Life has veered way off course for 39-year-old Brooke. Living with her caustic mother in West Los Angeles is no picnic, but with little money and a toddler to support, she has to make the best of it. The shining light in her life is two-year-old Etta. Brooke’s decision to have a baby, however, ended her marriage to the man who said from day one that he never wanted children. She misses him, but has no regrets about the beautiful little girl who holds her heart and brings her joy beyond compare. When Brooke is carjacked with Etta in the backseat, that joy turns to crippling pain and unimaginable terror.

Miles away, 16-year-old Molly is scavenging through trash bins on dark, deserted streets when she finds Etta strapped in her car seat on the sidewalk. The business district where Molly lives in a crate with her homeless friend, Bodhi, is closed for the night, with no one around to help and no place to call the police. But when Molly looks into Etta’s eyes, she knows she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her and return her to her family. Whispering “brave girl, quiet girl” to calm the child and keep her hidden, she has no idea that this chance encounter will merge her path with Brooke’s and impact three lives forever.

"Gripping, emotional, fast-paced and fresh, Catherine Ryan Hyde’s latest novel is definitely one to read and share."

The challenge of keeping a toddler safe, warm and fed is taken to new heights when Bodhi disappears, and Molly learns that a threesome of homeless bullies is searching for Etta. Determined to find and ransom her, the three will stop at nothing to kidnap her. While Molly keeps Etta hidden and tries to comfort her, Brooke is at the police station having a meltdown and wondering if she’ll ever see her little girl again.

Danger, suspense and a host of emotions weave through this story as Molly overcomes monumental hurdles to return Etta, Brooke struggles to see past her fears, and both fight to rise above the hands they’ve been dealt. Their initial meeting leads to an awkward, fragile relationship that develops at just the right pace to feel realistic.

BRAVE GIRL, QUIET GIRL is a powerful reminder that life can change in a heartbeat and love is a formidable force, capable of conquering obstacles, healing shattered hearts and making the impossible possible. It keeps the reader engaged and thinking about the story and its beautifully flawed characters long after the final page is read. Gripping, emotional, fast-paced and fresh, Catherine Ryan Hyde’s latest novel is definitely one to read and share.