A Scar Like a River

Gr 6 Up–Thirteen-year-old white seventh grader Fallon Little has three big secrets, and only her best friend Trent knows one of them. When her uncle dies and her aunt moves in with Fallon and her parents to help (Fallon’s mom has symptoms consistent with CFS), strong feelings bubble up. Trent and Fallon’s other best friend, Kaia, start dating each other, leaving Fallon feeling pushed out and finding an unexpected ally in beautiful eighth grader Stella; they bond over a love of acting and singing. They also share a history of sexual assault. Stella helps Fallon find group therapy. The story is structured in countdown fashion (“THIRD,” “SECOND,” “FIRST”), revealing one secret at a time, heightening the tension and momentum. Fallon wrestles with heavy issues: identifying the truth, finding someone to listen, calling out gaslighting (in her own life and in the middle school production of Hello, Dolly!) in a realistic and relatable way. Her relationships with her friends, parents, theater teacher, and aunt evolve throughout. Though Fallon’s secrets weigh on her, she is thoughtful, reflective, and speaks her truth. As Fallon’s mom says, “Every time life throws something awful your way…you change, of course, but you just get better.” Most characters are white; Kaia is Black.