Drugs Books

I have recommended this book to parents in our school system that I know need it. The problem is the kids continue to manipulate them and lie about their drug use. This book is a life saver! It takes you through the initial assessment of the problem, to teaching you how to live with it. It is easily readable and so much of it applied directly to our situation.

This book is replete with good quality advice and information, The short personal anecdotes compliment the central narrative convincingly, rather than as mere literary frills. It deals with the problem from both the drug user's perspective and importantly also from that of the family. Often overlooked in the whole troubling saga is the need for the family to continue functioning even without the presence of the drug abuser. The book is strong in this area and many parents will nod their heads in agreement with its points. All in all a very useful guide.

I can't say enough for this book! It was clear, easy reading that helped me to understand what it means to be an addict. I have recommended it to other family members who are dealing with just this problem. It has been hard watching them struggle with this problem. I truly believe that they can begin to empower themselves and help their addicted adolescent if they read this book. I think that they could eliminate a lot of the misery that they go through by learning about their son/daughter's addiction and how it effects all family members. I learned about the role I play as an extended family member and how not to be an enabler. I recommend this book not only to parents, but to grandparents, aunts, and uncles. This is the most important book they will read to learn how not to enable their loved one to continue their addiction. The resources are valuable to those who don't know where to turn for help in dealing with addiction. The author, Nikki Babbit, not only has professional experience and training in working with adolescence and families; she, also, is the mother of a recovering son. I would highly recommend this book to all parents, not just those who are dealing with a teenage addict, because it will help you to be aware of and spot the signs of drug abuse before it becomes a problem in your family. Like the book says, it can happen in any family. Once again, BUY and READ this book! You will be thankful you did.

Dr. Babbit's book for parents with children who have a problem with alcohol and drugs is accessible and comprehensive, covering the disease concept of addiction, nature of assessments and treatment for children, and tools for personal recovery for parents. The book's appendices provide an excellent overview of descriptions of drugs and their effects, along with a guide on resources for further reading. Babbit brings to life this roller coaster ride parents experience from having children who abuse alcohol and drugs by providing the voices of parents who have gone through it. Information is always essential for recovery, but the private hell parents experience often entails isolation, guilt, and despair. And there is nothing more powerful than identifying with others who have rode that same roller coaster-a crucial step for parents' own recovery in gaining the awareness that they are not alone with and not unique in their feelings. But why this book is a must for parents with or without children abusing alcohol/drugs is Babbit's insistence on parents taking care of themselves. This recurrent theme of taking care of yourself at the end of each chapter is the constant reminder needed to parents that getting off the seemingly unstoppable, uncontrollable roller coaster is possible. Babbit's book is empowering to and breaths hope for parents in knowing a new freedom and a new happiness.

In a nutshell, this book was one of the elements that SAVED MY SON'S LIFE!! If I hadn't read about the stages of addiction (easily described and organized within the book for quick intervention)I wouldn't have realized how serious a situation he was in already. There he was, crashing through the wall to the final stage (despair/suicidal)of addiction and, because he had woven such a web of chaos (balls in the air for me to keep busy catching)I was totally missing the desperate truth, that he was going to die if he wasn't stopped! If I hadn't reacted quickly I truly know he would not be here today.

Babbit describes the ways addicts and abusers foil our best efforts to find out what they're up to. Our kids are experts at manipulation, and will go to great lengths to "protect" their addictions. They distract us from our instincts, avoid our attention, and unfortunately can plummet downward in a deathly spiral, under our very noses. Babbit describes ALL THE POPULAR DRUGS, the corresponding paraphernalia that can identify each one's use, and the symptoms displayed by someone using them. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED as you read the myriad of ways our children have found to get high! Have you ever grabbed a can of whipped cream out of the fridge only to find it's gone flat?? (they "huff" the gas out of the can!)...some even unscrew the gas cap and huff gas fumes right out of your car (keep a locking cap on yours!)

Nikki Babbit's well written, non-judgemental book is an ESSENTIAL primer for Parents of substance and alcohol abusing teenagers!! This is NO-NONSENSE, "IN YOUR FACE" information, effectively organized for quick reference to deal with your individual situation (stage of chaos) quickly! I am ordering several copies now to distribute to those is immediate need, and to display while speaking at parent's groups/community outreach, etc. Sometimes the despair and pain we parents go through is best channeled back into the world by sharing a story or insight or knowledge. Once you've "interrupted" their progression and gotten them help, your kids basically have a long process to recovery and have to work their programs on their own. If parents then try to channel their pain and worry back into community involvement it helps keep you a little more sane and helps the effort to reduce the distribution of drugs. God bless, and good luck to you!

I liked the book, but found some of it boring.

I got a note from an amazon customer, congratulating me on my quitting. For all the ones that will be cosidering this book now and feel it is impossible to quit, I strongly reccomend it and its methodology. I myself, after seeing my father quit smoking when he had his third heart surgery and my mother after her eye surgeries, thought I would not be able to do it. However, today is June 6 2007 and since Dec 20 1998 I have been smoke free. Should you know someone who needs help to quit smoking, I am willing to be part of the network support.

Very simple and easy to read guide. Up to date with lots of reccomendations that help. I was a pack and a half a day smoker. I smoked for 17 years. Feel free to contact me should you need support to help you quit. I am buying copies for my friends.

I found this book to be full of helpful ideas to keep you or a loved one off tabacco. It takes you through pre-quiting with great ideas to help you prepare, all the way through to staying smoke free forever. I have been very greatful for this book and recommend it to everyone!

This book helped me realize that I too can quit, and for good!!! It carefully explains statistics, effects and mortality rates, be it gender or age. Each step is very clear and very easy to follow. The Pack Track, notes and defense mechanisms that are given to you in this book will help anyone kick the butts for good!!! Very easy reading and easy on the eyes. Step by step until you are smoke free is the success that comes with this book. Mr. Fisher and Mr. Koop did an outstanding job on this book. The alternatives and attitude changing methods toward smoking are simply superb. Realizations are met on all sides of quitting in this book. From the ones who have quit numerous times to the struggle of relaspes. This book has it all covered. Hypnosis, gum, patches, fading, or whatever method exists, is clearly explained and can be tailored to suit anyone's need on any level!!!

I have not read the book but have talked with Chris on the telephone on several occasions. I do plan to read the book as soon as it arrives.

Having written many books about child abuse, as well as many stories for the Chicken Soup for the Soul Books; I can tell you this is a very interesting story and one that has been written from the heart. I have heard that the emotion it invokes is well worth the read.

Having been verbally, emotionally sexually and physically abused as a child, I know well the strength it takes to write such a book.

It is not easy trying to tell a story and get the word out to the public about child abuse, or what it does to an adult in their adult years. It takes many hours of work, sometimes years, just to tell a story correctly. Many authors had fallen to the wayside and many stories will never been told because the public will not purchase or support such works. That is why the world continues to be plagued by child abuse

I have much respect for Chris.

I stumbled upon this book title while surfing a Woodstock website. This was an awesome read. It in an anthem for all of us who face demons as we travel the road of life. This is the story of a troubled boy who suffered with an unstable family life and learning disabilities. Religion enters his life, which gives him hope for his future. With plans to enter priesthood, the turmoil of the 60's takes it's toll. Inner struggles cause him to re-examine the direction of his life. I don't want to give away too much. Buy this book !

My nephew wrote this. The Closer's Song is a book that will touch many hearts. I grew up on the "Farm", and it is amazing how after so many years to read about this wonderful place. It was not a palace, but a home with a lot of love. Christopher put in writing a beautiful story about his family life and the struggle to do what he felt was right after all the tragedy of taking a turn down the wrong road. I am very proud of his accomplishments in life, and wish him much success in his future.

Read this book. You will not be disappointed.

My cousin wrote this book. The Closer's Song brings back many memories from my childhood. All the ranges of emotions were captured from the best of times to the worst of times. Everyone I have asked to read The Closer's Song have all been in agreement that the way Christopher crafted this book lent itself to be a common blueprint of everyone's growing up. Christopher recognized that there was a need for all of us to take a deep breath and take a long, hard look at where we have been to appreciate what we have today. I am happy that The Closer's Song not only tells stories of glory that hit our hearts but relates the tragedy of life that touches our souls.

CLOSER'S SONG is a special story and my response to it is deeply personal. It is a spiritual journey that begins when an autistic child realizes his view of the world is different than his peers'. Dyslexia conceals a gifted mind and he finds himself ignored by family, abandoned in classes for the mentally challenged, laughed at and ridiculed by his peers. He is isolated and lonely, and it is within this atmosphere that Jesus calls him to a special mission, one that will go unrecognized for forty years.

He spends that time searching for understanding, first with Francis, his alter-ego, a gregarious and popular teen who introduces him not only to friends and the beauty in the world, but also to drugs and a counterculture that leads to further alienation. He finds peace for a time within the serenity of the parish rectory, deals with his learning disability, and enters the seminary. Instead of finding God, he finds a road filled with potholes and detours that include anti-war demonstrations, pop culture, sex, money, power plays, and finally betrayal at the hands of someone he'd thought to enrich. Gerald's journey is my journey, the story of a million other people entering a new millennium...troubled souls looking for answers to age-old questions, searching for God, hoping the search will not be in vain.

Christopher Cole has overcome dyslexia and he has written a book. As a teacher I find that as inspiring as the journey he relates. The editing challenges were daunting; the few that remain are evidence of a courageous battle...waged and won.

This book is well writen and very highly recomended.This book shows the real life of some teens and what they go through to be cool, or popular. Macon,Iowa. A small town with very little people. Kyra has lived here all of her life, and everything was perfect. Until a new teacher arrives and mixes up everything. How did it go down hill so fast? Who was the cause? Read to find out.

This series is about the guilt three different people feel involving the death of Sammy, who is a twin brother to Kyra. This book is Kyra's point of view. This series is interesting because there are three different points of view and you get to see how each person tells the story. This book was absolutely amazing! Everything in this book was so real, I could actually see something like that happening in my town and in my highschool. Everyone can relate to something in the book, maybe even more than one thing. I could not put it down and found myself staying up late just to get further into the book! I can't wait to read the next book, Miranda's story. I would recommend this book to all teen girls out there or anyone else looking for a great read! You won't be disappointed, I know I wasn't!

i think this book was a very good book. it is a good book for young teens/adults should read before they go out and do something like partying or drinking underage without thinking first.and hopefully they will think before doing things. over all it was a great book and i would read it again. i recomend this book to young adults, and hope that everyone else who reads it too likes it.

Kyra's Story is about a girl named Kyra, and her troubles in life. She has a Brother named Sammy, and friends named Miranda and her boyfriend Ryan, and her best friend in the world Dylan. She is a senior and is so nervous about the play tryouts. She always gets the lead, and she is nervous that she won't get the part since they have a new English teacher named Mitch. When she doesn't think that her tryout is good enough she demands that she tryout again. She gets nervous and sneaks into his pills. After that she felt like she needed pills so she took her mother's pills and blamed it on her brother. When her brother finds out he makes her stop and then tells him that he's a geek and so shy and up tight. So after that she didn't see him until the night of the play. after the play they threw a party at Miranda's house but something went terribly wrong. Something Kyra and everyone their will regret for the rest of their lives.

Sammy James is dead. His twin sister, Kyra, believes that it's all her fault. He wouldn't have been in the compromising situation that resulted in his death if Kyra hadn't driven him to it. As she awaits her turn to testify at the trial for Sammy's murder, Kyra looks back at the past few months and ponders her role.

Kyra has held the lead in every play since kindergarten in her hometown of Macon, Iowa. She's a cheerleader who runs with the "in" crowd, and has already been accepted at NYU for next year. The charismatic new English teacher, Mitchell Wade, forges an instant connection with the students on their level. He is in charge of the senior play, and Kyra's tension mounts as she's not sure she will impress him enough to win the lead.

In contrast, Sammy is laid back and does his own thing. Kyra feels the stress building each day--the constant pressure to do, act, and be the best. She starts sneaking Xanax from her mother in order to take off the "edge", and that works for a while. As Kyra becomes more and more addicted, her perception of her relationships is altered. When Sammy finds out what Kyra is doing, will she stop? What exactly is Kyra's role in Sammy's death?

I was pulled into KYRA'S STORY from the first page. It is one of three books in the DEGREES OF GUILT series; each book is written from a different person's perspective. After reading the book, a code is included and the reader can go to the website and read that person's trial testimony. Also featured at the website is the final verdict naming who is responsible for what happened to Sammy.

Kyra could be any high school senior. Her struggles with perfection will hit home for anyone who is currently experiencing the drama of high school, as well as those who are looking back. My daughter is a senior, and she said, "Wow, this author really knows what we're going through!" Sammy is the innocent victim, and it will be interesting to see how everything plays out over the course of the next books. Mitchell Wade is the ultimate villain; he's cunning and integrates himself into the lives of the teens in a way that seems commonplace and natural.

A subtle faith message is included, as Kyra learns to depend on God rather than the drugs for her strength. KYRA'S STORY has universal appeal, and is highly recommended for both adults and teens. All three books are available now, and readers will want to pick up all of them to get the full picture of the events surrounding Sammy's death.

Courtesy of www.BookLoons.com

A beautiful book for anyone you know touched by DES-women, men, family, friends, lawyers, and physicians. DES exposed people deserve acknowledgement and information about the drug they were exposed to before they were born. DES Stories does this while also bearing witness to the massive disruption of people's lives, which chemical exposure and drug breakthrough can cause. Get this book to feel empowered. It helps speak the truth.

Two of my sisters are exposed to the drug DES and are affected with infertility and cancer. DES touches every one in a family for the rest of their lives. This book brings home the impact of DES in an unforgettable way. I poured over the stories and photos. The stories are incredibly validating and candid, especially to see people's faces. It does a remarkable job of balancing the pain and suffering of DES but emphasizes people's positive, heroic emotions in dealing with DES. The timeline telling the truth about what was known about DES and when it was known is excellent. This is a very special book.

This book was a great book on true life stories and DES. It was so great for someone to write a book on illness which effect people everyday. I recomend it greatly!!!

HI folks - thought those of you who have not read "DES Stories" would enjoy these little excerpts re how I felt and others felt when they read it, and a bit of why Margaret wrote it. Please tell me what YOU think:

My response:
Reading this brought back to mind my experience reading your book. The first friend who gave it to me, a male, left it on my doorstep on November 6th last year, my 39th birthday, as a surprise little gift.

I remember being hugely excited as I unwrapped its package and I remember thinking that it was 21 years before on that same date when I found out I had cancer for the first time, on my 18th birthday.
(A nurse from the clinic at Balboa Hospital had come by and left her card with my roommate, reminding her that I must see the doctor again and why - she had left 2 previous messages the week before that I did not return, because it was my first day on the job at the Bank where I was then on that date, a full-fledged employee, instead of an intern. And I had not called back because I was busy preparing for that day and thought it was about more volunteer work, anyway.)

Anyway, what a gift. The first thing I usually do when I get home is run to the bathroom... I remember reading practically the entire book right there on the porcelain goddess.
(I had part of my bladder resected when the cancer spread the 1st go-round. It's fine now - all that delicious balloon stretching that I adored so much (yea, right!) had done a good job...I still drink a LOT of fluids.)

I know one woman who had cervical, vaginal and ovarian cancer and along with the clear cell adenocarcinoma they found choriocarcinoma when she had ovarian cancer. She had her cervix, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes and spleen completely removed. She has had 1/3rd of her bladder removed and reconstructed, 19 inches of her intestine and part of her omentum removed and my vagina reconstructed two times. She had 7 surgeries, external and internal radiation therapy and 4 separate mutli-round sessions of chemotherapy - all encompassing eight years of her life (18yrs old-almost 21 and 30yrs-37).
Today, she still has two tumors in her lumbar vertebrae - one the diameter of a quarter and the other a dime.
BUT - she is healthier than most anyone she knows! (Can you guess who "She" is?)

I remember the tears rolling down my face and rejoicing at the same time, that now the world would know it's true, it's still true and it still will be true and true anew for many yet to come, unfortunately. But now, it was in writing and not just in medical journals or my own doctor's handwriting. There were documented "others" and I was not alone. I, and my DES sisters were validated. And, if any MD dared mention to me that it was a long time ago and nothing of consequence today, I would have something in hand to proudly show him or her before I quietly walked out of their office forever.

The feeling of AWE that sticks with me today continues to amaze me. I brought it to a family picnic around Thanksgiving time last year to give to my mother who was visiting from out of town, and my oldest brother picked it up and read the whole thing right there. My mother picked it up and began reading it very shortly thereafter and even asked me questions! My boyfriend read the entire book the night I gave it to him to read.

What continues to strike me is how this book appears to magnetize the reader, pulls them in and keeps them there all the way through. I've never come across that before or seen someone else experience that either.

Why is that? I believe it's because the book is so subtle. From the colors on the cover to the pictures on the pages, the message within speaks loudly, yet softly of a quiet strength, of endurance. The details are not of morbid skeleton bones found in a closet or of gross deformities or fantastic miracles. Depicting man, woman, child - they successfully link all humankind. Which, combined in this wonderful book, induce the quiet force, revealing the present triumphs of real-life people. "DES Stories" chronicles each individual's rising to the purpose, of finding the answers with mastery of oneself and of circumstance.

It is a peaceful, very special honor to have something in common with these very brave human beings. They are prevailers. We are prevailers! For we are NOT victims, which is what the word 'survivor' connotes to me. We have overcome and become stronger and yes, better.
Love, Suzette

If you thought DES was a thing of the past - guess again. DES is alive and well. All you have to do is look into the faces staring up from the pages of this book and listen to the personal stories of the people exposed to this drug to know you are in the presence of a powerful force. No, I'm not referring to DES, although its impact is profound. I am referring to the miraculous ability of the human spirit to survive and transcend experiences most can only imagine. I know. I'm one of the survivors.

While you will not find my story contained within the pages of this book, I am there. I am a DES daughter, a cancer survivor. I am also a psychotherapist specializing in health psychology. Through my work, I hear a lot of stories, but few compare to those associated with the widespread medical mistake of DES.

Despite the scope of the problems created by this drug, those of us who live with the aftermath are in danger of being forgotten, or at least overlooked. Upon seeing a new physician recently, he said, "I was told in medical school that we wouldn't be seeing any more people exposed to DES." I informed him that I certainly hoped he wouldn't see any new cases of DES exposure, but there were plenty of us still walking around to tell the tale of DES and of our experiences with it. This book does precisely that - tell the tale.

Many thanks to Margaret Lee Braun and Nancy Stuart for a well-written and graphically poignant book. It is tasteful, respectful, and a much needed reminder that we are still here.

I love the spy girls! I have read the other five books and I thimk they're great also, but #5 was emotionally in depth. (Especially for Jo) I would recomend this series to anyone. I can't wait for book #7!!

this book was amazing!!i love all of the Spy Girl books and if i were you i would read all of them!!they are thrilling yet funny and very interesting with cool twists at the end!! i didn't know a book could be this enjoyable!! Elizabeth Cage has to make more!! i can't put her books down i stay up all night reading them!! i love the characters and i think they are much cooler then charlies angles and i can auctually relate to them because they are teenagers and they aren't supposed to be bimbos like in Charlies Angles. this bool makes me want to be a spy when i grow up!!!! SO READ IT NOW!!!!!

When i first saw the book i thought it would be stupid and childish, but it wasn't once i started to read it i couldn't put it down.This book is the only one of the series i have read but i'm looking forward to going and reading all the books in order i'm going to get spy girls the first series and reading it, but hope by the time i get done reading the last book that there is going to be anther book out, and Elizabeth Cage if you are reading this i just want you to let you know that your book is the one out of a few that kept my attention for a long time you are really a good writter and don't let anyone tell you different.

This series is the best one i have ever read i read all the spy girl books and they all make you want to run to the store and buy the whole series so buy them all and read them in order this one was my favorite

The book was really good! When i first saw the book it looked childish and basically a bunch of fluf. Boy, was I wrong! The book is fantastic and I couldn't put it down! Now, Cage is back again with this great novel that is just as well written as all the others. I especially like Jo who is pretty and flirty but still seems never to meet the right guy. I can not wait untill number 6!

100% pure, unadulterated Cronk! You will not be disappointed.

No sob story here, Cronk relates with unblinking candor and clever turn of phrase the pain, disillusionment and consequences resulting from the choices she's made. What is so compelling about this work is that amid the gritty reporting of her foibles and of those close to her, is the sense that she's through with the self-destruction, and that through her honest introspection which is so clearly expressed in this book, she'll not only survive, but thrive.

This collection of writings is thought provoking to say the least. Each one, no matter how brief is a novel of thought. Want to know what it's like to be on the inside of a troubled life looking out, this book is the picture window. If you are fan of the poetry of Jim Morrison this is required reading.

The most original, gripping piece of work I've ever seen. There are some books you read that you never forget, and THIS is one of them. Very profound and mesmerizing. I don't normally read poetry, yet I couldn't stop reading this! The brilliance of words is playfully thought out. The author's humor shines despite all the pain.

For any desperate junkies out there, you have a chance. There's no excuse for anyone who dies with a needle in their arm. Drug Deal With God will open your mind, once the despair wears off. The impression I got, is that the world doesn't do anything to you...it's how you choose to react to the world. I now realize, that any misery I've experienced, is strictly self-imposed. This book will literally open the prison cell your mind has locked you in, and let you out!

Forget to smoke. Find true happiness. Enjoy the process. One of the very best books I've ever read, hands down. Fully recommended for all.

Full of fun facts and exercises and no pressure! Today is my 4th anniversary and NOPE - Not One Puff Ever in that time.

We've all seen them, the smokers huddled at the doorway of a smoke-free building. For the most part, they seem furtive and possibly embarassed - our society has decided to make smoking a shame-based activity. Enter Bear Gebhardt and his revolutionary approach that emphasizes the inherent dignity and essential worthiness of the smoker. Gebhardt doesn't point fingers, doesn't assign blame. Rather, he employs a message of self-worthiness and practical behavior patterns. If you're a smoker, or care about one, check out this helpful book.

Bear G. has written a book based on many years of clinical, and especially, personal experience. The best thing about this book is it embodies his upbeat view of the world, and optimistic but realistic approaches to the challenges our habits create. I can unreservedly recommend this book to anyone trying to overcome the very difficult and addictive lifestyle of smoking, or tobacco use in general. Bear was recently invited to speak on the subject at a conference at Oxford University; a well- deserved honor because of his ability to help people.

After you've tried everything else, try this. Like any true change, quitting is an "inside-out" job. When you stop beating yourself up and start supporting and understanding yourself, you will be empowered to walk away from smoking forever. My husband quit for good 1 1/2 years ago, cold turkey, after reading only part of the book! He had smoked for 25 years~ but once he truly understood why he'd started and realized that the reason no longer existed for him, that was all it took. Hopefully you'll find this book first, before trying all the other methods~ If you truly want to quit, this will work for you too.

Motherless Eddie Brown (actually Evangeline) candidly tells of her friendship with the new boy in school, Farrell. Both feel themselves to be outsiders and closely guard their family secrets. Their fathers are drinking buddies and their alcoholism overshadows the whole story. The bullying by the other kids pulls the two youngsters together and Farrel teaches Eddie to defend herself.
Young readers will relate to their experiences in coping with hurtful teasing, having to wear glasses, adjusting to a new teacher, and feeling embarrassed about their homes and families. The two of them have an up-and-down relationship as they take their insecurities and frustrations out on each other.
When disaster looms, they hatch a plot together to cope with it. Farrel fears that the new teacher's home visits will result in Eddie and him being sent to foster homes. He says they should run away and travel to his grandmother's.
Eddie must make a difficult choice between her loyalty to her father who has disappointed her over and over or on taking a risk with this new friend. The book ends on a hopeful note.

I don't usually read children's books, but bought this one for my grandchildren, read it myself, and was delighted. Perhaps the strongest feature is the way Ms. Davis captures the voice of 10-year-old Eddie Brown (Evangeline) the sassy little protagonist through whose eyes the story is told.

Eddie's problem is that she lives with her dad, the village drunk, in a run-down Florida motel--one of those places that rents rooms by the hour. The most notable feature of the motel, other than its broken neon sign and shady clientele, is the rear end of a pink Cadillac protruding from one of the rooms. Eddie's dad is the manager.

Eddie is street smart enough to realize that all is not well with all the comings and goings, and finds friendship with Farrell, another kid with problems. His dad runs a greasy mechanic shop and is the drinking buddy of Eddie's dad. The dads aren't bad guys, just a couple of negligent drunks.

Eddie and Farrell play basketball together, fend off bullies, and talk about their miserable lives. As bad as things are, they turn worse when a new teacher comes to town and announces she's going to visit each child at home, have a chat with their parents. No way, says Eddie and Farrell. Not only will they become the laughing stock of the school, but they could wind up as wards of the state. This sets the stage for an elaborate escape, a run-away-from-home with the intention of moving in with Eddies aunt.

I won't spoil the ending for those who haven't read the book, but will add that things go from bad to worse to disastrous when they encounter the really bad guys in a bus station, the sort that preys on little kids.

This book has everything for a delightful read--a loveable protagonist, a BIG problem, a determination to do something about the problem, bad guys and a satisfactory ending. It also has a message for kids contemplating escape from their parents: things could be much much worse. In short, it's a great read for both kids and adults.

In this novel, which won the coveted Ann Durrell Fiction Contest (Dutton Children's Books' contest for new writers of middle-grade fiction), Evangeline "Eddie" Brown lives in poverty with her beer-sodden father. Their home is the rarely frequented Cadillac Motel, decorated with the butt-end of a pink Cadillac. Eddie has lived in Paradise since she was born. The motel is in sad shape and so is Eddie's Pa, who has never recovered from her mother's death when Eddie was five. Ruby, the motel maid, functions somewhat as a mom substitute. Eddie is friendless and teased unmercifully at school.

Eddie meets Farrell, the son of one of Pa's drinking buddies. The two connect through their mutual love of basketball. Eddie is troubled by Farrell's secrets. Why is he afraid of enclosed spaces? Where is the place he lived when his mother died? When school starts, they strike a deal: Eddie will help Farrell with his schoolwork in exchange for fighting lessons. Farrell and Eddie combine their talents to solve problems. Their solutions sometimes result in triumph but also lead them into danger.

Along with her new friend, Eddie also has a new teacher. Instead of cranky old Mrs. Thornton, the class has pretty, sweet Miss Rose. Her new teacher drops a bombshell: she plans to visit each student's home. Eddie is awash in shame and fear at the thought of her lovely teacher in the trashed-out motel meeting her drunken father. She is desperate to prevent that scenario.

This is a poignant book with fresh, surprising characters (I love Eddie's attitude!) and a lively but thoughtful plot. It's both heartbreaking and heartwarming but never slips into sentimentality. Although I thought that perhaps the situation with Eddie's father was resolved just a bit too easily, this is a minor quibble with such a wonderful novel. Indeed, I simply cannot wait to read many more books by talented newcomer Michele Ivy Davis.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (...)

This is a wonderful story that made me laugh and cry. I really loved the main character. The author does such a wonderful job that you really feel part of the story. I am an adult and I plan on sharing this one with both my 8 year old and 11 year old. A great book to curl up with!

What a delightful book! I enjoyed the engaging story and the spunk of the main character. Eddie is a no nonsense tomboy on the outside and a vulnerable young girl within. The author lends a remarkable insight into the life of a young girl of difficult circumstances. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to enjoy its simple lessons. I truly do believe that this book shouldn't be limited to kids!

I did. I stayed up all night to read this. I picked it up to 'start' it. Little did I know it would suck me in so fast. I won't give a report about Travis and his life or his love life or his low life friend/s. I will just say I loved this book. I was disturbed, educated, a little shocked in spots, moved, and did I mention sucked in? A really great read.

This is My ALL TIME favorite book...its really amzing. a must read!!!!! the whole story seems very real and you just cant put it down. i would suggest reading this. its really a great book.

jason myer's style of writing is unique in its unrelenting honesty.
as you slam through the story of exit here, it seems somehow tangible and yet at the same time distant because of its level of shocking reality.

maybe its that feeling of invincibility you have as a teenager.
the disbelief in permanence.
the impulsivity.
the lack of consideration of consequences.
the disregard for anything but the here and now.
the helpless scrutiny of growing up and looking back.
seeing all those places where you could have made a different choice.
how easy it would have been to end up in a different place.
wondering how things got so out of control.

you don't read this book. this book reads you.
that's exactly what makes it so relevant. your own experiences fuel the events that occur within these pages. this book is backed up by life.
and that's what makes it resonate.
this could be you....

Exit Here is pretty disturbing fare-- these characters are very real, and to see them as they begin down a road of self-destruction is compelling and riveting.

"Inhale. Exhale."
And the events of Travis Wayne's life unfold.

In Exit Here, Myers tell the story of Travis Wayne as he arrives home for the summer after his fist year away at college. Throughout the book, Travis struggles to come to terms with the truth and reality of his life and his future. Enough with my plot synopsis; read the book and find out what happens. Now, on to my opinion of the book:

First of all, this book is awesome. I don't know why you are sitting on your computer reading my review when you should be reading this book, but if you need more convincing I will go on. When I first got the book, I was a little wary of the length. I mean, how can a book with over 400 pages be fun and exciting. Well, in Exit Here something happens on every page. After the first few pages, I didn't want to put it down; so I wasn't astonished when I finished it in 2 days. This book is a true page-turner.

What makes the book so fun to read is all the pop-culture references. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much while reading a book; it was great! How can you not love a book that makes fun of a former member of NKOTB! AWESOME!!!

It is not all laughs either. Besides it being a hilarious story, it also tackles difficult issues of growing up and learning responsibility while facing sex, drug, and alcohol abuse. I think it is sometimes hard for a novel to both be funny and have a strong thematic message, but Myers is able to accomplish this beautifully. He so seamlessly creates a world in which all the characters exist. By the time I finished the book, I felt like I knew Travis and all his friends. It's weird because I felt like their lives continued even when the book ended. Myers is truly a talented writer in this aspect.

If you like reading good books, read Exit Here.