Teenager Cason Martin is the youngest ballerina in the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory. She never really had a choice of whether she learned to dance or not. Her mother, the conservatory's artistic director, has made all the decisions in Cason's life. But that's about to change. Cason has been hiding an injury, and it's much worse than anyone imagines. Davis Channing understands all too well what it's like to give up control of your life. He's survived cancer, but his drug addiction nearly killed him. Now he's been sober for seven months and enjoying his community service at the hospital. But just when he thinks he's got it together, Davis's ex-girlfriend, who is still battling her addiction, barrels back into his life. Cason and Davis are not friends. But, as their worlds collide, they will start to depend on one another. Can they both be brave enough to beat the odds?
Kati Gardner is a recovering actor, wife, and mom. She is a childhood cancer survivor and amputee who writes books about disability and kissing. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives and writes in Raleigh, North Carolina. Brave Enough was her first novel. You can find her on Twitter at @AuthorKati, on Instagram at AuthorKatiGardner, and at katigardner.com.
"The debut author, a cancer survivor and amputee, covers challenging physical and emotional terrain in compelling detail with compassionate insight and strong storytelling skills." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Heartbreaking, beautiful, and ultimately hopeful." --Foreword Reviews, starred review
"Gardner's remarkable debut doesn't shy away from the raw emotions experienced by cancer patients and recovering addicts." --Booklist
"A solid addition to YA shelves and a next read for fans of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars." --School Library Journal
"A beautiful debut that is as inspiring as it is real." --Beth Revis, New York Times best-selling author of A World Without You
"Raw, brutal, and beautiful, Kati Gardner's debut is an amazingly vivid and authentic glimpse into dance, cancer, disabilities, and hope." --Sangu Mandanna, author of The Lost Girl
"A beautifully intertwined story of two people who are trying to be courageous. Brave Enough starts with a heartbreak and gives us hope." --Janet McNally, author of Girls in the Moon and The Looking Glass
