"Reason to Breathe" is a young adult novel by Rebecca Donovan, which focuses on the life and events of sixteen year-old Emma Thompson, and her abuse at home.

The town of Weslyn, Connecticut, is wealthy and quiet. Emma is an excellent student who also plays three varsity sports. She is best friends with Sara, the prettiest and most popular girl in school. Emma lives with her aunt and uncle, after the death of Emma's father (her uncle's brother), and the distance of her alcoholic mother. But Emma's aunt, Carol, is a raging, angry woman, who beats Emma continuously. George ignores the problem, and is more concerned about Emma keeping her mouth shut about what goes on at home.

But at school, Emma meets a new boy named Evan Mathews, who takes an interest in her, and ultimately falls in love with her. Emma ends up falling in love with him as well. Both Evan and Sara are horrified by Emma's home life, and they want to find a way to get her help and get her to safety. But the night before a meeting with school officials, Carol murders Emma. Emma, in her final moments of life, reflects on how important love is in live, and how it helped to balance out her horrible world.