Falling for You
When a hot new student arrives, Rae can’t believe she is the one he picks to date. But Nathan’s good looks and charm can’t hide his troubled dark side, reminding Rae of her abusive stepfather, Dean. Dean’s aggression and controlling nature are intensifying, leaving Rae frustrated and scared, pouring her thoughts into her poetry journal and taking solace in her job at a flower shop and the unexpected connections she makes there. Schroeder uses Rae’s strength, compassion, and self-assuredness to sketch a path away from the cycle of domestic violence, one where Rae stands her ground, ends things with Nathan despite his needs and threats, and discovers a new, healthier, more fulfilling relationship. Interspersed with the narrative are Rae’s poems, including the anonymous ones she submits to the school paper, starting a “poetry revolution.” Rae finally steps out of the shadows, claiming her experiences in print, which leads others to do the same. Though the initial chapters may feel predictable, this is a sensitively told story of the transformative power of poetry, random kindness, and love. Grades 7-10, --Heather Booth