Breakfall

by Kevin Counterman, Buddy Cassidy

Rudy Gallagher is like any other 12-year-old boy growing up in Boston. He’s a Red Sox fan with a quick wit, an accent, and a close-knit group of friends. But over the past few years, Rudy has noticed a change. His muscles have become thin and frail, atrophied and drained of strength. Rudy can no longer walk far distances and struggles to stand from seated. He trips and falls and walks clumsily on the tips of his toes. Rudy faces the reality that he is different from the other boys. The doctors further confirmed this when they labeled him with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare disease that’s progressive, debilitating, and terminal.

Rudy is too young to understand the scope of his illness, but he fears it will only worsen. He leans on his younger brother, Sonny, and together they navigate through life with this disease. Sonny stands carefully by his brother’s side, hands outstretched, ready to break one of Rudy’s falls. In turn, Rudy anchors Sonny as he grapples with guilt and identity. Together, they find strength in brotherhood, in their friends and community, and find hope in the face of Duchenne.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2025

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really captivating read that draws you into the story of each character. The book chronicles how a child suffering with DMD can affect every member of the family. Highly recommended.