Catch (Sarah Brill, A&U Children’s)

Sarah Brill’s Catch is a heartfelt and quietly thrilling coming-of-age novel. The story follows 16-year-old Beth as she navigates the upheaval of her older sister’s surprise pregnancy, the quiet chaos of family life and a mysterious new ability: the power to catch people falling – literally. When strangers begin to drop from the sky, Beth instinctively catches them, discovering an uncanny strength and calm that challenge her understanding of what she’s capable of. Brill’s writing is intimate and grounded, capturing the teenage voice with warmth and insight. Beth is conflicted, observant and deeply human. The novel blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, using Beth’s power as a metaphor for emotional weight and young people’s often invisible responsibilities. Her evolving friendship with Lin, shifting dynamics with her crush Etienne and loyalty to her sister in the face of judgment and uncertainty add further emotional depth. What makes Catch especially memorable is its use of magical realism. Beth’s power is never fully explained, but it resonates. The novel resists easy answers or dramatic spectacle, focusing instead on self-belief, resilience and connection. For readers who enjoy contemporary YA fiction with a touch of the uncanny, such as Cath Moore’s Metal Fish, Falling Snow, Catch is a graceful exploration of what it means to hold others up while trying to find your own balance, and learning to trust yourself, even when the ground is shifting beneath your feet.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, author and the education advisor for the Melbourne Writers Festival. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews