Books with author Beth Roberts

Sunny and Carolyn are very different eleven-year-olds. While Carolyn is dainty and petite, Sunny struggles with her height and weight. It’s hard to stop comparing herself to Carolyn, but Sunny tries not to let it distract her from their special friendship.Sunny is ecstatic when Carolyn decides to join the cross-country team with her but worries when Carolyn begins pushing herself very hard. After a shocking event sends Carolyn to the hospital, Sunny begins learning about Carolyn’s past and about the promise that is causing her so much anguish. This nuanced tale of the bonds between best friends and the scars left by abuse raises awareness about the struggles children face in every school across the country. Eleven-year-old Sunny Daniels is a tall stocky Caribbean girl, suffering from an identity crisis. Her physical appearance is unlike any other girl in her class, including her best friend, Carolyn who is dainty and small. As Sunny becomes increasingly unhappy and painfully self-conscious of her height and shape she decides that she must find a way to look more like those around her. Her single parent mother encourages her to joins the cross-country club, but that decision is not only challenging and painful for her, but when Carolyn unexpectedly makes the choice to be a member of the team it has far reaching consequences for the younger girl. As they struggle with the strenuous training Carolyn unexpectedly collapses during the cross-country training at school. No one knows whether she will ever recover. Unknown to Sunny, Carolyn has been dealing with her own personal crisis which has been the hidden cause of her mysterious illness. Carolyn's spends weeks in a children's mental health hospital, and eventually reveals that she has suffered from physical and emotional abuse and had no idea how to cope. Carolyn reveals that she began running to distract herself from a promise she made to protect the secret she made to her mother's brother. During Carolyn's lengthy stay in hospital she must decide whether to trust the medical team and accept counselling in order to face her fears if she is to make progress for the very long road to recovery.In school, Sunny feels alone and friendless without Carolyn. She hides away from the gossip and curious stares from the other children who want to know the reason for Carolyn’s collapse.Jennifer is the last girl to join class in its final year of primary school. Her first day in school is made more difficult since the whole school knows her secret already. She has a serious life-threatening nut allergy. She feels isolated and ignored, and looks to Sunny for friendship, but will Sunny's loyalty to Carolyn tolerate another friend?Over the next few weeks, Carolyn eventually finds a way to confide and share the dreadful secret with Sunny. Once Carolyn recovers and returns to school, Sunny has another dilemma. Their friendship is challenged by the new friend she has made in class. There is jealousy between the three girls. Each girl has own her reasons to resent the other.

Sunny and Carolyn are very different eleven-year-olds. While Carolyn is dainty and petite, Sunny struggles with her height and weight. It’s hard to stop comparing herself to Carolyn, but Sunny tries not to let it distract her from their special friendship.Sunny is ecstatic when Carolyn decides to join the cross-country team with her but worries when Carolyn begins pushing herself very hard. After a shocking event sends Carolyn to the hospital, Sunny begins learning about Carolyn’s past and about the promise that is causing her so much anguish. This nuanced tale of the bonds between best friends and the scars left by abuse raises awareness about the struggles children face in every school in America. Author and psychiatric nurse B. E. Sowah believes that it is important to include children in certain conversations about abuse and other issues. As long as abuse remains a taboo topic, only discussed by adults, children will feel scared of sharing their own stories. Sowah hopes that this book will encourage you to think about the people in your life and the pains they may be hiding. Being a good listener like Sunny can make an amazing difference in someone’s life.

Sunielia Daniels is a stocky 12 year old girl of Afro Caribbean parents who is already struggling with the emotional difficulties of having almost lost her beloved mother to an accident. A sudden and unexpected knock on the household door sees her world blown apart by the unwelcome entry of her ten year old half-sister, Chloe who was born after her father had a relationship with an ex-girlfriend. Sunny takes an instant dislike to her father’s daughter.None of her friends or family understands the crushing fears which haunt her thoughts day and night. Now her nights are invaded with frightening nightmares where her life and family are under threat from a demonic serpent with a strikingly familiar face, and terrifying parasitic creatures. High school has barely started, and brings with it even more worries and problems. Feeling lonely, she makes her own new friends. But unbeknown to Sunny they each have terrible secrets of their own, and one of them has the whole school gossiping about her...Sometimes Sunny wants to scream out loud; "I'm too young for all this!"

Taking is so easy, but giving is the true challenge. While taking from the earth is necessary for survival, one small boy learns that it is equally important to give back. He plants a seed and nurtures it from sprout to full grown tree. Despite threatening fire and other dangers, he faithfully protects his beloved tree. As the boy becomes much older, he passes on his greatest gift – his legacy to guard the earth.