The Summer I Got A Life

Andy Crenshaw’s summer just went into the toilet.  His father got a new job and cancelled their dream vacation to Hawaii.  Andy and his older brother, Brad, are shipped off to a farm in Wisconsin to stay with an Aunt and Uncle they hardly know.  Brad has little use for Andy, except to torment him.

What begins as a minor disaster turns into a life-changing experience.  Andy discovers a whole new world and has his first blush with love in the person of Laura, a piano prodigy and town celebrity.  Laura is a remarkable girl, who, despite having to deal with a major life trauma, is funny, resilient, full of life, and to Andy’s delight, just a little crazy.

Andy’s adventure includes chasing a pig through a mall, surviving a near-death driving lesson, and coming face to face with his first dead guy.  He also has a side excursion with his brother that will redefine their relationship forever.

The Summer I Got A Life is a touching story of first love, full of real-life moments and laugh-out-loud humor from cover to cover. It’s a journey of self discovery that every teen can relate to, as it touches on themes of friendship and family, and explores what it really means to be alive.

Stepping Up

Ernie Dolan, 14, is plagued by the curse of the average. Nothing about him stands out—except his stutter. Only best friend Mike Rivers sees him at his best. Then, at a competitive basketball camp, Mike excels while Ernie is - average.  When Ernie blunders in the first pickup game, Rick Craig, obnoxious camp hotshot, nicknames him “Choke.” Not exactly how you want to start out. As Mike hangs with Craig and the other jocks, he and Ernie are on the outs, yet Ernie finds new allies. Things change dramatically when Ernie morphs from outcast to hero, risking his life to save three campmates from near tragedy.  Ernie finds out what it means to be a hero and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. His compelling, heartwarming story unfolds against the backdrop of exciting, authentic basketball action and a lot of humor, while touching on teen issues of friendship and the near-deadly consequences of peer pressure.