, ma nessuno può davvero sapere cosa succede nella vita e nella mente di una persona - motivo per il quale bisognerebbe sempre essere gentili ed essere educati per non diventare bulli.
June 25, 2016
Really loved this book. Very moving. The way the author writes flows as if you are reading his thoughts which is the intention.
January 29, 2024
If you're a fan of 13 reasons why, maybe you should read this.
November 14, 2017
The only reason I picked up this book was because it was short. Nothing about the cover or the summary really excited me that much. I mean, really? Another 'boring boy has his life changed by suicidal girl' book? I must confess that I detest books like, say, Looking for Alaska; they just seem so incredibly contrived to jerk tears out of the reader that I can't get invested in the characters at all.
And on the surface, The Fall is exactly like most of those books. The plot stars Sam Proctor, the stereotypical writer protagonist who keeps a totally-not-soul-searching journal in an attempt to understand why Morgan Mallen, his stereotypical sort-of friend, committed suicide. She was driven to it through the cyber-bullying of Athena, the stereotypical jerk who seems to have no remorse. Sam's journal is littered with poetry. The phrase "don't get the idea this journal... (will help you) learn 'her story', or even 'my story'" is used in the first ten pages! Shouldn't that be a key sign that this is going to be the most generic book in history?
Surprisingly, the answer is no. It turns out that Preller, despite his choice of plot, actually has a concrete idea of what he wants to say with it. For one, Sam is one of the more interesting "nice guy" protagonists I've had the pleasure to read about. While he does know his way around a metaphor- the phrase "(Was she) rag-dolling through the universe (when she fell)?" struck me as particularly inspired- very little about Sam's writing style is contrived. Seeing as this is his personal journal, it feels perfectly natural when he goes on a tangent about his fingertips or writes half-finished, terrible poetry. This is, essentially, his attempt to work through his own guilt, and that elevates this over a simple "why-did-she-die" sort of story. And, thankfully, Preller knows that if he comes close to sappiness- Sam giving a speech on how he essentially killed Morgan- it's best to leave it out and let the reader fill in the blanks.
But it's the female characters that push this book to a four-star rating. I love how Morgan is written! Sure, her character is a bit of a stereotypical outcast, but she's not glorified like most kids in the "teen suicide" genre. She steals alcohol from her parents, she has insecurities, and she's not given any explicit backstory for being the way she is- there's implication that her father is a drunkard, but it's never outright stated. Likewise, I was surprised by her sister Sophie's character; she actually has her own personality other than simply being a reminder of Morgan. I found it deeply moving (and realistic!) that she holds a grudge on Sam for his complacency at first, and has to get over it, just as he has to get over his guilt.
Most interestingly, there's Athena, the "rich bitch". Not to spoil anything, but there's an interesting twist in what happens to her after Morgan commits suicide. I'll just say her final interaction with Sam is a brilliant way to end the story, and even manages to make her somewhat sympathetic!
To be fair, the book isn't perfect. There are a few melodramatic scenes (despite Preller's best efforts), and there are some parts, especially towards the beginning, that sound like Preller was going through a checklist of "what to include in my boring YA novel". Still, by the time the big cheesy "experiencing-what-she-went-through" climax came around, I genuinely had tears in my eyes, and that rarely ever happens, so he was definitely doing something right! (For stark contrast, see the aforementioned Looking for Alaska, by the conclusion of which I was simultaneously snickering and wincing. Yes, I am a heartless bastard.)
Basically, The Fall is one of the better books I've read this year. It might be short and relatively uneventful, but those are exactly the things that make it stick out in a sea of contrived YA lameness. Sometimes, the best approach to a serious topic is to make it simple, honest, and unpretentious. I just hope that kids who are put off by the teen suicide genre don't throw this back on the shelf. God knows I almost did.
And on the surface, The Fall is exactly like most of those books. The plot stars Sam Proctor, the stereotypical writer protagonist who keeps a totally-not-soul-searching journal in an attempt to understand why Morgan Mallen, his stereotypical sort-of friend, committed suicide. She was driven to it through the cyber-bullying of Athena, the stereotypical jerk who seems to have no remorse. Sam's journal is littered with poetry. The phrase "don't get the idea this journal... (will help you) learn 'her story', or even 'my story'" is used in the first ten pages! Shouldn't that be a key sign that this is going to be the most generic book in history?
Surprisingly, the answer is no. It turns out that Preller, despite his choice of plot, actually has a concrete idea of what he wants to say with it. For one, Sam is one of the more interesting "nice guy" protagonists I've had the pleasure to read about. While he does know his way around a metaphor- the phrase "(Was she) rag-dolling through the universe (when she fell)?" struck me as particularly inspired- very little about Sam's writing style is contrived. Seeing as this is his personal journal, it feels perfectly natural when he goes on a tangent about his fingertips or writes half-finished, terrible poetry. This is, essentially, his attempt to work through his own guilt, and that elevates this over a simple "why-did-she-die" sort of story. And, thankfully, Preller knows that if he comes close to sappiness- Sam giving a speech on how he essentially killed Morgan- it's best to leave it out and let the reader fill in the blanks.
But it's the female characters that push this book to a four-star rating. I love how Morgan is written! Sure, her character is a bit of a stereotypical outcast, but she's not glorified like most kids in the "teen suicide" genre. She steals alcohol from her parents, she has insecurities, and she's not given any explicit backstory for being the way she is- there's implication that her father is a drunkard, but it's never outright stated. Likewise, I was surprised by her sister Sophie's character; she actually has her own personality other than simply being a reminder of Morgan. I found it deeply moving (and realistic!) that she holds a grudge on Sam for his complacency at first, and has to get over it, just as he has to get over his guilt.
Most interestingly, there's Athena, the "rich bitch". Not to spoil anything, but there's an interesting twist in what happens to her after Morgan commits suicide. I'll just say her final interaction with Sam is a brilliant way to end the story, and even manages to make her somewhat sympathetic!
To be fair, the book isn't perfect. There are a few melodramatic scenes (despite Preller's best efforts), and there are some parts, especially towards the beginning, that sound like Preller was going through a checklist of "what to include in my boring YA novel". Still, by the time the big cheesy "experiencing-what-she-went-through" climax came around, I genuinely had tears in my eyes, and that rarely ever happens, so he was definitely doing something right! (For stark contrast, see the aforementioned Looking for Alaska, by the conclusion of which I was simultaneously snickering and wincing. Yes, I am a heartless bastard.)
Basically, The Fall is one of the better books I've read this year. It might be short and relatively uneventful, but those are exactly the things that make it stick out in a sea of contrived YA lameness. Sometimes, the best approach to a serious topic is to make it simple, honest, and unpretentious. I just hope that kids who are put off by the teen suicide genre don't throw this back on the shelf. God knows I almost did.
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