Lion Girl - Paperback

Fifteen-year-old Emma Watters has been running since she watched her little sister die in their front yard six years ago. But no matter how fast or far she runs, she can't outdistance what haunts her most-Casey would be alive if it were not for her.

Recently diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a suicide attempt, Emma longs to create a life worth living, one that releases her from that horrific moment when she stood frozen on the front porch. If she has any hope of recovery, she'll need to confront long-buried secrets surrounding the day Casey died, as well as face their formidable mom, who blames Emma for what happened and faces mental health issues of her own.

And there's so much more. Should she talk to someone about seeing her dead sister almost daily? Will she ever overcome her anxiety and panic attacks? Will her dad try to get them help or will he continue to pretend they can deal with the trauma of losing Casey on their own? Will her mom blame her forever? Can Emma mend a relationship with her best friend Fi who's upset with her attempted suicide? And what should she do about Fi's flirty new boyfriend?

Life is a lot for Emma right now. Can she muster the courage it will take to overcome her challenges? With help from a tough-talking track coach, her feisty grandma, new friends, and, yes, even her dead sister, she may stand a chance. In the process, she also might unearth the other girl who was buried the day Casey died-her truest self.