A Crack in the Line
Withern Rise Volume 1  
By Michael Lawrence

       Alaric Underwood has a miserable teenage existence. Unlike most teenagers, his strongest source of angst is the untimely death of his mother. Left to their own devices, Alaric and his father slowly let their home, Withern Rise, fall into disrepair and all remembrances of Mrs. Underwood fade away.

       While Mr. Underwood is away to pick up Kate Faraday, the woman who will be moving in to fulfill the role of “mother,” Alaric is left alone with his crazy-but-lovable aunt, Liney. Before Liney arrives, Alaric discovers a beautiful carving of Withern Rise that his mother had crafted. He’s filled with intense sorrow and desperately wishes he could see the well-kept Withern Rise that his family had known and loved together. Suddenly, Alaric finds himself in an alternative version of Withern Rise. Mrs. Underwood is not dead. The house is clean and beautiful. But instead of Alaric, a daughter, Naia, exists.

     Michael Lawrence has crafted a thrilling page turner that delves into the age old question, “What would have happened if I’d made choice B instead of choice A?” As Naia and Alaric work together to figure out how and why they’re suddenly able to travel between alternate realities, plenty of other exciting mysteries crop up. This first book in the Withern Rise trilogy can easily be devoured in one sitting. Spurred on by vibrant characters, the action starts on page one and doesn’t let up until the last word. I strongly recommend this book to young adults and adults who are looking for a thought-provoking and imaginative read.