When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father. By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “vacation” has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up.
But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you’ve lost it?
What people are saying:
“The author does a terrific job of keeping the plot moving by using poetry to her advantage. Reluctant readers will appreciate the brevity while poetic souls will appreciate the format.”–School Library Journal, Starred Review
“A verse novel with real depth to accompany all that white space.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The formal variety of Tregay’s poems creates an immediacy that should maintain readers’ interest and sympathy for Marcie. With multiple shredded relationships and friendships, there’s more than enough angst to go around, as Marcie rages against the decisions her parents have made, as well as her own.”—Publisher’s Weekly
“Although the words are simple, the themes of Love and Leftovers are not.”—VOYA
“Amazing. The most delicious love story I’ve read in ages.”–Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of SHINE
Released: December 27, 2011
About the author:
Sarah Tregay is a graphic designer. When she isn’t jotting down poems at stoplights, Sarah can be found hanging out with her “little sister” from Big Brothers Big Sisters. She lives in Eagle, Idaho, with her husband, two Boston terriers, and an Appaloosa named Mr. Pots. You can visit her at www.sarahtregay.com.
Win an ARC of The Boy Project! Details at the end of this post.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD:
an organized way of finding
answers to our questions
(according to Mrs. Sabatino)
Step 1: Ask a Question
Question: How can I find a boyfriend?
Monday, January 1
Bedtime
I am starting this experiment because I have no choice. Well, I have no choice unless you consider being a lifelong boyfriendless social outcast destined to die alone a choice. Which it isn’t.
To be honest with you I probably would have acted sooner if I’d known how truly desperate my situation was. Which I didn’t.
I was really in the dark about it. As dark as the closet I went into with Chip Tyler last night after he spun the bottle and it pointed to me.
Chip Tyler is a total dweeb. I’ve known him since kindergarten. I’ve grown up a lot since then. Chip hasn’t. So I wasn’t exactly hoping that I would end up in the closet with Chip on New Year’s Eve, but I guess I was a little excited that I might finally find out what it feels like to be kissed. But no. As soon as he shut the door behind us, he took my hand in his. Then he shook it. That’s all.
Wildly creative seventh grader, Kara McAllister, just had her best idea yet. She’s going to take notes on all of the boys in her grade (and a few elsewhere) in order to answer a seemingly simple question: How can she get a boyfriend? Kara’s project turns out to be a lot more complicated than she imagined. Soon there are secrets, lies, and an embarrassing incident in the boy’s bathroom. Plus, Kara has to deal with mean girls, her slightly spacey BFF, and some surprising uses for duct tape. Still, if Kara’s research leads her to the right boy, everything may just be worth it…
What people are saying:
“This middle-school drama is hip to the moment, with break-up texting, kissing and popularity tug of wars…Kara’s boy-crazy experiment lends refreshing perspective on teen relationships, and the results point to self-enlightenment.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Kinard creates a highly credible middle-school universe of popular girls, dorky boys, unpredictable teachers, and volatile loyalties; she hits all the right notes as Kara learns that first opinions are rarely accurate and that the scientific method does not always apply to human beings.”—Publisher’s Weekly
“Kara McAllister will take you on a wild ride through the halls (and boys’ bathrooms!) of middle school and keep you laughing every step of the way.”—Kathryn Erskine, Winner of the 2010 National Book Award for Mockingbird
Released: January 1, 2012
About the author:
Before she’d finished seventh grade, Kami Kinard had written several books. Most people call these books diaries. Without the details garnered from these early works, The Boy Project might not have been born! A former high school teacher, Kami currently writes from balmy, buggy, and beautiful Beaufort SC where she lives with her husband and two children. You can visit her at www.kamikinard.com.
Giveaway:
Kami has been kind enough to contribute an ARC of The Boy Project for a giveaway!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on January 19th at midnight EST.
Win a signed copy of A Closer Look! Details at the end of this post.
It was New Year’s Eve, but I didn’t care how I looked—jeans and a sweatshirt, hair in a ponytail—done deal. Babysitting for a two-year-old could be messy so that outfit was a safe bet.
Too early to leave, I wandered into my younger brother Kyle’s room. He was packing video games for a sleepover at his friend Rob’s house.
“Got big plans for the night?” Kyle asked.
“While you’re frying your brain playing those stupid things, I’ll be making a cool ten bucks an hour.”
“For babysitting a kid that’s asleep?”
“It is New Year’s Eve. I could’ve gone to a party or done something else instead.
“Yeah, right—as if anybody asked you.”
Jerk. I hadn’t expected any party invites, and besides, I’d accepted this job over a month ago, so I was already booked even if something else had come along.
“Bite me,” I told him. “Next time you’re hard up for cash, don’t come to me looking for a loan.”
“Aw, you know I didn’t mean it,” he said. Then he Kyle-smiled me. That always worked on Mom, not on me. But I never could stay mad at the brat for long.
Freshman year is going well for Cassie, a standout sprinter about to move up to varsity, and Tommy, that cute sax player, has asked her out. But in a matter of weeks, Cassie’s got a secret: her hair has started falling out and she’s doing everything possible to hide it. Cassie’s horrified when she learns that it happened before, when she was three, and a trip to the dermatologist confirms what she’s feared—that all her hair may fall out. Cassie has alopecia areata and there’s no effective treatment. Eventually she confides in Tommy, but soon after, when he suggests they chill out as a couple, Cassie feels betrayed. Then at a crowded track meet, Robin, a rival on the team, exposes her secret. With her worst fears realized, will Cassie ever again be able to face her classmates, teammates, and most of all Tommy?
What people are saying:
“Readers will be rooting for Cassie and the way she proves that losing your hair doesn’t have to mean losing your spirit.”–Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of Among the Hidden, an ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults
“A Closer Look is heart-wrenching and funny. Cassie’s spirit and voice will keep readers intrigued, and athletes especially will identify with her grit.”–Rich Wallace, author of Wresting Sturbridge, an ALA Top 10 Book for Young Adults
“A Closer Look is a sensitive and honest novel full of authentic details that is sure to resonate with readers. Cassie is as real and alive as the girl at the next desk in homeroom, and teens will empathize with her struggle with shame and self-image.”–Erika Tamar, author of Fair Game, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and NY Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age.
“…This engrossing and well-written story will have readers empathizing with Cassie as she struggles to deal with this life changing condition.”–Children’s Literature, reviewer: Denise Daley
“There are a lot of great YA’s out there, but it has been a long time since I read one as hard-hitting and in-your-face as A Closer Look… –Rita Hubbard, Young Adult Book Central.
Released: November 1, 2011
About the author:
Karen DelleCava has always loved to write. Her mom still has all her creative writing assignments from middle school to prove it. Her fiction, crafts and party plans have appeared in Highlights for Children magazine. Karen earned a BS in Business Administration from Montclair State University. She’s member of the SCBWI and volunteers for the NY Metro Chapter. She also works part time as a yearbook consultant. When she’s not reading teen fiction, writing or playing Scrabble, you’ll find Karen jogging, biking or hopping around on her patio doing step aerobics. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two sons. A Closer Look is her first young adult novel. Visit www.karendellecava.com to read all of Chapter 1.
Giveaway:
Karen has been kind enough to contribute a signed copy of A Closer Look for a giveaway!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on January 18th at midnight EST.
I once read that football was invented so people wouldn’t notice summer ending. But I couldn’t wait for summer vacation to end. I couldn’t wait for football. Football, dominator of fall – football, love of my life.
“Blue forty-two! Blue forty-two! Red seventeen!” I yell.
The cue is red seventeen. JJ hikes me the ball. The defense is blitzing. JJ slams into a freshman safety, knocking him to the ground. The rest of my offensive line destroys the defense. Nice. The field’s wide open, but my wide receiver isn’t where he’s supposed to be.
“What the hell, Higgins?” I mutter to myself.
Dancing on my tiptoes, I scan the end zone and find Sam Henry instead, and hurl the ball. It flies through the air, a perfect spiral, heading right where I wanted it to go. He catches the ball, spikes it, and does this really stupid dance. Henry looks like a freaking ballerina. With his thin frame and girly blonde hair, he actually could be the star of the New York Ballet.
I’m gonna give him hell for his dance.
This is my senior year at Hundred Oaks High, and I’m captain, so I’m allowed to keep my players in line. Even though he’s my best friend, Henry has always been a showoff. His antics get us penalties.
Through the speaker in my helmet, I hear Coach Miller say, “Nice throw. This is your year, Woods. You’re going to lead us to the state championship. I can feel it… Hit the showers.” What the coach actually means? I know you’re not going to blow it in the final seconds of the championship game like you did last year.
What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though – she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there’s a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team… and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.
What people are saying:
“Whoever said football and girls don’t mix hasn’t read CATCHING JORDAN! I stayed up all night reading – I couldn’t put it down!”–Simone Elkeles, New York Times Bestselling author of the PERFECT CHEMISTRY series
“I fell in love with the hero on page 1, and CATCHING JORDAN just gets better from there. This feel-good romantic comedy about high school football is the novel I’ve been waiting for. I loved it!”–Jennifer Echols, author of LOVE STORY, ENDLESS SUMMER, GOING TOO FAR and FORGET YOU
“CATCHING JORDAN has it all: heart, humor, and a serious set of balls. With a clever, authentic voice, Kenneally proves once and for all that when it comes to making life’s toughest calls — on and off the field — girls rule!”–Sarah Ockler, bestselling author of FIXING DELILAH and TWENTY BOY SUMMER
“A beautiful novel with a competitive spirit both on and off the field. With a real and captivating depiction of high school relationships, CATCHING JORDAN shows the same reverence for the human heart that it does for the game of football.”–Karsten Knight, author of WILDEFIRE
Released: December 1, 2011
About the author:
Miranda Kenneally is the author of CATCHING JORDAN, a contemporary YA novel about football and femininity, coming in December 2011. Other books include THE GIRL I USED TO BE (fall 2012) and BAD, BAD THING (spring 2013). Miranda is the co-creator of Dear Teen Me. The Dear Teen Me Anthology will be published by Zest Books (distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) in late 2012. She enjoys reading and writing young adult literature, and loves Star Trek, music, sports, Mexican food, Twitter, coffee, and her husband. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. Miranda is represented by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.
Win a copy of Mindi Scott’s Freefall! Details at the end of this post.
Just when I’m starting to think she might be dead or something, the phone rings. I lunge for it, banging my shin on the coffee table and sending Mom’s ashtray tumbling to the floor. Ashes scatter on the burnt-orange carpet.
“Mom?”
No answer.
“Mom?” I say again.
“Hello, there.” It’s a man’s voice, low and fakey-smooth. At first I’m scared it’s Drake. Then he says, “I’m calling from Rainier Collection Services. Is this Ms. J. Calhoun?”
I put on my politest voice. “Sorry, you must have the wrong number.” Then I set the receiver down with a click and remind myself for the zillionth time not to answer without checking the caller I.D. Sinking onto the couch, I study the new bruise on my shin, just above my ankle bracelet Mom made me for my birthday last year. I don’t know what I’m getting myself so worked up for. Mom has had to work late plenty of times.
I close my eyes and listen. It’s almost eleven, and the only sounds are the thunk our kitchen clock makes and the swoosh of cars hydroplaning through the lake-size puddle in the street outside. I keep waiting for one of those cars to stop and Mom to come swooping into the apartment with her jasmine-and-cigarette smell and her “Hey, honey pie, you still awake?” and her big, husky laugh. But the cars just roll on by.
I’m kind of wishing the Professor would call, take my mind off Mom.
Stevie is used to taking care of herself. But one night her mom never comes home from the club. That’s the night Stevie’s life turns upside down. It’s the night that kicks off an extraordinary summer: the summer she has to stay with annoyingly perfect Aunt Mindy; the summer she learns to care for injured and abandoned birds; the summer she gets to know Alan, the meanest boy in high school.
But most of all, it’s the summer she finds out the truth about Mom.
What people are saying:
“Flyaway is so good I read it in one sitting. I had intended to set it aside for later, but I read the first sentence, and then the next, and by then it was too late; I was hooked!”– Han Nolan, National Book Award winner
“Fans of Ellen Hopkins and Jay Asher: Prepare to fall in love with debut novelist Helen Landalf. Filled with bighearted love and gritty realism, Flyaway rings with bittersweet truth.”–Justina Chen, author of North of Beautiful
Released: December 20, 2011
About the author:
Helen Landalf is a debut novelist. She lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, where she’s also a Pilates instructor and children’s dance teacher. She has two stepsons. You can visit her at www.helenlandalf.com
Giveaway:
Helen has been kind enough to contribute a paperback copy of another powerful contemporary realistic novel for a giveaway: Mindi Scott’s Freefall!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on December 28th at midnight EST.
Win a signed copy of Fetching! Details at the end of this post.
Once the bell rings, look around. You may not have noticed them at first, not in the way you think, but they’re everywhere. Racing down the halls, lapping up their lunches, lazing around the classrooms, playing fetch in the gym.
There are the toy breeds, society’s spoiled little darlings, and the terriers, who really sink their teeth into things. There are the working breeds, who let nothing get in the way of an A.
There are the sporting breeds, who are better on the field than in the classroom, and the non-sporters, who are still sniffing out their niches.
There are hounds, who can smell fear a mile away, and there are herders, who are always looking for a pack.
There are mad dogs and female dogs, pit bulls and bulldogs. There are lapdogs and pets, puppies and runts.
Olivia has just about had it with the popular kids at school. She and her friends have done nothing to deserve humiliating pranks and mean name-calling, but that doesn’t stop queen bee Brynne from tormenting them. If only Olivia’s classmates were more like the dogs she helps her grandmother train—poorly behaved, but improvable. Then Olivia hatches a brilliant plan: she and her friends will modify their tormentors’ behavior with the same kind of training that works on dogs. Using cues and responses, and distractions and rewards get better results than anyone could have guessed. But will popularity get Olivia what she really wants?
What people are saying:
“…Olivia’s warm and charmingly self-deprecating narrative voice relates her feelings with a surprising and touching expressiveness.”–Kirkus
“Stewart offers a handy and easily understood metaphor to color the intricacies of middle-school relationships in a way that paints
each character as multidimensional and real.”–Booklist
“Entertaining…Give this one to tweens looking for a lighter take on mean girls and middle-school life.”–School Library Journal
Released: November 8, 2011
About the author:
Kiera Stewart is a writer for teens and tweens. Her qualifications include never having gotten wisdom teeth. She’s been writing since she was five, but with titles such as “Mixed Feelings,” “Old Monster, the Bees, and Karen,” and the self-congratulory, “The Amazing Story!” it’s no wonder FETCHING is her first published novel. She’s currently at work on her second tween novel and lives near Washington, D.C., with her family and dog, Casper. You can visit her at www.kierastewart.com.
Giveaway:
Kiera has been kind enough to contribute a signed copy of Fetching for a giveaway!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on November 23rd at midnight EST.
When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she’s deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem’s muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she’s chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.
What people are saying:
“Stasia Ward Kehoe’s sinuous verse compellingly weaves this story of high level dance, scandalous romance and personal sacrifice.”– Ellen Hopkins, NYT Best-selling author of CRANK and PERFECT
“Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe is a sexy, poignant, and beautifully written coming of age story that will enchant readers of all backgrounds.”–Sarah Gundell, NovelNovice
“Intense, haunting, and ultimately hopeful. AUDITION captures the hazy space between dream and nightmare with honesty and fluid grace.”– Holly Cupala, author, TELL ME A SECRET
“Sara’s coming-of-age tale is one of passion and romance, colliding with her vision of whom she ultimately hopes to be. Her confused feelings are believably expressed, and her attitudes toward her friends and the adults in her life will ring true, especially to those readers who are also involved in the performing arts…Kehoe’s tale will appeal to teens yearning for a life on the stage and give them food for thought via an easy read.”–School Library Journal
Released: October 13, 2011
About the author:
Stasia Ward Kehoe grew up dancing and performing on stages from New Hampshire to Washington, DC. She now writes books for young adults and choreographs the occasional musical. Visit her online at www.stasiawardkehoe.com.
Book tour:
Stasia is kicking off Stages on Pages with 11 other authors who write about the performing arts–dance, theater, music–and were/are performers themselves, in addition to being writers. Check out their books, giveaways, and book trailer!
Win a signed ARC of Virtuosity! Details at the end of this post.
The balcony felt cold under my cheek. Ten floors below me the traffic of Lake Shore Drive purred, but it seemed miles away. Everything before me was perfectly still: a black starless sky over Lake Michigan, my bare arm jutting out between metal bars, and the burnt-orange scroll of my violin rising out of my clenched fist.
It would be as easy as opening my hand. I could just uncurl my fingers one by one, and when the last one relaxed, the violin would slice the night sky like a blade, plummeting to the ground below. Then it would be over.
I exhaled and felt my body flatten against the concrete. My mother would be furious about the gown. Her personal dressmaker had twisted and tucked and pleated the filmy chiffon until it looked like a waterfall, flowing cascades in three shades of blue. Now it was bunched beneath me, probably soaking up dirt, grease, cigarette ash, and whatever else hotel balconies collected.
I shivered. The wind swirled around me, picking up my hair and whipping it against my cheek and bare back. The hair clips and bobby pins were long gone—they’d been the first things I’d removed after stepping inside the hotel room. Then I’d slipped off my heels, peeled off my stockings, and pulled out my earrings. But nothing helped. I couldn’t slough off the shame that clung to my skin.
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. Two weeks before the most important violin competition of her career, she has bigger things to worry about—like growing out of that suffocating “child prodigy” label, and not disappointing her mother.
But it isn’t just the wrong time. It’s the wrong guy. Jeremy is Carmen’s most talented rival, and according to her mother, he’s only interested in one thing: winning.
He isn’t the only one.
Carmen is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to control performance nerves. But what started a year ago as an easy fix is now a hungry addiction. Carmen is too terrified to quit, but sick of not feeling anything on stage, sick of doing what she’s told.
Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall….
What people are saying:
“Martinez brings this overwrought world to tense, quivering life and guides readers through it confidently. A brilliant debut.”–Kirkus, starred review
“An intoxicating blend of passion, vulnerability, and the desire to have it all, no matter the cost. A mesmerizing read.”–Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of Shine and ttyl
“Passionate and true, Virtuosity sings from first page to last. I followed Carmen’s intense journey through obsession, heartbreak, and self-discovery as if her struggles and triumphs were my own.”–Sarah Ockler, author of Fixing Delilah and Twenty Boy Summer
“Beautiful writing, a swoon-worthy romance, and tension that will keep you turning the pages. Virtuosity is pitch-perfect.”–Lauren Barnholdt, author of Sometimes It Happens and Two-Way Street
“Heartfelt, gripping, and unflinchingly authentic. Virtuosity will change the way you think about music.”–Antony John, author of Five Flavors of Dumb
Released: October 18, 2011
About the author:
Jessica Martinez was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. As a child she played the violin, read books and climbed trees incessantly. She went on to study English and music at Brigham Young University, and since then has been a high school English teacher, symphony violinist, elementary school teacher, violin teacher, and mother. She currently live in Orlando, Florida with her husband and two children. You can visit her at www.jessicamartinez.com.
Giveaway:
Jessica has been kind enough on contribute a signed ARC of Virtuosity for a giveaway!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on October 25th at midnight EST.
Win a signed copy of Hope in Patience! Details at the end of this post.
I wake up in a cold sweat most nights, and I think it’s happening again.
I think he’s in my bedroom, and I can feel him running his hands all over my body. He’s rubbing my back, squeezing my butt, and trying to push his fingers down into where the tightly wrapped blanket makes a V, where my legs meet. He tries to roll me onto my back again and again, but I have my arms locked at my sides and my hands prayer-like across my breasts. My legs are pushed together and slippery from sweat, and I’m as stiff as a corpse. . . .
I grit my teeth and force myself out of the nightmare. I roll onto my back, unlock my hands, and open my eyes to prove that I am safe in my bedroom, just down the hall from my father and stepmother. The bathroom light stays on all night for my extra reassurance. I snake my hand from beneath the covers and rub the rough cedar paneling, then pull the comforter up to my chin, turn onto my side, and align my body with my dog Emma’s. She paddles her feet, and I know she’s chasing rabbits in her dreams.
The Patience Books, Courage in Patience, Hope in Patience, and Truth in Patience, are the story of Ashley Nicole Asher, who is sexually, emotionally, and physically abused by her stepfather, from the age of nine. Courage in Patience begins Ashley’s story. When she at last tells a trusted teacher what has been happening to her, Child Protective Services steps in, and Ashley is removed from her mother’s home. She is then reunited with her biological father, who has not been a part of Ashley’s life since infancy. Through the summer school English class taught by her stepmother, Ashley learns to face her greatest fears and, along with other teens, discovers just how strong she is. Ashley’s story continues with Hope in Patience, as Ashley continues her rocky road to recovery, wonders what it would be like to have a boyfriend, and faces the ultimate betrayal.
Ashley’s story is about courage and the power of hope to overcome fear.
This is not ‘an abuse story’– it is a survival story, as evidenced by the bravery shown by all the teenagers in the Patience books, who face life-changing events head-on. A huge part of Ashley’s ability to begin to heal comes about by witnessing acts of profound courage, all around her. Ashley’s story is anyone’s story– anyone who has ever overcome what they thought they never could; anyone who has ever known what it is to want to be loved and accepted as-is.
What people are saying:
The American Library Association named Hope in Patience a 2011 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers!!
“Ashley’s struggles to make friends in a new school, to fit in, to figure out who she is are normal teen issues even if her personal history is not. Even readers who have not been abused will connect with Ashley and her friends. Their voices are real. Their struggles are real. For those who have or are dealing with similar issues, this book speaks up where perhaps they cannot…this title deserves a place in every high school and community library.”–Children’s Literature
“I was astounded to find that anyone can relate to Ashley’s story and that the book was remarkably optimistic and fun.”–VOYA‘s teen reviewer
“The author is to be applauded for her courageous and accurate portrayal of the many small steps that lead toward psychological healing. It is Ashley’s friendships with other ‘misfits’ that help Ashley understand that she, too, deserves love. This book will open hearts and might well save lives.”–School Library Journal
“Ashley will have readers rooting for her.”–Publisher’s Weekly
Released: October 2010
About the author:
I was inspired to write this story by my own recovery from childhood sexual abuse. In the process of working through my own grief, disbelief, and anger, I was writing poems and short stories, and sharing them with my (long-suffering) therapist. One day, he suggested that I try writing a novel.
In the process of knocking down the walls I had built around myself, I found Ashley Nicole Asher, age 15, and Patience, Texas, a tiny East Texas town populated with people who can be found anywhere, dealing with the same problems that all people must face, whether they want to admit it or not.
I was born in Dallas, Texas, and I have one brother, who is a police sergeant. My husband and I were high school sweethearts, and we married young. We have three daughters who are amazing and brilliant. I have a B.A. in English, minor Secondary Education, from the University of Texas at Arlington, and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education, specializing in Reading, from Texas A & M — Commerce.
I am fortunate to love both my jobs, as teacher and author! I cannot imagine a more perfect existence than the one I have. My favorite place in the world is my front porch. I write books there in the summer at a table built by a good friend.
Oh– one other thing– Ashley’s dog, Emma, who wanders up to Ashley one hot July day, is based on my dog, Emma, who wandered up to me the same way, every bit as worn down and scarred by life as Emma in the Patience books. You can visit me at www.bethfehlbaumya.com.
Giveaway:
Beth has been kind enough to contribute a signed copy of Hope in Patience for a giveaway!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on October 14th at midnight EST.
Win a copy of The Princess of Las Pulgas! Details at the end of this post.
Chapter 1
Last night I pleaded with Death, but he turned a bony back to me, pushed Hope into the corridor and shut the door.
We’re waiting, all of us. Mom in the chair next to Dad’s bed, holding his hand as if she can keep him with us as long as she doesn’t let go. Keith asleep on the rollaway a nurse wheeled in earlier. He’s on his side, his long runners’ legs drawn to his chest and his head resting on his arm. Me, scrunched down into a chair at the foot of Dad’s bed. I no longer feel like I have a body. I’m not even tired, just numb. Then Death. He’s backed into the darkest corner.
I twist my Sweet Sixteen bracelet around and around, counting the tiny links. Mom and Dad gave it to me in June before I learned how hospitals smelled at two a.m. or how I preferred nightmares to being awake.
I hate being here.
I hate what’s happening.
I want it over.
I close my eyes and let my head fall back against the vinyl chair.
Carlie Edmund has everything: a loving family, good friends, a perfect home and wealth and status; then in her junior year of high school the worst happens. Her dad dies and her mom must sell their home to pay disputed medical bills. Carlie’s life is turned upside down, and she must learn to live in a very different place with very different people.
What people are saying:
“Small but glittering details illuminate the prose, and perfect turns of phrase keep the reader right next to Carlie as she struggles . . . Full of heart and hope . . . a beautiful book.”–L.K. Madigan, 2010 Morris Award winner Flash Burnout
“A beautifully written, meaningful, young adult novel. Carlie Edmund will jump off the page and pull you into a poignant and timely story of loss and ultimate gain.”–Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcelo in the Real World, NY Times Notable Children’s Book of 2009, Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2009 & 2010 YALSA Top 10 Best Books for Young Adults
“Brimming with loss, hope, and the enduring power of love . . .”–Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters
Released: December 2010
About the author:
C. Lee McKenzie is a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains where she lives with her family and miscellaneous pets—usually strays that find her rather than the other way around. She writes most of the time, gardens and hikes and does yoga a lot, and then travels whenever she can. Her favorite destinations are Turkey and Nicaragua, but because she had family in England, Switzerland, and Spain she goes there frequently as well.
She takes on modern issues that today’s teens face in their daily lives. Her first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, which dealt with cutting and suicide was published in 2009. Her second, titled The Princess of Las Pulgas, dealing with a family who loses everything and must rebuild their lives came out in 2010. You can visit her at http://cleemckenziebooks.com.
Giveaway:
Lee has been kind enough to contribute a copy of The Princess of Las Pulgas for a giveaway!
Just comment on this post to enter.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on October 5th at midnight EST.
