The Upside of Falling

Gr 9 Up–When studious Becca is taunted by her frenemy for not dating, she pretends to have a boyfriend. Determined to earn a spot playing college football, gorgeous Brett has ignored the dating scene, much to the dismay of his father. Overhearing Becca’s lie, he jumps at the chance to be her fake boyfriend. Despite not knowing very much about each other, the two small-town Georgia teens realize they have more in common than they thought as they share ice cream and pastries and spend long hours in the arcade. Becca discovers she loves football much more than she could have imagined, while Brett finds literature increasingly more interesting under Becca’s tutelage. Although the plot is somewhat predictable, readers will likely find many moments endearing as Becca and Brett develop a friendship that leads to true romance.