Falling Through Darkness

From the Publisher

Publishers Weekly

In her first novel, MacCullough delicately deals with dark themes as her teenage heroine learns to cope with the death of her boyfriend and, also, with the realities of their often-destructive relationship. In the car with Aidan when he crashed and died, Ginny refuses to talk about the accident, even to her father or best friend. Then her father rents the apartment above their garage to a man named Caleb (when asked if he has kids, he says, "I used to. One boy. Not now"), and she finds herself spending more and more time with him. Their relationship begins to draw suspicion, and although Ginny claims that "it's not like that," her own feelings grow romantic. A series of flashbacks, some flowing into the main narrative more smoothly than others, reveal Ginny's experiences with Aidan. The plotting may be overdone in places (Ginny's self-absorbed best friend is unlikable and without dimension, for example, as is Ginny's actress mother), but the prose attains lovely, poetic moments ("I know you, I know you, I know you, you are mine," Ginny thinks when she sees Aidan waiting beneath her window). MacCullough expertly fleshes out the scenes, enabling readers to visualize the action and to intuit the implications for the characters. Realistically portraying Ginny's intense, dangerous relationship with an abused, angry boy who may have driven off that bridge purposely, and wanted-at least symbolically-to take her with him, the author tells simultaneous stories of loss and recovery.

School Library Journal

Ginny, 17, is living in a state of repressed emotion since the death of her boyfriend. She chain-smokes, hides from a too-friendly neighbor, and avoids both her best friend and her loving but cautious father. Interspersed with this clear and compelling portrait of depression are glimpses of her past with Aidan, from the night they first met through her realization that his distressing home life with an abusive father was the cause of his suicide-a suicide that had nearly taken her as a second victim. The book's quiet tone nicely communicates the teen's desperation, although the slow-paced revelations about her boyfriend become annoyingly predictable. A subplot involves Ginny and an older man, her father's convenient tenant whose own bereaved state is too pat. The teen characters seem genuine and varied but the girl's father is the singular rounded and interesting adult. Other adults have brief and unnecessary walk-on parts that distract from the otherwise tightly focused sense of Ginny's isolation. Overall, however, teens will relate to the protagonist's situation

Booklist

Ginny survived the car accident in which her boyfriend, Aidan, died. Now she's in a dark depression, overwhelmed with sorrow and guilt, remembering her four intense months with the wild, gorgeous guy who swept her away from school, home, and friends. There are secrets: how did Aidan die? But the focus here is less on story than on Ginny's seething state of mind; why is she angry? The brooding becomes a bit tiresome as she smokes and lies awake, but first-novelist MacCullough gets the 17-year-old's viewpoint, haunting memories, and interminable days on the edge absolutely right. The dialogue, especially with her concerned dad and with a kind, cute older man, is pitch perfect, whether Ginny is trying to shock, or, more often, when her words are quiet, "almost what she wants to say." As with all good writers, there's no neat, therapeutic message, and the eloquence is in the space between what the characters say and what they don't.

Kirkus Reviews

"An emotional page turner."

The Horn Book:

"A promising debut."

Publishers Weekly

In her first novel, MacCullough delicately deals with dark themes as her teenage heroine learns to cope with the death of her boyfriend and, also, with the realities of their often-destructive relationship. In the car with Aidan when he crashed and died, Ginny refuses to talk about the accident, even to her father or best friend. Then her father rents the apartment above their garage to a man named Caleb (when asked if he has kids, he says, "I used to. One boy. Not now"), and she finds herself spending more and more time with him. Their relationship begins to draw suspicion, and although Ginny claims that "it's not like that," her own feelings grow romantic. A series of flashbacks, some flowing into the main narrative more smoothly than others, reveal Ginny's experiences with Aidan. The plotting may be overdone in places (Ginny's self-absorbed best friend is unlikable and without dimension, for example, as is Ginny's actress mother), but the prose attains lovely, poetic moments ("I know you, I know you, I know you, you are mine," Ginny thinks when she sees Aidan waiting beneath her window). MacCullough expertly fleshes out the scenes, enabling readers to visualize the action and to intuit the implications for the characters. Realistically portraying Ginny's intense, dangerous relationship with an abused, angry boy who may have driven off that bridge purposely, and wanted-at least symbolically-to take her with him, the author tells simultaneous stories of loss and recovery. Ages 12-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

VOYA

Although this book is a quick read, it is not for the faint of heart. It discusses important teenage issues, such as smoking, abuse, and death. The transitions between past and present are often confusing, but they are also important. The only problem is that there is so much going on in the story, the reader could get lost and easily lose the message of trust in the book. VOYA Codes: 2Q 2P S (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Roaring Brook, 151p., Ages 15 to 18.
—Stephanie Liverant, Teen Reviewer

Children's Literature

Straight-laced Ginny, who is the model student, is drawn into a life of skipping classes, tattoos, and daring car rides with the new boy, Aidan. She can't say no to him, but, in the end, he commits suicide and tries to take her with him as he crashes the car over a bridge and into the rocks and water below. Ginny's emotional recovery is long and slow as she takes responsibility for his death. Ginny's story is not written in chronological order but glimpses of past scenes are interspersed in her current life, a powerful way to show how disturbing memories from the past abruptly intrude on the present. Her father is a stable pillar in her life, waiting patiently in the background and supporting her as best he can. Ginny is attracted to the boarder, who rents the room over their garage. Together they realize that the death of a loved one was not necessarily their fault. Ginny wonders why she was not enough for Aidan to want to live and she finally accepts that there never could have been enough for Aidan. 2003, Roaring Brook Press, Ages 14 to 18.
—Janet L. Rose

School Library Journal

Gr 8-10-Ginny, 17, is living in a state of repressed emotion since the death of her boyfriend. She chain-smokes, hides from a too-friendly neighbor, and avoids both her best friend and her loving but cautious father. Interspersed with this clear and compelling portrait of depression are glimpses of her past with Aidan, from the night they first met through her realization that his distressing home life with an abusive father was the cause of his suicide-a suicide that had nearly taken her as a second victim. The book's quiet tone nicely communicates the teen's desperation, although the slow-paced revelations about her boyfriend become annoyingly predictable. A subplot involves Ginny and an older man, her father's convenient tenant whose own bereaved state is too pat. The teen characters seem genuine and varied but the girl's father is the singular rounded and interesting adult. Other adults have brief and unnecessary walk-on parts that distract from the otherwise tightly focused sense of Ginny's isolation. Overall, however, teens will relate to the protagonist's situation.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

This emotional page-turner uses present tense to create a sense of immediacy-and to mirror 17-year-old Ginny's frame of mind as she refuses to think about the past. Four months ago, a car accident left her boyfriend Aidan dead. Ginny knows that she was in the car when it happened, but the nuances and dangers of their secretly abusive relationship are too painful, so she lets her mind float away into spacey distraction whenever feelings or memories threaten to overflow. Her bland façade conceals an expertly written shakiness until she opens up to her father's tenant, Caleb. Caleb, himself traumatized by the death of his young son, is much older than Ginny and an inappropriate object for the intimacy she calls love. No false cheer at the end, but a sliver of hopefulness as Ginny begins to gain clarity and decides to tell her father the complicated truth. (Fiction. YA)