Books with author Marcia Reynolds

An award-winning garden designer's unique union of a practical how-to book with stories and philosophy The Garden Awakening is a step-by-step manual to creating a garden in harmony with the life force in the earth, addressing not only what the people in charge of the land want but also asking what the land wants to become. Mary Reynolds demonstrates how to create a groundbreaking garden that is not simply a solitary space but an expanding, living, interconnected ecosystem. Drawing on old Irish ways and methods of working with the land, this beautiful book is both art and inspiration for any garden lover seeking to create a positive, natural space.

Marcia, a young woman nearing twenty, is on her way to jail. She has been busted, again, this time for using heroin. As she passes buildings and bus stops that remind her of her childhood, she tries to recall what incidents led her to her dilemma. With barely a goodbye, her mother leaves her at the steps of the jail. Terrified, she is processed and placed in a new world—cell 6, bed 8.Unexpected Angels is a true account of a young woman, once an academic superstar, who is thrown into jail to await trial on a narcotics charge. At nineteen, she's already a three time loser. She must dig deep inside herself and find her power or lose it, possibly forever. Aided by the bonds she makes with the women inmates, and in particular, through her extraordinary friendship with a feisty, street-smart black woman, she finally finds her true strength and learns how to fight for her life. While reliving Marcia's amazing experience, you will meet the women who made a difference in her life, her unexpected angels.Carmela ran guns for her father, his method of putting food on the family table. Raped by the snitch who turned her in, she still dreamed her prince charming would come to take her away.Olivia, an illiterate, single mother of seven, is serving one year for welfare fraud. She needed money to buy her son clothes to wear to school. So she took a nighttime janitorial job and failed to report the income. She was sentenced to a year in jail. Now the government is threatening to put six of her children in foster care.You'll also meet Deely, a chatty 19-year old whose boyfriend, after ripping apart the purse of an old woman and finding no money, threw the woman in the trunk of his car. She suffocated. Deely was charged as an accomplice to murder.And how could anyone forget Vicki, the cellblock queen? In detention and jail most of her 23 years, she mastered the art of doing time. Fighting when she has to, conning when she can, Vicki reigns supreme. A girl doesn't dare make Vicki mad. Except for Marcia. Once enemies, they became friends who would change each others lives foreverEach woman wears the label “criminal.” To Marcia, they were angels whose stories deserve to be told.Although the story is about Marcia, the reader can be any woman, or man, who could also use an angel in their life to find their way. It's a story about loss and rediscovery, about climbing out of the depth of despair to seeing the glorious light of possibility. Read it if you need some hope in your life, too.

Melissa doesn't consider herself abused - Rudy only hits her occasionally when he's drinking - until she realizes the effect his abuse is having on their child. She finally leaves Rudy, and she and Cheyenne go to the shelter for battered women. As difficulties with group living arise, however, she misses the good times with Rudy. The clarity of Melissa's decision soon fades, and she finds herself again in a dangerous situation, more trapped than ever before.

At the age of twelve, Cassie is old enough to babysit. But when the father of two children for whom she babysits fondles her, Cassie is too confused and embarrassed to know what to do. She becomes more and more frightened as he continues to aggressively molest her. At last, she tells her teenage cousin, Lisa, and together they try to find ways to cope. Lisa realizes the escalating situation is more than the two of them can handle on their own and she breaks her vow of silence. The story explores the conflicting emotions of a young adolescent and the concern of parents who must protect their daughter's privacy and her well-being. In spite of the horrors of molestation, this is ultimately a story of healing and hope.Reynolds competently presents the many complex motivations of all participants… As Young Adult readers easily relate to Cassie’s story, they will effortlessly learn from her experience. – Wilson Library Bulletin Wonderful novel for every church, every junior high and high school library, and every English class… important literature for all teenagers. Highly recommended. – National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

In the summer of 1795, a teenager was exploring a tiny island in Nova Scotia's Mahone Bay when he came across a curious depression in the ground. Driven by visions of lost pirate treasure, he later returned to the spot with shovels, pickaxes, and two friends. The trio began to dig, and in so doing launched what would become one of the most famous treasure hunts of all time. For over 200 years, the baffling mysteries of the Oak Island treasure have captured countless imaginations they have also been the cause of bitter rivalries, dashed hopes, and tragic deaths.

At 15, Lauren Riley promised herself that she would not mess up her life and would stay away from drugs and sex. But two years later, her boyfriend Tyler is pressuring her to forget that promise. Both her parents are lost to her through long-time drug addiction, but through her writing, Lauren tries to deal with her problems and discovers a deeper strength. Based on the reality of everyday high school life, and critiqued by high school students as it was written, this book accurately portrays and confronts the issues of drugs, race, sex, first love, and finding self-expression.Having been born drug addicted, to an addict mother, 17-year-old Lauren is determined not to repeat her mother's mistakes. She has promised herself to say no to drugs and sex, but is finding the latter a challenge, as she faces increasing pressure from her longtime boyfriend, Tyler. The resentment she still harbors for her deceased mother and the reappearance of her long-absent father further complicate her life and negatively affect her schoolwork and relationships. Lauren's journey to self-discovery and self-love is filled with pitfalls and also surprising rewards. The seventh title in the series is characteristically informative and insightful, exploring difficult teen issues with honesty and a multifaceted perspective. Reynolds' treatment of youth and their challenges, from sexual abstinence to mixed-race parentage, is compassionate, never condescending; the dialogue, situations, emotions, and behavior of the well-defined teen characters ring true. An engaging, thought-provoking read, recommended for reluctant readers. —Booklist

When their mother is called to Iraq with her National Guard Unit, 17-year-old Mario Barajas and his 10-year-old brother, Eddie, move in with their Aunt Carmen. Eddie, hungry for the love of a father, happily soaks up the attention their aunt's boyfriend, Denton, freely gives. Mario is caught up with a girlfriend who is his first love, with high school soccer, and with work. He barely notices as his little brother becomes more and more withdrawn. Then, returning home earlier than expected one evening, he walks in on the terrible secret. Mario must take desperate measures to protect Eddie. This is a gripping tale of trust, betrayal, and secrets that should never be kept. Above all, this is the story of the bond of love between two brothers.The suspense builds as Mario must take big risks and suffer personal losses to keep his brother safe. Written with a keen understanding of teens and a remarkable awareness of sexual abuse dynamics, this wise novel is an important addition for any collection serving teens. - School Library Journal All teens can find something to identify with or learn from in this cathartic and ultimately hopeful tale of recovery from sexual abuse. - Booklist

Six short stories about teens in crisis are presented with alternate male and female narrators. Story lines include such young adult concerns as teen pregnancy, abortion, abusive partners, racism, failing at school, a fatal auto accident after a party where alcohol was served, and coping with family obligations to care for an aging relative.Reynolds's young people struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds but do eventually succeed in improving their lives. They're not too good to be true, though–they seem like real kids. The language here is a little raw, but the situations will be familiar to far too many teens: school failure, pregnancy and abortion, racism, a fatal car accident, an aging relative, violence and abuse by a lover. Reynolds sets this collection of six stories in Hamilton High, a fictional, urban, ethnically mixed secondary school somewhere in Southern California, but the stories are universal. Some characters have parents who can provide emotional guidance, but others are stumbling through life without support. YAs will look forward to the next installment in the series. – School Library Journal This latest addition to Reynolds' Hamilton High series presents six stories about teens in crisis. Teen pregnancy, the topic of the two previous books, is an issue in only one of the stories, in which Christina from Too Soon for Jeff discovers she is pregnant again and this time chooses abortion. Other crises revolve around an abusive partner, racism, failing at school, the death of a friend in an auto accident after a party at which alcohol is served, and coping with family obligations to care for an aging relative. All the young people are believable, likable, and appropriately thoughtful, given the situations they face. All the stories are interesting and well paced, and each has a slightly different style, which avoids repetition in theme and tone. Young adults will certainly identify with the characters and their problems, and it is particularly useful to have these issues addressed in short story form with alternate male and female narrators, thereby making it easy to recommend just one story to draw in reluctant readers. Once they get started, they probably won't stop at one. – Booklist Real-life crises of teens are themes of six stories in a collection which ranges from stories of abuse to dilemmas of single parenting. This is a hard-hitting collection which provides fine insights into how crises are resolved. – Midwest Book Review

This young adult novel accurately portrays the widespread effects of a young lesbian's decision to come out of the closet and live openly and honestly while still in high school. The story line revolves around Kit Dandridge - a young lesbian struggling to be herself in a repressive environment-her best friend Lynn, and their families and friends. Included are plot elements seen in recent headlines that include the often tragic consequences of high school intolerance and bullying as well as the development of support group networks for gay and lesbian students and their heterosexual allies. Ultimately Love Rules is a testament to the power of love--in family, in friendships, and in both gay and straight teen couples, and a testament to the power of gay/straight alliances in working toward the safety of all students.A worthy addition to YA literature in which straight, gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals are represented. — School Library Journal Thoughtful teens will like this issue-packed realistic novel about accepting differences. — VOYA

In the summer of 1795, a teenager was exploring a tiny island in Nova Scotia's Mahone Bay when he came across a curious depression in the ground. Driven by visions of lost pirate treasure, he later returned to the spot with shovels, pickaxes, and two friends. The trio began to dig, and in so doing launched what would become one of the most famous treasure hunts of all time. For over 200 years, the baffling mysteries of the Oak Island treasure have captured countless imaginations they have also been the cause of bitter rivalries, dashed hopes, and tragic deaths.

Eighteen-year-old Erica Arrendondo is a serious student with her sights set on a career as a veterinarian. Then, after his mother dies a sudden, accidental death, Erica's boyfriend, Danny, turns to drugs and alcohol to escape his grief. As his life spins out of control, Erica struggles to help Danny get back on track. After a tragic turn of events, Erica finally realizes that she can't save Danny, and that she is losing herself in the process of trying. Thus begins the difficult task of finding the strength and will to put her own life back together. This sensitively written problem novel deals with a young woman's struggle to stay true to her own goals and values while trying to save her boyfriend from himself. Erica Arrendondo, 18, is an excellent student who volunteers at the Humane Society, plays volleyball, and desperately wants to be a veterinarian. Her boyfriend is spiraling down a path of self-destruction and pulling her along with him. Topics such as keeping parents unaware of sexual relationships, the trauma of rape, the stress of college applications, the rewards of volunteerism, and the threat of AIDS are all gently interwoven into the main story of the trials of young love. The characters are compelling and the novel itself almost impossible to put down. The writing is superb and the realistic tone sets this book alongside the best of the genre. This fifth entry in the series about students at Hamilton High is an excellent addition to any YA collection. - School Library Journal.Erica pours more and more of her heart and soul into helping boyfriend Danny get his life back on track. But the more she tries to help him, the more she loses sight of her own dreams. It takes a tragic turn of events to show Erica that she can't "save" Danny, and that she is losing herself in the process of trying. Finally, Erica is forced to wonder, "But what about me?" She begins the difficult task of putting her own life back together again. But What About Me? puts real-life problems of acquaintance rape into a candid fictional format that can grab the attention of teen readers the way no amount of simple lecturing can ever do. - Midwest Book Review

Young Tommy is recovering from a long illness. Some days he feels sad and lonely since he is away from his friends, his school, and his dog, Brewster. Even after he leaves the hospital, has to be careful about germs, so he can't be around other people. His parents take him to live temporarily at his aunt's lake house while he regains his strength. It is still a lonely life until one day Tommy notices the loud, clunky geese gathered under his bird feeders near the dock at the lake house. The geese give him the spark he needs to get stronger everyday. As the geese raise their goslings, Tommy watches and learns about the geese, about himself, about fighting, and about healing.