Books published by publisher Birch House Press

“Eloquent take on seeing and celebrating beauty.” –Stephanie Morrill, author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series“Gorgeous…profound look at the longing for place.” –Jennifer Murgia, author of Between These Lines and Forest of WhispersI couldn’t stop crying because it was so intimate, in that way I always thought being physical with him would feel. If someone had walked in they might have thought Henry was barely touching me. I knew the truth of it.Things get messy when Meg Kavanagh gets involved—first with Jo Russell, the eccentric old artist, and then with Quinn O’Neill, the intriguing loner who can’t hide how he feels about Meg. Her senior year isn’t turning out like she planned, but sometimes the best parts of life happen in the in-between moments. He commits to one year in an orphanage that needs him more than he ever dreamed. Thousands of miles from Meg and the new punk who has fallen for her, and absent from the ranch that’s in his blood, Henry Whitmire finds out what it means to trust. When you’re so far from home, it’s terrifying to realize you’re not who you thought. But the perfect glass of calamity makes the best mirror.

Editorial Reviews for the Swimming Through Clouds Trilogy:"It is the rare author who can end an emotionally compelling trilogy with the same resounding truth from which it was formed, but turned inside out. In Soaring through Stars, Rajdeep Paulus does exactly that. Crafting her characters' inner growth at a believable and often heart-wrenching pace across the series, this final book extends an exquisite peace to hearts where extreme fear used to dwell. This series should be on the shelves of every American high school. Soaring through Stars is a beautiful, perfect ending to a truly exceptional series... Don't miss this one." ~USA TODAY (HEA) Serena Chase, Author of The Ryn "Rajdeep Paulus writes young adult fiction with a new kind of hero...Despair and cruelty haunt its pages. Raj's most heroic characters find the strength to be compassionate at moments when it would be much easier to stand by and do nothing." ~AMAZON, Amazon Author Success Story, Editor at Amazon PRAISE for Soaring Through Stars: "Tough and touching, resilient and raw--Rajdeep Paulus has crafted a story of love and abuse with the deft touch of a master, and she never averts her pen from the realities that face far too many women and children." ~ Tosca Lee, NY Times Bestselling Author ofHavah and The Books of Mortals series with Ted Dekker In Soaring Through Stars, the final book in her trilogy, Rajdeep Paulus displays an almost magical ability to portray dark and haunting subject matter with her descriptively lyrical style. Her poetic prose not only manages to bring her characters' devastating struggles vividly to life, but also their singular grace and courage as they fight to wrestle hope from the rubble of epic loss, grief, and trauma.~ Lisa Amowitz, Author of Breaking Glass, Vision, and Until Beth "In Soaring Through Stars, Rajdeep Paulus does what few authors of series are able to do--she stays fiercely loyal to her characters and allows them to find the natural ending to an emotional journey. Something beautiful is created where there had only been chaos."~ Laura Anderson Kurk, author of Glass Girl and Perfect Glass "Brilliantly crafted, Rajdeep Paulus stitched what seems dark and broken into a tapestry of hope and love." ~ Jennifer Murgia, Author of Between These Lines and Forest of Whispers "A raw and heart-wrenching account of abuse, human trafficking, and enduring hope, theSwimming Through Clouds series is an incredible story of the strength of true love and the power of courage. Talia, Lagan, and Jesse will sneak into your heart and stay there long after you read the last line." ~ Amalie Howard, Bestselling IndieNext author of Alpha Goddess "This is a beautiful not-so-average love story and an ending that stays with you for days after you've finished reading the book."~ Brown Girl Magazine "Deep, sometimes quite dark, and very emotional YA story." ~ Once Upon a YA Book Blog *** "I live in the in between. Between holding on and letting go. Hurt clings to me. Hope teases me. Home. I can't explain it, but sometimes, I just want to go home." Talia and Jesse Vanderbilt have escaped a childhood full of abuse, and with the help of their friends have found the courage to publicly tell their stories. When they face obstacles trying to have their father convicted, the siblings can't help but consider the option to walk away and move on with their lives. Someone unexpected brings his own secrets, forcing the Vanderbilt teens to revisit their pasts and rethink their plans. Through it all, Lagan and Talia's Post-it love story blossoms, while Jesse and Summer hit roadblocks. From the award-winning author of Swimming Through Clouds and Seeing Through Stones comes a powerful story of freedom and belonging in this final book of the young adult trilogy that began with an invitation on a little, yellow, Post-it note.

Ellie Sweet is a lot of things—good girl, novelist, silent adorer of the new boy at school, Palmer. But when “outcast” gets added to the list, she decides it’s time to take reality into her own hands … and tweak it as needed. In the pages of her book, she’s Lady Gabrielle, favorite of the medieval Italian court. Her once-friends are reduced to catty ladies-in-waiting, and the too-charming Palmer—who in real life never spares her a second word—gets to be nothing more than a rake wracked by unrequited love for her. She even has a perfect real-life villain in the brooding Chase, who hails from the wrong side of town. But just when she’s getting along great in her fictional world, the real one throws her a few curves. With Chase pursuing her, Palmer wanting to date her—but in secret—and the details of her manuscript going public, Ellie suddenly receives more attention than she ever really wanted. And when her former-friends discover what she’s been writing, they’re determined to teach Ellie a lesson about the severe consequences of using her pen as her sword.

Book 2 in the Ellie Sweet series. For once, Ellie Sweet has it all together. Her hair now curls instead of fuzzes, she’s tamed the former bad-boy, Chase Cervantes (she has, right?), and her debut novel will hit shelves in less than a year. Even her ex-friends are leaving her alone. Well, except for Palmer Davis, but it can’t be helped that he works at her grandmother’s nursing home. Life should feel perfect. And yet, it’s not that easy. Ellie’s editor loves her, but the rest of the publishing biz? Not so much. And they’re not shy about sharing their distrust over Ellie’s unlikely debut. Ellie has always been able to escape reality in the pages of her novel, but with the stress of major edits and rocky relationships, her words dry up. In fiction, everything always comes together, but in real life, it seems to Ellie that hard work isn’t always enough, the people you love can’t always be trusted…and the dream-come-true of publishing her book could be the biggest mistake she’s made yet.

How do you move on when It's Over? When four college roommates lose pieces of their lives, the pain isolates and the tension rises. Emotions are hard to hide and even harder to tackle. How can the girls move forward, when there is so much pain in letting go? Together, Claire, Kat, Palmer, and Hannah learn to lean on God and each other, and through it all they learn loss is a part of life. "In It's Over, Laura L. Smith confirms the truth we've been told that we are never alone in the midst of heartache and struggle. In fact, she takes us to a place where we not only get to see, but feel deeply the truth of the fact that every single one of us has a story. Everyone single one of us has experienced pain. But more importantly, that every single one of us has great hope. Smith's writing strikes a deep chord in my heart. It makes sense. It's real--and in my opinion, that transparency makes all the difference." ~Holly Starr, Christian recording artist. "Laura L. Smith speaks for the broken. With a voice that's warm and true, Laura gives words to those rendered speechless by issues that high school and college girls should never have to deal with--but so many of them do. In writing that's raw, relevant, and real, Smith goes where few authors dare to go: straight into the heart of today's young woman." ~Amy Parker, bestselling author "YA author, Laura l. Smith, crafts another story that will appeal to all girls, because no one is untouched by heartache in all its forms. The grace Smith extends the four girls in It's Over will touch readers in deep ways, as they follow these characters through some of the worst parts of life. Best of all, they'll cheer when the girls lean on one another and find ways to be thankful in everything. This is a fantastic read, one that will resonate with teens, college girls, and their mothers." ~Laura Kurk, author of Glass Girl and Perfect Glass

Are you ready for all of the responsibilities that come with your FIRST YEAR in middle school? This guide speaks directly to STUDENTS about some of the changes they will face in 6th grade. It gives thoughtful suggestions about ways to handle the most basic issues like getting lost, making new friends and ways to stay organized. YOU'RE MOVING ON TO 6th GRADE! is the PERFECT GIFT for any rising 6th grade student!