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The Edge of Anything
A *Kirkus Reviews* Best Book of 2020
One of A Mighty Girl's Best Books of the Year
Finalist for the Cybils Awards
Len is a loner teen photographer haunted by a past that’s stagnated her work and left her terrified she’s losing her mind. Sage is a high school volleyball star desperate to find a way around her sudden medical disqualification. Both girls need college scholarships. After a chance encounter, the two develop an unlikely friendship that enables them to begin facing their inner demons.
But both Len and Sage are keeping secrets that, left hidden, could cost them everything, maybe even their lives.
Set in the North Carolina mountains, this dynamic #ownvoices novel explores grief, mental health, and the transformative power of friendship.
One of A Mighty Girl's Best Books of the Year
Finalist for the Cybils Awards
Len is a loner teen photographer haunted by a past that’s stagnated her work and left her terrified she’s losing her mind. Sage is a high school volleyball star desperate to find a way around her sudden medical disqualification. Both girls need college scholarships. After a chance encounter, the two develop an unlikely friendship that enables them to begin facing their inner demons.
But both Len and Sage are keeping secrets that, left hidden, could cost them everything, maybe even their lives.
Set in the North Carolina mountains, this dynamic #ownvoices novel explores grief, mental health, and the transformative power of friendship.
Unknown Binding
First published March 24, 2020
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About the author
Nora Shalaway Carpenter
10 books113 followersNora Shalaway Carpenter's novels and anthologies have been named "Best of the Year" by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, Bank Street Books, and A Mighty Girl, and have won accolades including the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, the Whippoorwill Award for authentic rural fiction, and the Nautilus Award championing "better books for a better world." She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and serves as faculty for the Highlights Foundation's Whole Novel Workshop and Intro to Short Fiction class. Learn more at noracarpenterwrites.com.
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December 29, 2019I think what this book does is really special. It’s entirely friendship-centric - no romance to be found for either protag - and it’s about two girls who learn how to ask for help through an unexpected newfound friendship. I really love when mental health books help give language to readers who might need it, and who make clear that illnesses can take different forms for different people and don’t necessarily have one static lineup for symptoms. It also nicely and implicitly exemplifies the whole thing of “You’d ask for medicine if a bone was broken, so why not your brain?” in both directions. I also really appreciated Sage’s athleticism and the way her plans for her future planned out - yay both for more girls in sports and for more books discussing the realities of athletic injuries and conditions.
July 14, 2021
Look, I know I'm in the minority here, but I really struggled with this book. To be fair, it's not something I would've picked to read on my own, but it came in a subscription box and I was committed to completing it.
What made this book so difficult for me to enjoy was that I hated Sage with a passion. She was just the worst. I went into this book expecting it to be about an unlikely friendship. I adore friendship stories, so I was cautiously optimistic that this book might somehow surpass my low expectations. Sage, though, is the worst friend ever. I understand that she is dealing with A LOT and has lost a tremendous part of her identity, but I don't think that's to blame for her behavior. And I certainly don't think she redeemed herself in the end for any of her earlier actions.
The real MVP of this book was Len's sister, Fauna, who talks all too briefly about the importance of learning how to grieve. YES. Can we please erase Sage altogether and replace her with Fauna?
What made this book so difficult for me to enjoy was that I hated Sage with a passion. She was just the worst. I went into this book expecting it to be about an unlikely friendship. I adore friendship stories, so I was cautiously optimistic that this book might somehow surpass my low expectations. Sage, though, is the worst friend ever. I understand that she is dealing with A LOT and has lost a tremendous part of her identity, but I don't think that's to blame for her behavior. And I certainly don't think she redeemed herself in the end for any of her earlier actions.
The real MVP of this book was Len's sister, Fauna, who talks all too briefly about the importance of learning how to grieve. YES. Can we please erase Sage altogether and replace her with Fauna?
June 19, 2021
An 'own voices' story about mental illness and the power of friendship. Carpenter speaks with the authority of personal experience in a remarkable page-turner of a novel. Sage and Len will inspire you, frustrate you, and, at times, break your heart.
February 2, 2020
(ARC) I absolutely loved this book. I love this story and all the energy behind it. It’s sure to be so helpful to kids who are hiding and spiraling, and some of the phrases just killed me. I especially loved that the ketchup “exhaled its blob”, but there were many passages throughout that left me a little breathless.
The Edge of Anything is a gorgeously imagined, tender, irresistible examination of shame and the secrets we keep even from ourselves, but more than that, it is a reminder that vulnerability and truth telling are the best paths to healing and triumph.
The Edge of Anything is a gorgeously imagined, tender, irresistible examination of shame and the secrets we keep even from ourselves, but more than that, it is a reminder that vulnerability and truth telling are the best paths to healing and triumph.
April 8, 2020
Nora Shalaway Carpenter’s debut young adult novel The Edge of Anything (Running Press Teens) is a book that we don’t so much simply read but rather become part of its lifelike rhythms and textures. At first, we are taken in by the thoughts and activities of the two main characters, Sage and Len, two high school seniors whose lives seem relatively normal but contain just enough quirks and teen drama to make them interesting. When Carpenter has readers absorbed into both girls’ stories, things begin to unravel.
I’m getting ahead too quickly here. Sage is a volleyball star at her school. She is on a path to earn a full-ride scholarship to a Division I university. Len is interested in photography, and if she can apply herself she might have a chance at a scholarship too. The chapters of The Edge of Anything alternate between the points of view of Sage and Len, although they are not the narrators. (To be honest, it’s kind of nice to read a YA book that steps away from the first person-present point of view that is so omnipresent in this field of literature.) The two girls go to the same school, and when their paths cross early in the book, they are aware of one another but far from engaged with each other because their lives are very different, or so they think.
Then Sage develops a physical obstacle that threatens her volleyball career, and Len’s fragile mental state becomes more evident. Each young woman is mostly on her own as she struggles with her challenges, but Sage and Len meet again under different circumstances, and a friendship develops. The beauty of this friendship is the heart of The Edge of Anything. Sage and Len have very little in common on the surface, but they share an understanding of trauma. As each girl risks letting the other understand more about her, they learn to support and help each other navigate the effects of their debilitating experiences.
The parents in The Edge of Anything are a fascinating supporting cast. They are well-intentioned but because of their own lenses are unhelpful and even counter-productive when their daughters need them. Nora Shalaway Carpenter writes just as perceptively about family dynamics as she does about friend relationships.
The Edge of Anything may be the just-right book for young readers who seek out the work of Jennifer Niven, John Green, Angie Thomas, Laurie Halse Anderson, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Nicola Yoon, and other realistic fiction writers. Librarians and teachers can also recommend it to volleyball players and those interested in sports books. The volleyball scenes and team dynamics show that the author clearly understands the strategies and mechanics of this popular sport, and YA volleyball books are rare.
In a time when friendships are frequently based on social media Likes and group activities coordinated by adults, The Edge of Anything is a beautiful story about the power of what can happen when two people are motivated to authentically explore the mysteries of what they have in common. We need more books like this.
I’m getting ahead too quickly here. Sage is a volleyball star at her school. She is on a path to earn a full-ride scholarship to a Division I university. Len is interested in photography, and if she can apply herself she might have a chance at a scholarship too. The chapters of The Edge of Anything alternate between the points of view of Sage and Len, although they are not the narrators. (To be honest, it’s kind of nice to read a YA book that steps away from the first person-present point of view that is so omnipresent in this field of literature.) The two girls go to the same school, and when their paths cross early in the book, they are aware of one another but far from engaged with each other because their lives are very different, or so they think.
Then Sage develops a physical obstacle that threatens her volleyball career, and Len’s fragile mental state becomes more evident. Each young woman is mostly on her own as she struggles with her challenges, but Sage and Len meet again under different circumstances, and a friendship develops. The beauty of this friendship is the heart of The Edge of Anything. Sage and Len have very little in common on the surface, but they share an understanding of trauma. As each girl risks letting the other understand more about her, they learn to support and help each other navigate the effects of their debilitating experiences.
The parents in The Edge of Anything are a fascinating supporting cast. They are well-intentioned but because of their own lenses are unhelpful and even counter-productive when their daughters need them. Nora Shalaway Carpenter writes just as perceptively about family dynamics as she does about friend relationships.
The Edge of Anything may be the just-right book for young readers who seek out the work of Jennifer Niven, John Green, Angie Thomas, Laurie Halse Anderson, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Nicola Yoon, and other realistic fiction writers. Librarians and teachers can also recommend it to volleyball players and those interested in sports books. The volleyball scenes and team dynamics show that the author clearly understands the strategies and mechanics of this popular sport, and YA volleyball books are rare.
In a time when friendships are frequently based on social media Likes and group activities coordinated by adults, The Edge of Anything is a beautiful story about the power of what can happen when two people are motivated to authentically explore the mysteries of what they have in common. We need more books like this.
April 30, 2019
So much emphasis is placed on young people being tough and capable, able to handle conflict and strife, and overcome any situation through strength and determination. But what do you do when faced with a challenge that is truly out of your control? What do you do when being strong isn’t enough?
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is the story of Len and Sage, two very different girls facing two very different problems. Artsy Len has enough on her plate with financial worries, her grandmother’s declining health, and the looming deadline for a photography scholarship. But the aftermath of a sudden tragedy leaves her struggling minute-to-minute, suddenly estranged from her sister, and overwhelmed by a world she can’t bear to touch. Meanwhile Sage, a driven athlete and volleyball superstar, finds herself devastated and rudderless following a doctor visit that derails all her dreams and ambitions in a single afternoon. Faced with literally no other option, Sage must come to terms with the fact that the one thing she loves most could easily end her life.
Through a series of seemingly small encounters, Len and Sage form a cautious friendship, each drawn to the other by the telltale signs of loss and despair. Together they are stronger, each more comfortable helping and coping with the other’s struggle than their own, but their problems go far beyond the typical angst and heartbreak—far beyond what any teen, no matter how strong and capable, should have to handle on their own. And as each girl spirals deeper in to grief and helplessness, the choices they make and the risks they take lead them each to their own tipping points, where “powering through” could quite literally be a matter of life and death.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is wonderfully written, full of rich imagery and vivid descriptions of the city of Asheville and the surrounding mountain region of North Carolina. Both narrative voices, despite belonging to opposite personalities, are engaging and believable, sympathetic and likable, and backed by a strong supporting cast of equally nuanced minor characters. The story tackles the stigmas and difficulties surrounding both physical and mental health with respect, compassion, and realistic language. It is a story of friendship and hope, identity and self-awareness. I highly recommend this lovely, poignant debut.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is the story of Len and Sage, two very different girls facing two very different problems. Artsy Len has enough on her plate with financial worries, her grandmother’s declining health, and the looming deadline for a photography scholarship. But the aftermath of a sudden tragedy leaves her struggling minute-to-minute, suddenly estranged from her sister, and overwhelmed by a world she can’t bear to touch. Meanwhile Sage, a driven athlete and volleyball superstar, finds herself devastated and rudderless following a doctor visit that derails all her dreams and ambitions in a single afternoon. Faced with literally no other option, Sage must come to terms with the fact that the one thing she loves most could easily end her life.
Through a series of seemingly small encounters, Len and Sage form a cautious friendship, each drawn to the other by the telltale signs of loss and despair. Together they are stronger, each more comfortable helping and coping with the other’s struggle than their own, but their problems go far beyond the typical angst and heartbreak—far beyond what any teen, no matter how strong and capable, should have to handle on their own. And as each girl spirals deeper in to grief and helplessness, the choices they make and the risks they take lead them each to their own tipping points, where “powering through” could quite literally be a matter of life and death.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is wonderfully written, full of rich imagery and vivid descriptions of the city of Asheville and the surrounding mountain region of North Carolina. Both narrative voices, despite belonging to opposite personalities, are engaging and believable, sympathetic and likable, and backed by a strong supporting cast of equally nuanced minor characters. The story tackles the stigmas and difficulties surrounding both physical and mental health with respect, compassion, and realistic language. It is a story of friendship and hope, identity and self-awareness. I highly recommend this lovely, poignant debut.
May 1, 2020
I’m having trouble finding the words to describe how special and beautiful this book is, even though I’ve been telling everyone about it for days. I loved it so much. It made me not just cry but SOB, from both happiness and sadness. All the characters are so well written, but especially the two main characters, Sage and Len, whose stories are the kind that break your heart and then knit it back together and leave you a little different — better — afterward. If you love books about friendship, or if you’ve ever struggled with mental health, or love someone who has, or just want to understand how to be a better friend to someone who is struggling, or just want a cathartic cry, read this book, I beg of you. It’s basically perfect and one of the best books I’ve read in years.
March 26, 2020
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE EDGE OF ANYTHING by Nora Shalaway Carpenter in exchange for my honest review.***
Len, an outcast with OCD and bullied by her classmates, harbors a horrible secret. Volleyball star Sage keeps her recently diagnosed heart condition hidden from her friends. The teens strike up an unlikely friendship that may help both overcome their obstacles.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING, an enjoyable yet predictable read, kept me interested enough to finish in an afternoon.
I had a lot of empathy for Lennon and her crazy father who believed positive thinking could cure cancer and other unscientific methods as primary, not secondary, lines of treatment. Without hid unintentional brainwashing, Len’s issues would have been less severe.
Sage touched me too. I could easily see how she wanted to believe ‘it won’t happen to me’. Her lies, both understandable and frustrating, also made sense as she wasn’t able to be honest with herself, how could she be with others.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING represented OCD and mental health accurately. I loved Sage googling Len’s symptoms. Everyone thinks she’s an expert after attending Dr Google’s Medical School. Len happened to be right and helpful.
I felt no tension reading THE EDGE OF ANYTHING, no surprises. Younger YA readers and those interested in mental and physical health will enjoy THE EDGE OF ANYTHING.
Len, an outcast with OCD and bullied by her classmates, harbors a horrible secret. Volleyball star Sage keeps her recently diagnosed heart condition hidden from her friends. The teens strike up an unlikely friendship that may help both overcome their obstacles.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING, an enjoyable yet predictable read, kept me interested enough to finish in an afternoon.
I had a lot of empathy for Lennon and her crazy father who believed positive thinking could cure cancer and other unscientific methods as primary, not secondary, lines of treatment. Without hid unintentional brainwashing, Len’s issues would have been less severe.
Sage touched me too. I could easily see how she wanted to believe ‘it won’t happen to me’. Her lies, both understandable and frustrating, also made sense as she wasn’t able to be honest with herself, how could she be with others.
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING represented OCD and mental health accurately. I loved Sage googling Len’s symptoms. Everyone thinks she’s an expert after attending Dr Google’s Medical School. Len happened to be right and helpful.
I felt no tension reading THE EDGE OF ANYTHING, no surprises. Younger YA readers and those interested in mental and physical health will enjoy THE EDGE OF ANYTHING.
December 16, 2019
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is an beautifully written and affecting debut that follows an unexpected friendship between two teen girls – Sage, a star volleyball player aiming for a scholarship to play at a top school, and Len, an introverted artist with college dreams of her own – both who have their lives upended by events beyond their control. As Len struggles to cope with a severe case of OCD triggered by family stresses and a tragic loss, Sage has to process a devastating medical diagnosis that will cause her to question everything about herself. Through their relationship, Shalaway Carpenter explores mental illness, friendship, identity and family dynamics with a great deal of honesty and empathy... and, wow, does she ever have a way with words. From intense, heat-of-the-moment volleyball matches to the view of the natural world we get to see through Len’s camera lens, I was frequently dazzled by her descriptions and use of language, which do an amazing job of rooting the reader in the landscape and emotion of this story. This book is an especially great choice for teens – so many kids face issues with mental illness or have friends and peers who do – and this is a story that offers hope for those who are going through their own challenges while providing a window of empathy for those who may not understand a lot about OCD and anxiety. And it’s just a great read with characters who feel lived-in and real. Sage and Len will stay in my heart for a long time.
June 7, 2020
3.5 stars
Trigger Warnings: depression, ocd, traumatic loss
This had incredible friendship and explored topics I don't see often enough in ya. The writing was simple and the dialog was well done
Trigger Warnings: depression, ocd, traumatic loss
This had incredible friendship and explored topics I don't see often enough in ya. The writing was simple and the dialog was well done
February 23, 2021
*I received a free digital ARC via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Heart wrenching
This couldn’t be more beautifully told. Although, at the beginning, I was extremely sceptical. I’m not really a volleyball fan, so whilst I appreciated the detail in the story of all the gameplay, it was a bit lost on me. Yet, as the story gathered momentum, the story behind everything grips and doesn’t let go.
Sage, the superstar volleyball player, considered aloof to any outsider. Yet we soon find out that Sage isn’t all she appears to be. When Sage passes out during a match, it’s discovered that she has a heart condition which disqualifies her from playing. For life.
Len, short for Lennon, named after, well, her father is a huge Beatles fan, so should be obvious. She was once an amazing student, set for great heights in photography, yet everyone at school, including her teachers, have noticed she’s changed. The students typically laugh at her for being the weirdo, the odd one out, which just isolates her even more.
Sage is surprisingly sympathetic of Len, even before her diagnosis, yet she doesn’t understand at all. Once Sage receives her diagnosis, Len is the first one to notice that Sage is carrying a heavy burden of sadness. Len is also the only one to not judge, to not push her to be happy. Somehow, through these encounters, each seeks the other out, and develop a tenuous friendship, that may indeed save both of their lives.
As the story develops, all the signs are there of Len’s OCD, yet Sage is the first to truly notice and take an interest in it. Len, of course, in all her confusion, believes it to be something entirely different. The quirks of the condition are handled so well, the panic attacks, the obsessive behaviour. If you understand any of this in any way at all, then you can appreciate fully what Len is going through and how sympathetically it is written.
It's near the ending when everything breaks lose, when Sage is on the verge of collapse after pushing herself too far, and Len comes to save her. Then Sage helps Len to finally confront what happened that changed everything. My Gods, I truly blubbed when Len was reunited with her sister.
This is a story of friendship beyond the lines, how two seemingly different teenagers meet and form a friendship from the ashes of disaster and devastation. By the time I got to the end, I appreciated, loved, and had a respect for it all.
Final rating: ★★★★★ – Loved it/couldn't put it down
December 31, 2019
(ARC)... what a beautiful book this is.
In this dual POV novel, volleyball superstar Sage faces a physical health challenge that puts her mental health at risk; loner and photographer Len faces a mental health challenge that puts her physical health at risk. The unlikely pair find each other at the moment each girl most needs a friend.
Carpenter manages the pivotal moments for each girl with a grace that doesn’t undercut them. Instead, the challenges highlight how friendship makes it *worthwhile* to overcome great difficulties.
Two especially interesting elements of craft here are:
1. The construction of poverty. Len’s family deals with elder care and significant financial insecurity that makes Len feel like getting help is impossible. But much of their difficulty is tied to her dad’s boho career choices, as opposed to more systemic issues. Carpenter navigates Len’s experienced poverty with compassion, but she doesn’t excuse the parents.
2. The parents, in both families, are not terrible humans, but they’re terrible for the girls. As a reader, I felt so much relief at the end of the book when
The author’s note highlights her #ownvoices experience with trauma-induced OCD.
CW: thought spirals, rare medical diagnoses, CBT as treatment for OCD
In this dual POV novel, volleyball superstar Sage faces a physical health challenge that puts her mental health at risk; loner and photographer Len faces a mental health challenge that puts her physical health at risk. The unlikely pair find each other at the moment each girl most needs a friend.
Carpenter manages the pivotal moments for each girl with a grace that doesn’t undercut them. Instead, the challenges highlight how friendship makes it *worthwhile* to overcome great difficulties.
Two especially interesting elements of craft here are:
1. The construction of poverty. Len’s family deals with elder care and significant financial insecurity that makes Len feel like getting help is impossible. But much of their difficulty is tied to her dad’s boho career choices, as opposed to more systemic issues. Carpenter navigates Len’s experienced poverty with compassion, but she doesn’t excuse the parents.
2. The parents, in both families, are not terrible humans, but they’re terrible for the girls. As a reader, I felt so much relief at the end of the book when
The author’s note highlights her #ownvoices experience with trauma-induced OCD.
CW: thought spirals, rare medical diagnoses, CBT as treatment for OCD
October 10, 2020
What do you get when you take one YA book and remove the Edward and Bella romance trope? You get a well-crafted book. Don’t get me wrong I am a huge fan of Twilight and Hunger Games. This book simply has more...substance and depth. It definitely has a certain je ne sais quoi.
I am a fan of Nora Shalaway Carpenter and I am fairly certain all future books of hers will be an automatic lob into the cart for me!
This book is an opposites attract friendship between popular Sage and less than popular Len (she was named after John Lennon - just like my first cat! 🐈). You will have to see what brought these kindred spirits together.
There is so much I want to say about this book but I dare not give anything away. This book was most beautifully written. From the very beginning to the very end. I cried so much the last dozen or so pages.
Simply phenomenal.
Another fabulous book chosen by Once Upon a Book Club!
I am a fan of Nora Shalaway Carpenter and I am fairly certain all future books of hers will be an automatic lob into the cart for me!
This book is an opposites attract friendship between popular Sage and less than popular Len (she was named after John Lennon - just like my first cat! 🐈). You will have to see what brought these kindred spirits together.
There is so much I want to say about this book but I dare not give anything away. This book was most beautifully written. From the very beginning to the very end. I cried so much the last dozen or so pages.
Simply phenomenal.
Another fabulous book chosen by Once Upon a Book Club!
March 25, 2020
There are books written for pleasure from which you'll learn something and again there are books written especially to teach something and you'll learn it with pleasure. The Edge of Anything is a book of the second category.
The blurb gives you an idea about the subject and its gravity. Yet, all its seriousness is delivered in an artistic manner which both stresses the impact on the readers and offers them a very agreeable reading experience.
The two main characters don't only have to deal themselves with serious issues but also with the reaction of those around them. Looking for valid and satisfying solutions is hard when one is alone against the world. Because isn't it, teenagers tend to think in harsh white and black? The importance of family & friends and trust & confidence is vital and the author succeeds to communicate this to the world.
With no exaggerations, no empty declarations, no "dead" moments but with grace, nice wording in "teenagers' language", The Edge of Anything is a book that should be read by all teens irrespectively of who they are and also by their parents. After all, the parents must understand and protect their sons and daughters.
Enjoy!
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/202...
The blurb gives you an idea about the subject and its gravity. Yet, all its seriousness is delivered in an artistic manner which both stresses the impact on the readers and offers them a very agreeable reading experience.
The two main characters don't only have to deal themselves with serious issues but also with the reaction of those around them. Looking for valid and satisfying solutions is hard when one is alone against the world. Because isn't it, teenagers tend to think in harsh white and black? The importance of family & friends and trust & confidence is vital and the author succeeds to communicate this to the world.
With no exaggerations, no empty declarations, no "dead" moments but with grace, nice wording in "teenagers' language", The Edge of Anything is a book that should be read by all teens irrespectively of who they are and also by their parents. After all, the parents must understand and protect their sons and daughters.
Enjoy!
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/202...
April 5, 2023
I have lots of thoughts. I actually really enjoyed reading from Len's perspective, but my god I could not STAND Sage. She was incredibly selfish, and annoying, and I hated having to deal with her thoughts for a chapter. Also, the beginning was kind of slow. But authors who write annoying protagonists will be the death of me.
May 18, 2020
Sometimes bad things, really bad things, happen to good people. Len and Sage both have heartbreaking defining moments, moments that break them. This is a story of picking up pieces, friendship and hope. You might want to grab some tissues, you are probably going to need them.
December 6, 2022
THIS is girls supporting girls THIS is female friendship THIS is true platonic love
this book made me happy by the end, i had literal goosebumps as i read the final page. please, just go read this book.
this book made me happy by the end, i had literal goosebumps as i read the final page. please, just go read this book.
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July 12, 2025This is one of those books that I’m so glad it has been written so middle grade and high schoolers have a chance to see other deal with traumatic events, loss, and OCD. Beautiful to see it in community.
No rating because I’m not the targeted audience but so glad it has been written.
No rating because I’m not the targeted audience but so glad it has been written.
May 14, 2020
This book gave me the courage to admit that it is ok to be not ok. It showed me that everyone can be messed up, and that life is not always sunshine and daisies. I learned the power of friendship, and that true friends can be totally opposite yet be closer than sisters. A awesome book that tells the truth about the world and doesn’t sugarcoat it.
May 17, 2020
So I got this book in a Once Upon a Book Club box. I did not have high expectations going in as I knew nothing about the book nor ever heard of it. This book was definitely enjoyable to say the least. It just didn’t really stick with me. It was an average book I could say and reminded me of books I read before so it didn’t seem that original which is why I’d say it’s average.
November 20, 2019
THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is a powerful, poignant story of two very different girls reeling from their own private pain, and the unlikely friendship that ultimately saves them both.
Len hopes to apply for a photography scholarship but is barely managing amid her gaping guilt over a mysterious family tragedy. Sage is a volleyball star, who, upon discovering that she has a life-threatening medical condition, is suddenly reeling from dashed dreams and loss of identity. When the two girls' paths cross serendipitously, the storyline takes on an air of deep mystery and urgency--what exactly happened to Len, and how will Sage's dubious, dangerous next steps impact her life and safety?
I appreciated the ways the author takes the reader through the layers of a disorienting disease like OCD. Juxtaposed against Sage's separate but equally unique story, social hierarchies and issues of identity are challenged, showcasing a revealing transformation between the two girls.
This story's characterization is honest and pure, and the narrative is filled with so much truth and wisdom that I found myself rereading many lines just to savor their beauty and power:
It was a different kind of strength, she realized, the ability to face a bleakness you couldn't fix.
"You have to go through all the darkness. If you don't, it will devour you."
Slowly, an idea unfurled in her mind. It was wispy first, like morning fog.
I adored the author's heartfelt, emotionally attuned writing style. She also manages contemporary themes with astute awareness: mental and physical health, identity, family, adversity, and the brilliant power of friendship. A profoundly wise and fulfilling story, THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is filled with characters that are unforgettable, moving, and inspiring. Five stars.
Len hopes to apply for a photography scholarship but is barely managing amid her gaping guilt over a mysterious family tragedy. Sage is a volleyball star, who, upon discovering that she has a life-threatening medical condition, is suddenly reeling from dashed dreams and loss of identity. When the two girls' paths cross serendipitously, the storyline takes on an air of deep mystery and urgency--what exactly happened to Len, and how will Sage's dubious, dangerous next steps impact her life and safety?
I appreciated the ways the author takes the reader through the layers of a disorienting disease like OCD. Juxtaposed against Sage's separate but equally unique story, social hierarchies and issues of identity are challenged, showcasing a revealing transformation between the two girls.
This story's characterization is honest and pure, and the narrative is filled with so much truth and wisdom that I found myself rereading many lines just to savor their beauty and power:
It was a different kind of strength, she realized, the ability to face a bleakness you couldn't fix.
"You have to go through all the darkness. If you don't, it will devour you."
Slowly, an idea unfurled in her mind. It was wispy first, like morning fog.
I adored the author's heartfelt, emotionally attuned writing style. She also manages contemporary themes with astute awareness: mental and physical health, identity, family, adversity, and the brilliant power of friendship. A profoundly wise and fulfilling story, THE EDGE OF ANYTHING is filled with characters that are unforgettable, moving, and inspiring. Five stars.
September 30, 2019
I would give The Edge of Anything six stars if I could. Nora Shalaway Carpenter is an expert at crafting a novel, never easing up on the pacing and tension that makes us turn the pages, and turn them quickly. What makes this novel so extraordinary, however, is its hope . . . and respect for fellow human beings . . . and the way her characters are so beautifully imagined that everything about them is true and real. I must confess I was teary for the good last eighth of the novel, but, honestly, they were tears of hope and joy and satisfaction. Go read this book. It may be about two gorgeous human beings trying to find their way through some awful things, but it is reassuring throughout. I'll say it again, the heart and soul of it is hope.
December 29, 2019
I thought that this book was really powerful in describing ways to deal with grief, loss, and difficult news. Both characters felt a little bit flat at the beginning of the book, but the author did a really great job filling out their characters as the story went on. I enjoyed the exploration of mental health within this story. I enjoyed the overall character arc. Both characters were dealing with things that I cannot personally connect with, but I still felt connections to the characters themselves. This was a really enjoyable and powerful YA contemporary that balanced serious topics with moments of joy and levity.
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November 27, 2019I loved this beautifully written YA novel about grief, mental health, and the power of friendship. Sage and Len are fully realized teens who are forced to deal with overpoweringly unfair, devastating circumstances. Readers will empathize with them, worry about them, and root for them as they develop an unexpected connection with each other and help each other move toward hope. The descriptions are lovely, the mountainous North Carolina setting is vivid, the pacing is absorbing, and the emotions are deep and important. An accomplished and affecting debut!
January 10, 2020
I just finished THE EDGE OF ANYTHING, and as I wipe my cheeks dry, let me tell you how much I loved it. The Edge of Anything is a friendship story about two girls, Len and Sage, who are dealing with illness. Len is fighting OCD and Sage has a heart condition. They are both facing loss and grief and they both react with so much kindness even when life makes them messy. I loved both girls so much. The OCD rep is shared by the author and it feels so lovingly heartbreakingly honest and important. It comes out in April from Running Press. I highly recommend it.
March 17, 2020
Think back to when you were in high school (if you’re in high school, you don’t have to think too far back) and you just wanted a friend who understood your damage. Nora Shalaway Carpenter keeps things real and raw in this window into the lives of Len and Sage whose paths cross one fateful day. A powerful debut novel about mental health, friendship, family, and resilience set in North Carolina.
May 14, 2020
4.5 stars - I really enjoyed this book! It’s a beautiful book about friendship. This is not a romance and I found that to be really refreshing for a YA book. Len and Sage are the most unlikely of friends, but I loved seeing their quirky friendship grow.
There was a little bit of language. Len’s sister is lesbian, and her sister and wife are mentioned frequently. No sex or violence. Mental illness is a theme throughout the book.
There was a little bit of language. Len’s sister is lesbian, and her sister and wife are mentioned frequently. No sex or violence. Mental illness is a theme throughout the book.
October 13, 2019
The Edge of Anything is a beautifully-written touching story about the power of friendship and the resilience of the spirit. I fell in love with Len and Sage and was caught up in their world and struggles. Carpenter has done a deft job of characterization and drawing from her personal experience to craft a novel that brings empathy to mental health struggles and inspires hope.
March 7, 2023
This book was the YA 2023 Community Read for my library. I read it because being a librarian doing programs focusing on the "friendship" theme, I want to always try and read the YA books. So, I liked the book, I think it's fine and I can see it being a good movie, if the casting and writing is good.
I liked the friendship that developed between Sage and Len. I thought it was sweet and I thought it was nice that Sage tried to include Len in things at school. I liked how she tried to read up on Len's disorders and how Len understood Sage in the way she needed. So, just some quick thoughts on the main girls.
Sage: I've heard and saw here and there that people hated/disliked Sage but I didn't mind her. I probably liked her and Len about the same lol. Don't get me wrong, I think what she does is completely reckless and could have really turned out badly and I was extremely frustrated with her because of her actions. I also think that the whole thing about how she viewed herself being the best on her team and being extremely jealous that her other teammates were getting offers she could no longer pursue (or even received) is pretty realistic. I get that it's horrible but I feel like her emotions about it were fair... were they right? No... but fair for her to feel that way. Especially when you're told your whole sports career that you're the best. It's not easy to shake that thought process. Also, the whole thing about her not verbally saying what was wrong with her but expecting her friends to know... well lol I also found that realistic. We tend to hold our friends, especially best friends, to high standards and since they're supposed to know us so well, why wouldn't Sage, a teenager, think her friends should just know something is wrong without her having to say it? We as adults know that that's not realistic or is it healthy (or hopefully we know that lol) but that's something that Sage would have to learn. Listening to the audiobook probably helped a lot because the narrator did a great job with showcasing Sage's frustrations, heartbreak and the moments of compassion and strength she has with Len.
Len: I think Len's story is extremely sad. We don't hear a ton about her before the events of the book, but it seems she was pretty okay while in school until the trauma that happened with Nadia. I think that's super sad and I can imagine how that would mess someone up so badly that it causes them to develop a mental health issue. But I think the book does a good job at showing the reality of it and how a person living with a disorder will think. But I liked at the end, how she was willing to push through a lot of her disorder to be there for Sage. I thought that showed incredibly growth from Len and I was very proud of her.
In the end, I liked the book. I liked that it just focused on the interpersonal relationships between these two girls and their respective separate lives. I think the audiobook really helped though. I'm not sure if I would have made it through as quickly as I did if I was just reading it.
I liked the friendship that developed between Sage and Len. I thought it was sweet and I thought it was nice that Sage tried to include Len in things at school. I liked how she tried to read up on Len's disorders and how Len understood Sage in the way she needed. So, just some quick thoughts on the main girls.
Sage: I've heard and saw here and there that people hated/disliked Sage but I didn't mind her. I probably liked her and Len about the same lol. Don't get me wrong, I think what she does is completely reckless and could have really turned out badly and I was extremely frustrated with her because of her actions. I also think that the whole thing about how she viewed herself being the best on her team and being extremely jealous that her other teammates were getting offers she could no longer pursue (or even received) is pretty realistic. I get that it's horrible but I feel like her emotions about it were fair... were they right? No... but fair for her to feel that way. Especially when you're told your whole sports career that you're the best. It's not easy to shake that thought process. Also, the whole thing about her not verbally saying what was wrong with her but expecting her friends to know... well lol I also found that realistic. We tend to hold our friends, especially best friends, to high standards and since they're supposed to know us so well, why wouldn't Sage, a teenager, think her friends should just know something is wrong without her having to say it? We as adults know that that's not realistic or is it healthy (or hopefully we know that lol) but that's something that Sage would have to learn. Listening to the audiobook probably helped a lot because the narrator did a great job with showcasing Sage's frustrations, heartbreak and the moments of compassion and strength she has with Len.
Len: I think Len's story is extremely sad. We don't hear a ton about her before the events of the book, but it seems she was pretty okay while in school until the trauma that happened with Nadia. I think that's super sad and I can imagine how that would mess someone up so badly that it causes them to develop a mental health issue. But I think the book does a good job at showing the reality of it and how a person living with a disorder will think. But I liked at the end, how she was willing to push through a lot of her disorder to be there for Sage. I thought that showed incredibly growth from Len and I was very proud of her.
In the end, I liked the book. I liked that it just focused on the interpersonal relationships between these two girls and their respective separate lives. I think the audiobook really helped though. I'm not sure if I would have made it through as quickly as I did if I was just reading it.
March 25, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc from netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Edge of Anything
Author: Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: OCD rep! Own voice!
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (mental health, depression)
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Len is a loner teen photographer haunted by a past that’s stagnated her work and left her terrified she’s losing her mind. Sage is a high school volleyball star desperate to find a way around her sudden medical disqualification. Both girls need college scholarships. After a chance encounter, the two develop an unlikely friendship that enables them to begin facing their inner demons.
But both Len and Sage are keeping secrets that, left hidden, could cost them everything, maybe even their lives.
Set in the North Carolina mountains, this dynamic #ownvoices novel explores grief, mental health, and the transformative power of friendship.
Review: I really loved this one! It was poignant and heartbreaking all in the same. The book did well with the dual POVs and the character development was amazing. The world building was also done well and I applaud the author for making realistic characters, with flaws and all. Also, hats off to the amazing OCD rep!
The only issue I had with the book is that there were some overdramatic scenes and writing that I felt was a bit out of character. Other than that, this was a great book!
Verdict: A must read!
Book: The Edge of Anything
Author: Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: OCD rep! Own voice!
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (mental health, depression)
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Len is a loner teen photographer haunted by a past that’s stagnated her work and left her terrified she’s losing her mind. Sage is a high school volleyball star desperate to find a way around her sudden medical disqualification. Both girls need college scholarships. After a chance encounter, the two develop an unlikely friendship that enables them to begin facing their inner demons.
But both Len and Sage are keeping secrets that, left hidden, could cost them everything, maybe even their lives.
Set in the North Carolina mountains, this dynamic #ownvoices novel explores grief, mental health, and the transformative power of friendship.
Review: I really loved this one! It was poignant and heartbreaking all in the same. The book did well with the dual POVs and the character development was amazing. The world building was also done well and I applaud the author for making realistic characters, with flaws and all. Also, hats off to the amazing OCD rep!
The only issue I had with the book is that there were some overdramatic scenes and writing that I felt was a bit out of character. Other than that, this was a great book!
Verdict: A must read!
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