The Ethan I Was Before

My dare. My friend. My fault.

Uplifting and unpredictable, this poignant debut middle-grade novel is a classic in the making. Perfect for fans of WONDER and A BOY CALLED HOPE.

Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from the city he loves to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere.

Ethan's new home feels like the place for second chances. It's also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn't the only one with secrets. Coralee's are catching up with her, and what she's hiding might be putting both their lives at risk.

THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE is a story of friendship, wonder, adventure and ultimately of hope.

“The emotional heart of the book is lovely.”

Breathtakingly tender and poignant throughout... this is a book that will resonate with readers of any age. The School Librarian
Book Bag
Readers will be riveted Publishers Weekly, starred review
This well-executed, first-person narrative succeeds largely dude to Standish's ability to give Ethan a vibrant presence and a voice that readers of all ages can identify with. Secondary characters, whom we see entirely from his perspective, are real and compelling. It challenges inpsires and entertains, with a satisfying, nail-biting ending. The School Librarian
An emotionally powerful story... wonderful characterisation and a strong sense of place are just part of what makes this book feel like a future classic. Book Trust

Ali Standish was raised in North Carolina. She has a BA in English and worked as a teacher and programme administrator in the US Public School system for four years. While teaching, she began an MFA in Children's Writing from Hollins University, from where she will graduate in May. In 2014 she moved to the UK with her Finnish fiance. She currently lives in Cambridge, England, where she writes, edits and studies books for children. She also works as a part-time editor at Working Partners. As a teacher, Ali worked with many children who had suffered a loss or trauma and who often turned to stories to help them navigate their grief. THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE was born from those experiences.

Ways I could fix things if I could time travel: 1. I could have convinced Kacey that we didn't need to go to that stupid party 2. If that didn't work, I could have hammered nails into her dad's tyres so he couldn't drive us there 3. Or I could have told her I wanted to stay inside with all the other kids 4. Or just not dared her to do it There are a million ways I could fix things, if I had the chance. 'Readers will be riveted' Publishers Weekly, starred review

My dare. My friend. My fault. Uplifting and unpredictable, this poignant debut middle-grade novel is a classic in the making. Perfect for fans of WONDER and A BOY CALLED HOPE. Ethan had been many things. He was always ready for adventure and always willing to accept a dare, especially from his best friend, Kacey. But that was before. Before the accident that took Kacey from him. Before his family moved from the city he loves to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. Ethan's new home feels like the place for second chances. It's also home to Coralee, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories. Coralee may be just the friend Ethan needs, except Ethan isn't the only one with secrets. Coralee's are catching up with her, and what she's hiding might be putting both their lives at risk. THE ETHAN I WAS BEFORE is a story of friendship, wonder, adventure and ultimately of hope.

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