*The Outsiders meets Speak*A distinctive young-adult coming-of-age debut novel about grief, loss and life choices set in a modern day troublesome neighbourhood.After a devastating loss, sixteen-year-old Hayden Wilson finds herself stuck between a past she can’t let go of and a future that struggles to make sense. Gangs, drugs and shootings are the background to this fast-paced page-turner where every wrong choice leads Hayden one step closer to self-destruction. A series of events will force her on the run, wanted by the police, and Hayden will have to face the consequences of her mistakes. But will she get another chance? From a talented new voice comes an intense gripping realistic novel that tackles the issues of teenage depression through a powerful narration which will take readers through an emotional journey about an adolescent’s transition into adulthood - blending visceral experiences with authentic and poignant diary entries. “Before Life Happened” is the first book in the “Before” series.