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Best Teen Books Of 08

Battling the Blessings is author Terry Fulgham’s life story which spans over fifty years, reflecting on his childhood, the teen years, and into his adulthood. Fulgham changed the names of the characters, including his own, to protect the innocent.

We meet Reggie Manchester-Pallor as a nine-year-old in 1956. Reggie lived in Flint, Michigan with his grandparents, who he lovingly referred to as “Big Mama” and “Papa Manchester.” The Manchester house was a caring, respectful, and disciplined Christian home. Growing up then was different than it is today; children only spoke to adults when they were spoken to. If a kid stepped out of line, they were spanked. Reggie saw his share of spankings, or whippings, as he called them. Reggie was very close to his grandparents and, as his father was not around; Papa Manchester was his only male influence.

The passing of Papa Manchester left a profound emptiness in 10-year-old Reggie’s life, leaving him with a feeling of helplessness. A few months after the loss of his grandfather, Reggie met Jesse “Pancake” Stoner. Reggie was small for his age and a favorite target of bullies. Pancake was one of the biggest kids in school. With Pancake around, no one bothered Reggie. Pancake and Reggie grew to be as close as brothers, and together were both respected and feared in their neighborhood. At age 13, Reggie, Pancake and their friends began drinking wine, smoking, and later, stealing cars.

Reggie was the only one of his friends to graduate from high school. In the last few years of school, he held numerous jobs where he was known as a hard and dedicated worker. This weekday life differed greatly from his weekends, as he continued to love the street life. Drinking alcohol and cough syrup (for a codeine high), popping pills, fighting, stealing, and chasing girls filled his off work hours. Big Mama doubted Reggie would see his 21st birthday if he didn’t stop his street life.

The failure of his second marriage and the death of a close friend had Reggie drinking more than ever and deeper into drugs and his life of crime. It took losing a fight to a younger man, being severely beaten, and his mother’s desperate pleading for him to straighten out his life to get Reggie to take his sobriety seriously and pray, “Lord, stop me from drinking.”

Much more than a story of addiction, Battling the Blessings is a snapshot of American history. Fulgham treats us with his memories of growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, using the slang and lingo of that time in his realistic dialogue. He adds the music, clothes, hairstyles, and vehicles of the day and tells his riveting story with his own unique style to take us back to that turbulent time.

Battling The Blessings isn’t simply a kid-gets-hooked-on-booze-and-drugs-and-turns-his-life-around story. It is an unflinching and inspiring telling of a man’s struggle with himself and his demons. Fulgham doesn’t make excuses for his actions; he takes full responsibility. Reggie isn’t a bad guy-he is a smart, compassionate person who just made many bad choices. I found myself cheering for him, hoping that he would one day leave the street life behind and make himself and his family proud.

This is Fulgham’s first book. However, he writes with the skill of a seasoned author. He knows how to spin a story in a way that will affect and captivate his reader. Often, I was laughing at his humour, shaking my head in shock, and misting up at a sad passage all in the same chapter. I highly recommend this entertaining glimpse into a remarkable life.

Lulu 2008

978-1-4357-5705-9

William Potter attempted his first novel at age eleven when he scribbled a few lines about a giant rampaging crab. The teen years kept his imagination in a state of unrest and he used poetry to journal personal thoughts, achievements and events of those times. He returned to his love of storytelling in his twenties, writing numerous short stories; and now in his forties, has completed two full-length novel manuscripts. Lighting the Dark Side-Six Modern Tales represents his work from the past several years and is his first published book. The collection received the Editor’s Choice Award for short stories from AllBooks Review International in 2009. His second book, DEAD of KNIGHT will be available in November. William resides in New Westminster, Canada with his wife and two children.

Is big really beautiful?

I was reading this article online and it was talking about some books that center around overweight people who succeed in life, are completely happy with their weight, and they don’t try to change a thing about themselves. I think it’s great that they accept themselves for who they are, and I’m not saying that if you’re overweight, you won’t succeed in anything. But don’t you think those books are showing others that being overweight is OK? I have absolutely no problem with fat people. But if you’re overweight, don’t you think you should at least try to lose some weight to become healthier? You can still be big and beautiful without being overweight, like America Ferrera for example. No need to be stick skinny.

Here’s the article I read:
http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/08/27/plump-fiction-teen-lit-embraces-plus-size-protagonists/

I have been bedbound since 15 years old with an illness, and went from a nice body shape to overweight.

I am still bedbound, and unable to exercise.

This is mainly to some answerers: Please think about people like me before you start hinting that overweight people are lazy. Ugly. Less worthwhile than skinny people. It’s actually hurtful to know that I am looked down upon, and unable to do a thing about it. Will people like you - and other people answering this question - just let me be happy without saying a THING about it? Whats it to you if someone else is fat? Why is it even an issue - even if that person can lose weight if they want to? Why even talk about it? Why does it bother you? Are you threatened that they can be overweight and happy at the same time?

I guess I’ll put up with your attitudes until I get healthy enough to exercise… if that ever happens. God knows, Im craving it.