When Katie McCabe loses everything familiar, she's forced to rebuild a life, and a family, in a town that doesn't want her.Follow her journey across the 5-book Katie McCabe series, from Rain Falling on Embers through the story's final chapter.
Awards
Winner: the Wishing Shelf Silver Medal • BookFest 1st Place • Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist• Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Judges' Top Pick • Indie Reader Approved
Where Katie's story begins:
Rain Falling on Embers (Katie McCabe, Book 1)
Juvenile Fiction
Hardcover: 9781645480891—October 3, 2023
Paperback: 9781645480907—Release Date TBA
How do you survive the worst thing that can ever happen?
“[With] flawed, fascinating people young readers will relate to and care about, Gardner offers enticing reasons to follow on their paths in future series entries.” ~Booklife Review by Publishers Weekly, Editor’s Pick
When Katie McCabe’s dad gets sick and is hospitalized, she’s sent to live with her uncle in a strange town. But within days of arriving, her dad unexpectedly dies.
Struggling with her new reality, Katie is lost. She doesn't fit in at her new home and never will.
It only gets worse when Katie starts her freshman year of high school and begins to have run-ins with the son of the man who owns the town—a powerful man with ties to her family’s past.
Then one day, she is attacked from behind. Blindfolded and slung across the back of a horse, Katie is taken up into the hills. Dumped in the middle of the wilderness in an oncoming storm, she is left to find her way home. But how will she survive?
“A gritty, character-led, YA novel with a relatable and easy to root for protagonist. A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!”
~The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Praise for Rain Falling on Embers (Katie McCabe, Book 1)
“The strength of this story is in the emotional intensity and complexity of Katie’s painful journey of self-discovery. The author explores the turbulent teen years masterfully, examining numerous themes that will surely resonate with young readers, including bullying, dealing with grief and loss, first love, and finding one’s place in the world.
Additionally, Gardner does a good job of capturing the personality of a 13-year-old, particularly through the deft use of first-person POV.” ~Kirkus
“Gardner’s hero is more realistic than good, and readers will be drawn to the raw truth of her struggles.”
~Children's Literature
“[Rain Falling on Embers] will keep kids reading and talking. It does an admirable job of balancing heavy topics with a dash of humor and a big dose of adventure.” ~IndieReader (4.5/5)
What Comes Next for Katie McCabe?
South of Happy (Katie McCabe, Book 2 — forthcoming)
How do you make the right decision when everything is going wrong?
Still reeling from being left to survive alone in the wilderness, Katie must face her fury toward Denton—even as her world tilts again when her best friend shows up running from the law. Caught between old loyalties and a fragile new relationship with Logan, Katie learns that surviving the hills was only the beginning.
Going Up in Flames (Katie McCabe, Book 3 — forthcoming)
How do you find happiness when you've lost everything you've ever known?
Denton may be facing consequences, but he isn't done with Katie. When blackmail enters the picture, Katie is forced to choose between friends and enemies—and her bond with Logan hangs in the balance. Some fires don't stay contained.
Down to Mercy (Katie McCabe, Book 4 — forthcoming)
How do you run from your troubles when you take them wherever you go?
Convinced she's ruined everyone she loves, Katie runs—straight into a city that doesn't forgive naivety. With nowhere to turn and a killer closing in, she'll have to decide whether going home is even possible anymore.
Current Event from Diary of a Misfit, a short-story compilation companion book to the teen choice award-winning Katie McCabe series, was featured in an art exhibit called Story Chairs created by artist and writer, Tina Hoggatt.
Liana Gardner captures the emotional and tumultuous teenage years as well as the issues teens face: bullying, peer pressure, grief, loss, underage drinking, suicide, first love, and friendship.