Down But Not Out in High School

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  amy (1)

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 maggzamy (1)

(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.

 

 

A Little Bit About Twelve Pillars

 

Mission Statement:

To provide to middle-grade and YA readers a balanced reading palette. While they may be reading vampire books and the like I also want them to see God’s side and to have a fuller, more well-balanced vision of what is out there, so they can make informed choices in their lives.

To help young writers explore and embrace their God given talent

The Books:

The young adult fantasy Palace of the Twelve Pillars trilogy is a story about the inhabitants on the imaginary planet of Ramajadin, in the countries of Crato and Mahorg. In each of the novels we see young people facing the trials of young teens in a medieval world. They are forced to confront evil and make decisions based on their faith or lack thereof.  Princes, princesses, kings and queens along with the wizards and adepts and a cast of beings all deal with a world very similar to our own where evil and good make a daily appearance and lure us into their respective webs with all their promises. Each teen embarks on a journey to adulthood as he/she makes the choices based on what they know.

palaceoftwelvepillars200x300In Palace of the Twelve Pillars we enter the mystical world of Ramajadin. The Peace Summit between Crato and Mahorg is in shambles, and a prince kidnapped.

When the rival king realizes he kidnapped the wrong prince, hostilities escalate. Loyalties to each other and country are tested for the twin princes of Crato, Joachim and Brandan.

Joachim, captive of King Waldrom, faces deception and betrayal as he struggles to find his way home. Brandan, at home with a father focused on rescuing Joachim, wrestles with his own demons as he searches for his place in the world and the favor of his father.

Torn from the safety and peace of their childhood, they are thrust into a world where bonds of family, brotherhood and roles as heirs to Crato are tested. Through war, spiritual journeys, death and marriage, will they choose the path of good or evil? Who can be trusted, as the world they know slips into a whirlpool of chaos?

Christina did wonderful job with making each and every character and their struggles come alive and leap off the pages. Through their trials, Joachim and Brandon each mature, learn the importance of family, and come to trust Asha with his whole self. I hope Joachim and Brandon’s story will be continued in the next novels, as I really enjoyed their characters.

Palace of the Twelve Pillars is the beginning to a great new young adult series. Christina Weigand’s next book in the series is coming out in September and I cannot wait for it! Fantasy fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I have to say, this series is quickly climbing its way up to the top of my favorites list! I highly recommend Palace of the Twelve Pillars, and am greatly looking forward to getting my hands on the rest in the series.( Reviewed by Sarah Heath, July 5, 2013 By TWJ Magazine)

In Palace of the Three Crosses we rejoin Brandan and Joachim as they return from the brink of Hell, but everyone questions if they are truly healed and one with Asha.

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They each take on the responsibility of ruling a country with new wives by their sides, but can they and the countries survive the trials that will ensue because of their choices?

Christina Weigand does a wonderful job of painting a portrait of the darkness that surrounds evil and, the often times, dim hope that sometimes is all that is left of goodness. Through this story of two brothers struggling to be restored to the goodness that once was theirs, the author examines deeper issues that often overwhelm those who can only see goodness dimly lit. Those around them become essential in helping them to find their destiny and true goodness. The character development and plot will have the reader hooked and turning pages with eager anticipation for the next fatal twist. Suspense and intrigue are thick throughout this novel, but always lingering about the surface is a feeling that goodness and hope will certainly win out. (Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers’ Favorite)

Finally in the Sanctuary of the Nine Dragons being released in February 2014,  Joachim banishes Brandan to prison island of Hyogo. His infant son, Prince Airyn disappears from his cradle. A chain of events is set in motion that pit brother against brother, friend against friend, parents against children as Brandan and Joachim struggle for control of their sanity and their very lives.

With Brandan declared dead and his son missing Joachim sinks into despair and anger, where those close to him, especially his wife Queen Maeve, fear he may never return.

Is Brandan really dead and if he is, who is manipulating the Mantion and enemies of Crato?

Can Maeve save her country and her husband from the tentacles of evil pervading the land?

Until next week, may God Bless you and embrace you in His loving arms.

Christina Weigand and Myrria too.