Anna Shinoda's early life in a secluded mountain town, a place so small it lacked a stoplight, fostered a rich inner world. She sought refuge and imagination in the high branches of trees, escaping into stories and dreams away from the complexities of her own family. This imaginative spirit eventually led her to write, culminating in her debut novel, Learning Not to Drown.
Clare, seventeen, has always stood up for her eldest brother, Luke, despite his many jail stints but when her mother takes Clare's hard-earned savings to post bail for Luke, Clare begins to understand truths about her brother and her family.