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Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 304 Vendor: Zondervan | Dimensions: 8.40 X 5.50 (inches) ISBN: 0310751713 ISBN-13: 9780310751717 |
Levi and his dad must learn to live together through resentment and misunderstanding. And then he meets Delilah, a girl who reminds him eerily of someone he lost.
Gr 9 Up -Seventeen-year-old Australian high school dropout Levi Harrison is anxious, depressed, and plagued by mood swings. His mom has no choice but to send Levi to Maine to live with the father he has not seen in three years, leaving behind best friend Caleb and all that Levi ever knew. The protagonist's destructive behavior continues until he meets Delilah, an employee at his new therapist's office, and Aiden, a kid from the neighborhood. Through the painstaking patience and kindness of his friends, the love and support of his parents, and the medication Levi has finally decided to consistently take, the teen gradually awakens to life again and overcomes the guilt that has held him captive since losing his girlfriend Delia six months prior in a car accident; she was texting him while driving. The author's use of italicized flashbacks and first-person narrative draws readers deeper into the protagonist's innermost thoughts. Strong secondary characters add to the work. References to Disney's Frozen and the Say Yes to the Dress TV show could date the book, but they are well worth the risk. -VERDICT A heartrending story of heartbreak, grief, compassion, resilience, and love. Highly recommended. -Susan Harris, Ridgeway High School, TN
Author: Ashley Royer
Located in: Massachusetts
Submitted: November 15, 2015
Tell us a little about yourself. I am a 17 year old honor student in my junior year of high school. I enjoy listening to music, writing and making YouTube videos. I work a few evenings a week at a retirement community as a member of their waitstaff.
What was your motivation behind this project? I enjoy connecting with people, especially kids in my age group. When I started writing, I had no idea how much it would relate to teens. As my following and views grew, I realized that my writing was reaching kids all over the world and helping them deal with teenage issues that we all go through.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? That it is okay to be a teenager with anxiety and stress and that if you let people in, you will get through some dark and/or sad days. When you lose someone you love, it is okay to be sad and angry, but if you allow yourself to let your loved ones help you, you will be alright.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? The amount of letters and messages that I received from kids all over the world saying how much they loved my book was incredible. I try to read every message that I receive. I have also met so many people through my writing and social media; some who have become very good friends.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? My inspiration started off as 5 Seconds of Summer, but now my readers have inspired me to continue writing.