If I Fall, If I Die
CBC Books | Posted: March 9, 2017 2:49 PM | Last Updated: August 30, 2018
Michael Christie
Will's mother has kept him inside all of his life. But when he finally ventures outside, he befriends a boy named Jonah and discovers the world is bigger, better — but scarier — than the world of just inside. When a local boy goes missing, Will's world is turned upside down yet again. An exploration of family, friendship and letting go.
If I Fall, If I Die was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2015 and longlisted for the International DUBLIN Literary Prize in 2017.
From the book
The Outside had taught him that there wasn't much difference between loving someone and being afraid for them. Loving a person meant need them to stay: alive, around. But the shadow that love can't help cast is fear: fear that they won't stay alive or around — fear they'll be reckless, or doomed, or just walk away and not consider you ever again. With love, you're scared it will disappear. With fear, you're scared it never will. The trick, Will understood now but would never quite manage to put into practice, was getting used to both of them at the same time. It was living in between.
From If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie ©2015. Published by McClelland & Stewart.