The boy sat in the branches of the fifth tree on the left, his scuffed boots dangling. Leah turned her eyes up. His face was heavily freckled, his eyes large, brown and almond-shaped. His hair stuck out at wild angles. 'Hello,' she said. As an only child on an isolated farm, Leah treasured books and characters and the stories within them - the places they could take her and her new friend, Adam. Now much older, and a gifted story-teller, Leah is being interviewed by 16-year-old Carly for her local history project. Leah draws Carly in - to her present, her past and her secrets - with the magic of story. Being Here is a beautifully told novel about a girl whose rich imagination rescues her from a grim reality, and an unlikely boy who changes everything - a compelling story of love, faith and consequences.
Age 14-18
