“A painfully honest and powerful depiction of the changing nature of friendships in the face of hardship and an exploration of what it means 'to be human and alive.'” - Booklist (Starred Review) on Breakaway “A rare study of growing pains that gives equal weight to humor and hardship.” - Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) on Breakaway Stories that bond themselves to readers and live with them-in them-far after the last page.” -Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Stamped and Long Way Down “In this necessary tale grappling with some of the prickly parts of life-mental health, loss, friendship-Spears proves once again that she's a master, not just of the teenage voice, but also of carefully crafting stories with both heart and teeth. Then there’s the girl next door: Dane can’t quite define their relationship, and he doesn’t know if he’s got the courage to leave the friend zone.Īn emotional novel about mental health, and dealing with grief and growing up, The Tragedy of Dane Riley is the story of a teenager looking to make sense of his feelings in the wake of tragedy, and finding the strength he needs to make life worth living.

He can’t stand his mother’s boyfriend, or the boyfriend’s son, whose favorite pastime is tormenting Dane. While his mother has moved on after his father’s death, Dane desperately misses the man who made Dane feel okay to be himself. Stories that bond themselves to readers and live with them-in them-far after the last page.” -Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Stamped and Long Way DownĪ teen confronts his feelings about his father’s death, his new family, and the girl next door in this emotional young adult novel from critically-acclaimed author Kat Spearsĭane Riley’s grasp on reality is slipping, and he’s not sure that he cares.

“In this necessary tale grappling with some of the prickly parts of life-mental health, loss, friendship - Spears proves once again that she's a master, not just of the teenage voice, but also of carefully crafting stories with both heart and teeth.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears