The Glister Journals: BronzeAllison Anderson knows she's a little different, but it hadn't bothered her too much-until now. Moving away from everything she's ever known to a new house, new neighborhood, and new school is bad enough, but it's her first year of high school too, making it even more intimidating. She's more aware of her social and physical limitations than ever before. And then there are the new people she meets: the tough-looking girl in her home room; the cute but dangerous-looking boy she first saw before school even started; the quiet, older girl who keeps to herself; the sullen-looking, seemingly isolated junior that doesn't seem to trust or like her at all. Can she trust them? While the peaceful situation of her new home only amplifies the sound of her own doubts, she begins to learn that things are not always what they seem, and her world is turned upside-down by these new friends, two-legged and otherwise. Life soon becomes more complicated, and much more interesting!
About The Glister Journals series:
The Glister Journals series is told from the perspective of a normal but not average teenage girl. It is not obvious, but Allison has a mild pervasive developmental disorder (autism spectrum). She thinks and experiences things a little differently from most of the other kids. In the past it has caused her to be alienated at best and bullied at worst. After the family moves, she becomes involved with a group of teens that open up new worlds to her. The four book series follows her through high school but is equally about her friends who have their own problems, fears, and aspects of their lives they’d rather keep quiet. There is action—mostly in the form of equestrian and extreme sports—and though there are only hints of it in Bronze, there is a love story which will play a more prominent part as the series progresses. The main story is about assumptions, acceptance, love, and friendship, though there are other themes running throughout the series.
The
Boys
Dave
Almost everyone looked up and a
few of them responded back, but the brown haired boy continued to regard us
impassively. I didn’t realize I was staring at him, actually at the strange
highlights in his hair, until he moved, slowly getting off the table and
walking unhurriedly up to us. Well, actually, up to me.
Right in front of me. I swallowed hard.
“Dave, meet Allison,” said Robin,
standing next to me.
Now that he was up close and
personal, as it were, I could tell he was about my height, which only added to
my growing feeling of discomfort. Why couldn’t I be shorter?
I couldn’t bring myself to look
him in the eyes at first so I couldn’t read his expression, but the next thing
I knew, my glasses were slowly lifted away. I looked at him then, startled. He
was regarding my face with a look of appraisal that did nothing to make me feel
more comfortable. Without my glasses everything was a little fuzzy and
misshaped, but I could tell an expressive eyebrow went up, very slightly, and
his mouth quirked, almost imperceptibly. I recognized the look immediately. It
was more subtle and natural on him. He looked back toward the table.
“Hey, Chris, come here,” he
called.
Chris
He was several inches taller than
Dave and had longer, slightly straighter, blonder hair. At first there was a
familiarity about him that struck me but then all other thoughts were driven
out of my head. For a few moments our eyes met, and what I saw in his unnerved
me though I couldn’t have said why. An odd sensation washed over me or through
me or both—I wasn’t sure—and I saw something register, as if he’d felt it too.
Strange emotions moved there in his eyes, for just those moments: searching,
sad, hopeful, hurt, other things less definable—and even though my vision was
impaired, I was sure I’d seen it. Then it was gone. The look in his eyes
hardened and a scowl descended on his dark brows. He seemed angry and looked
away as if disgusted. I felt like I’d been caressed, then slapped in the face.
“You’re an idiot,” he said in a
low voice and turned his back on me, hands jammed in his pockets.
I assumed he was talking to Dave,
but I knew my cheeks were flaming even more. I felt completely humiliated.
Author B.B. ShepherdA graduate of Cal Poly with graduate work at Chapman and U C Santa Cruz, B. B. Shepherd has lived most of her life in California and loves the diverse beauty of its many landscapes. Music, horses, literature, and art have been her passions as long as she can remember. She enjoys road trips, almost all horse sports and extreme sports (as a spectator), and is addicted to research. As a writer, Shepherd enjoys exploring emotions and motivations: why do people do what they do? She also likes trying to find the funny side of things. She admits to being a hopeless romantic and often gets in trouble for her sense of humor. Bronze is her debut novel, the first in a series of four called The Glister Journals. She currently works full time as a music professional and educator, and lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her youngest daughter and a very silly cat.
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/31/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
--
Sharon x
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com
Thank you for featuring Bronze today!
ReplyDelete