Myrria is welcoming Amy Berkowitz to talk about her book Down But Not Out in High School.

Title: Down, But Not Out In High School  

Author: Amy Berkowitz

Genre: YA

Tour Host: Angee’s After Thoughts

Kellie Jones, a 15-year-old swimmer with Olympic aspirations; that is until she has a car accident and loses part of her leg.

As a result her family decides to give her a fresh start by moving to a new city. Now, she has to deal with the kids calling her “Wheelchair Girl” and “Tripod”. She finds herself competing for friends with her perfect twin sister Maggie.

Remarkably, Kellie holds onto her sense of humor and when she meets Eric, “The Sultan Of Soccer” she ends up coaching him through his crazy romance with the lead cheerleader and resident bully Jade.

Kellie also meets a new coach, Eileen Foley and starts training for the Paralympics.

Here is an excerpt:

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”

“This isn’t the Indy 500, wheelchair girl.”

“Don’t they make a motor for that thing? Move it girl or I’ll be late to class.”

That’s about as much acknowledgement as Kellie Jones gets in school. The kids didn’t really see her. She is just “Wheelchair Girl” – an obstacle in their way.

Ask anyone of them about her twin sister, Maggie and they’ll talk up a storm about the how pretty, sweet and creative she is with her wardrobe. She always had a song playing in her head and her walk had a bounce to it as if she was moving to a Pop music beat.

Many of the kids don’t even know Maggie beyond a “hey” greeting in the hallway, but they want to be her best buddy.

Kellie knows the other kids don’t even want to get to know her and honestly she doesn’t make much of an effort either. It wasn’t always like that. Sure, Maggie was always more outgoing so she had a larger amount of friends. Kellie was quieter, but her small group was a tight bunch. At this new school, Kellie has been told repeatedly that one thing about her is cool. She doesn’t have to take gym class. That’s her claim to high school fame and honestly, at 16-years-old, Kellie is fine with that.

Maggie and Kellie came to Port Jervis High School this past February. They lived their whole lives in Oneida, N.Y., where they were known as the “Twincesses”.

After the accident, the twins’ parents thought the move was necessary for Kellie.

As for Maggie, she really didn’t want to spend her junior or senior year in a new place. Of course, Maggie never told Kellie that. She loves Kellie. Still, Kellie sensed Maggie’s sadness and took on the guilt for the move anyway.

Actually, if the other kids made the effort they would realize Kellie would make a good friend. She’s caring, funny, a great observer and a good listener. What more could anyone want in a friend?

Kellie loves English class and is a gifted writer. She scribbles tales about heroines trapped in haunted castles. Lots of kids write stories like that, but Kellie’s stories feel real and the haunted castle? Well, that’s her life right now. She feels trapped in her wheelchair and the decision that got her there still haunts her. One day, Kellie will be a heroine herself. Of course, she doesn’t know that yet. But her time will come soon.

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Meet the Author: Amy Berkowitz 

(Amy is the dark haired one)

(the blond’s name in the picture is Maggie Walsh-Allnock…(Kellie and Maggie’s muse))

Amy Berkowitz is a journalist with the Times Herald-Record a daily newspaper in upstate New York. She has been writing news for 16 years. This is her first book, which was originally published in April 2009.