Catch

It comes from nowhere. Sudden nausea as if she’s going to throw up. Beth stops walking, puts her shopping down then looks up. Holding out her arms just in time, a man dressed in paint splattered overalls drops into them. He’s just as surprised as she is, but they say nothing as she steadies him on his feet.

At home, there’s no time to think about it, let alone tell anyone. Her parents are preparing for visitors, wanting to make a good impression. They are the parents of Beth’s sister’s boyfriend Rik, and her sister has some news.

Beth knew the secret, but a pregnancy announcement is far from what both sets of parents were expecting. Beth is left alone with her own shocking news, as her homelife suddenly gets a whole lot more complicated.

Her family has noticed a different change in her. She’s grown taller over the summer break, her arms longer too. Is this why she’s being catching falling items at home? Boys at school look at her differently too, along with her sister’s best friend, Etienne.

She’d be able to enjoy the attention if it wasn’t for the strange nausea that creeps up on her. Then a strong feeling deep in her gut. A desperate need to be somewhere. She doesn’t know just where that is at first, but follows the feeling, breaking school rules on the way. It happens again. She stops underneath a window and the school caretaker falls into her arms.

Terribly confused and a little freaked out, she knows she has to tell someone. Maybe her best friend Lin will understand. Over the following weeks, it happens again and again. But it is taking over her life at school and home, and most importantly coming between something wonderful and new with Etienne.

 

Although being able to Catch, saving lives over and over; Catch is more about main character Beth’s relationships. There is no way she can ignore the feeling to run and save someone, but it comes at all times of the day and night.

This has detrimental effects all around her, but explaining herself is even harder. Catch is about responsibility, new love, family bonds and friendships, all within an astonishing premise.

Basketball is a background thread which is also new to Beth, as she has never been into sports. The court setting is yet another place she has to try and be ‘normal’, but must come second to her urge to Catch. Each Catch saves a life, but adds tension to Beth’s.

Intriguing read.  

 

Author – Sarah Brill

Age – 13+

Publisher – Allen & Unwin

 

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Australian Author, First person, Special ability, Superpower, Teen pregnancy, Family, Relationships, School, Encompassing, Friendship, Growing up, Romance, Secret, Catching jumpers)

The post Catch appeared first on whatbooknext.com.