Sixteen-year-old Beth is busy navigating the challenges of a summer growth spurt, a demanding workload at school, joining the basketball team, a possible romance with neighbour Etienne and her sister Meg’s pregnancy.
Suddenly her body starts behaving strangely: she is hit by a wave of nausea and then her body is compelled to run, her instinct leading her so that she arrives at a tall building or tree just in time to catch a falling person.
Beth doesn’t know where this gift has come from or what to do about it.
She is frightened to tell anyone, in case they dismiss her as crazy. But she cannot predict when the pull to save someone will come, meaning she runs out of school, family dinners, basketball games and even a date with Etienne. While she is saving other people’s lives, is Beth damaging her own?
Catch is a compelling story of a young woman finding her place in the world, learning about herself and her values, with her special gift adding a lovely fantastical element to this coming-of-age story.
Reviewed by Melinda Woledge
Age Guide 13+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Brill grew up in Perth, Western Australia and began writing plays at the age of fifteen, mostly because she was annoyed with her drama teacher but also because it meant she got to come to Sydney for National Young Playwrights Workshops.
While initially focused on playwrighting, Sarah also wrote for film and radio. Her first novel, Glory, was published by Spinifex Press in 2002.
After having children Sarah did a masters in sustainability and almost took a right turn into academia. She was saved by the publication of her second novel, Symphony for the Man, which was published in 2020, also by Spinifex Press.
Sarah lives in Sydney with her three sons and two cats.
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