The Drowning Game - by Dusti Bowling (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

It's the late 1990s, and seventeen-year-old Christian is content with his summer plans to work and hang out with his cat, when he gets a phone call from his best friend that will change his life forever. James invites Christian to Arizona for a whitewater rafting trip, even though he knows Christian is terrified of water. But James is persuasive, and Christian relents.

In Salt River Canyon, the heat is scorching, and so is James's pretty girlfriend, Freya. However, something seems off between the couple as bitter words fly. When James and the others disappear in the second raft, Christian and Freya are left to face the rapids alone. Disaster strikes when Freya falls into the river, and Christian is frozen with fear.

One year later, Christian is still wracked with guilt over Freya's death. Now, he's a freshman at Arizona State University, and he thinks he sees Freya on campus. It can't be her. Freya is dead, after all. They found her body. Didn't they? Christian follows Madison, the girl who looks like Freya, everywhere. He was certain Freya had died that day, but now he's certain Madison is Freya. Will he ever find out what's real? Or will his obsession be his downfall?

About the Author

Dusti's books have won the Reading the West Award, the Sakura Medal, a Golden Kite Honor, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and have been nominated for over fifty state awards. Her books are Junior Library Guild Selections and have been named best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, A Mighty Girl, Shelf Awareness, and many more.

Dusti currently lives in Eagar, Arizona with her husband, three daughters, and a bunch of farm animals.

Follow her on X at @DustiBowling.