Gr 10 Up-Ivan and Maddie have been best friends since childhood. Now they both are high school seniors confronting grown-up challenges. Ivan lives with his alcoholic father, Des, a sometime drug trafficker and part-time carpenter. Ivan often must shoulder the responsibility for himself and his dad during Des's frequent drunken bouts and occasional absences. But the young man hides all of this from his friends, even Maddie. She has her own concerns. Will she attend Emily Carr University of Art and Design, as her father Peter wishes? Or can Bo, her other father, convince Peter to allow her the freedom to find her own way? First-person chapters alternate between Ivan's and Maddie's perspectives. However, the characters never really come to life. The alternating viewpoints should have been a perfect opportunity for the author to delve into the characters' inner struggles, to explore Ivan's despair and Maddie's turmoil. But the action remains on the surface. The characters narrate the story in simple, declarative sentences that make them seem younger than they are. Set on Canada's west coast, the novel gives readers a taste of a close-knit town in which members pitch in during times of need but where much is hidden from public view or overlooked by those who will not see deeper. Surfing, fishing, and festivals add to the local color. This realistic fiction title uses mature language casually and frequently. It also includes multiple episodes of underage drinkingoften in the presence of adults. VERDICT A marginal purchase; try Ash Parsons's Still Waters instead. Gina Petrie, Catawba College Library, NC

Ivan and Maddie have been best friends since they were little, but Ivan has a secret that even Maddie does not know. His father, Des, is an alcoholic who cannot hold down a job, goes on drinking binges, and passes out. When Ivan arrives home, he never knows if he will find cigarettes smoldering on the carpet, beer bottles broken on the kitchen floor, or Des covered in vomit. Whenever it seems like Des is on the mend, he meets up with his friend, Pedro, and trouble ensues. Maddie is grappling with her own dilemma that will affect the course of her lifewhether or not to attend Emily Carr University to study art. Although she does not want to, her dads, Bo and Peter, want her to enroll, especially Peter who wants to spare her the struggling artist lifestyle that he experienced. When Ivan entrusts Pedro's five-year-old granddaughter into Des's care and he then leaves the child alone, it is the last straw.áAt the Edge of the Worldádescribes, in chapters alternating perspectives, Ivan's efforts to keep his home life a secret and Maddie's struggle to find her own way in life. The focus, however, is their friendship which is authentic and endearing. Their love for each other is evident. This is a strong story about family, friendship, the devastating effects of addiction, and dealing with being on the precipice of adulthood. The setting is strong and readers will root for both main characters as they struggle with their issues. While this is a discretionary purchase, it will be well received by fans of best friend stories.Ed Goldberg.