Losing Brave

Description

From award-winning actress Bailee Madison and Reader's Choice Award Finalist Stefne Miller, comes Losing Brave. More than a year has passed since seventeen-year-old Payton Brave's twin sister went missing; and Payton, in her desperate attempt to hold on to what's left of Dylan's memory, is starting to crack. Lost in the mystery and turmoil of her sister's disappearance, Payton must overcome the aftermath of being the one left behind. She's unable to remember even the smallest piece of what happened the day Dylan vanished. When sudden and reckless outbursts throw her from the graces of popularity to the outskirts of high school society, her new status attracts a crowd of friends she never anticipated-including a troubling romance with her sister's boyfriend, Cole. New clues unearth about the circumstances of her disappearance when another missing girl's body is recovered from a nearby lake, the victim's features eerily similar to Dylan's. The more Payton pries open the clenches of her blocked memories, yielding to her need to know what happened, the further down the path of danger she goes. The darkness around her sister's disappearance grows and the truth becomes more and more unbearable. And what she finds might just cost her her life.

American teen actress Bailee Madison first found success as May Belle Aarons in Disney's film adaptation of the much-loved children's book Bridge to Terabithia. Bailee has worked with a number of the industry's biggest stars and, at only sixteen years of age, has established an impressive resume with roles in more than eighteen films and twenty-two television series, currently starring in the Hallmark Original Series Good Witch. Stefne Miller started writing in 2009, and within five years wrote eight novels; of those, she self-published three. In 2010, Stefne was a Top 15 Finalist in the Goodreads.com Reader's Choice Awards in the category of Debut Author. Stefne now writes full time and has several projects in development, including two film scripts, a nonfiction book, and a new Young Adult trilogy. She lives in Edmond, OK, with her husband and three sons.

'The Southern setting, suspense, touch of romance, intriguing characters, and the mystery surrounding what happened to Payton's sister add up to a book that ticks all the right boxes. I highly recommend Losing Brave!' * Marcia Gay Harden, actress * 'Losing Brave is an engaging story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The mystery of Dylan's disappearance, and how it affects her twin sister will keep you guessing with each twist and turn along the way.' * Ally Brooke, Fifth Harmony * 'Bailee Madison uses her unique observation of human behavior and environment, that she's used so beautifully as an actress, in this collaboration with Stefne Miller, to create a richly detailed, haunting world that keeps you turning the page with anticipation.' * Christina Hendricks, actress * 'I very much enjoyed reading Losing Brave. Bailee Madison and Stefne Miller have crafted a story that unfolds in surprising ways, and the character of Poe will stick with you long after the book ends.' * Maia Mitchell, actress * 'I was on the edge of my seat with each twist and turn, and the ending blew me away. Pick up Losing Brave and prepare yourself for a late night of reading, because you won't be able to put this book down until the very last page.' * Chloe Grace Moretz, actress * 'If you love mystery, suspense, a touch of romance, and a plot that will keep you guessing from the start, pick up Losing Brave. It's a great read for all ages!' * Candace Cameron Bure, actress and author * Its been a year since Payton's twin sister, Dylan, disappeared from a bus station bathroom. Despite her best efforts, Payton still hasn't been able to recall anything that happened the day Dylan vanished, and lately she's been struggling to keep up her perfect popular-girl persona. When another girl goes missing, new information is unearthed about Dylan's disappearance, and Payton is determined to get to the bottom of it. As she unravels the secrets surrounding Dylan and others in their small town, Payton finds herself going down a darker and more dangerous path than she could have ever imagined. Though the pacing starts slow, it accelerates as more and more clues mount. Despite the pacing problems, Madison (an established actress) and Miller are able to realistically portray southern culture, especially of life in a small town. The characters--and, of course, the twist at the end--make this book one that fans of mystery and drama will definitely enjoy.-- Amanda Shepard * Booklist * Suspense builds as a family's tragedy unfolds in this engrossing and touching novel. Almost a year before the story begins, Payton Brave's twin sister Dylan mysteriously disappears. Although Payton was with Dylan the day her sister vanished, she cannot remember what happened. Coauthors Madison and Miller strategically peel back the many layers of the mystery, slowly revealing just enough to keep readers hooked. Though close, the twins were opposite in many ways. Payton is part of the 'in' crowd; Dylan never cared about being popular. Once Dylan disappeared, Payton began to question her own choices. Her life as one of Cornwell High's 'It Girls' seems more effort than she can manage. Her mortician stepfather, doctor mother, and elderly Nana are loving, but the family members are locked in their individual battles to move forward without knowing what happened to Dylan. As Payton distances herself from her friends and family and even her name (she rechristens herself Poe after the macabre writer), she grows closer to Dylan's crowd of school outcasts. She also finds herself becoming more dependent on Dylan's boyfriend Cole. She's conflicted by her attraction to him, but she needs Cole, as he is the only one willing to help her search for the person who took her sister. As Poe moves closer to finding the assailant, she puts herself in danger. VERDICT A suspenseful thriller with heart and an unexpected twist. Highly recommended. Cindy Wall, Southington Library and Museum, CT * School Library Journal *