Drowning Is Inevitable - Tapa blanda

A terrible mistake tests friendships in this stirring novel that John Corey Whaley calls “a literary knockout.”  
 
Olivia has spent her whole life struggling to escape the shadow of her mother, Lillian, a woman so troubled she drowned herself in a river at age eighteen. Olivia’s only outlets in their small Louisiana town are her best friend, Jamie, her handsome but hot-tempered boyfriend, Max, and their wild-child friend, Maggie.
When a terrible fight between Jamie and his father turns deadly, all Olivia can think to do is grab her friends and run. In a flash, the four become fugitives on the road to New Orleans, where they hope to find a solution to an unfixable problem.
Shalanda Stanley’s breathtaking debut explores the deep ties between legacy, loyalty, and love, even as it asks the question: How far would you go to save a friend?
 
Praise:
 
“An emotional book of family bonds and teen relationships, the power of parental influence, and of fate.” —School Library Journal
 
“Anyone who has endured familial strife will appreciate Olivia and her friends. Realistic yet hopeful—a wide array of readers will enjoy this atmospheric book.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“A story that stays in hearts forever.” —YA Books Central
 
“The story shows the powerful bonds of friendship over even the inevitability of family.” —Bustle.com 
 
“Both heartwarming and heartbreaking.” —Emily Reads Everything
 
“A definite must-read.” —The Review Diaries

Shalanda grew up in Louisiana and earned her BA in creative writing at Florida State University. She has an MEd in special education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a PhD from LSU in curriculum and instruction, with a focus in reading curriculum and research. She’s an assistant professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in the department of Curriculum, Instruction & Leadership. Find her at shalandastanley.com.