THIS SUMMER STORM is a collection of some of the best young adult stories out there today! In this exciting group of tales, it seems "one of everything" happens. Tornadoes, comets, hurricanes and raging river waters are all set to wreak havoc. But just when things can't get any worse, along comes a life-changing experience in each story that is just as unsettling as the threatening weather.
Can Jo and Frog solve the mystery of the cattle rustlers, or will Halley's Comet evaporate the earth first? Will Cassie be able to undo her father's terrible mistake by getting rid of his new wife? If Adria hadn't saved Kai, would she have ever had her first kiss? When a tornado threatens, rookie police officer Steve Cooper tries to save his new neighbor Christy--but gang warfare erupts in the apartment stairwell below them. Amy's a heroine when she saves her rafting group--but Sawyer's sudden interest keeps her from wearing her familiar cloak of invisibility. Panic attacks have ruled Angela's life--until she faces something far worse than she ever could have imagined. Cassie's family life is on the verge of disaster, but when a tornado strikes, everything changes--again!
A CURRENT SO SWIFT—KRISTY MCCAFFREY
A wilderness course on the Green River in Utah has sixteen-year-old Amy Whittaker stuck on a raft with football players and cheerleaders from her high school. No longer able to maintain a low profile among the more popular crowd, she wonders how she’ll survive the week. Even more distressing—Sawyer Tate, her crush since seventh grade, is also in the group. When a torrential rainstorm flips the boats and strands everyone, Amy is forced to take charge. And when Sawyer makes it clear he has feelings for her, remaining invisible is carried away on a current so swift.
WAITING FOR A COMET—RICHARD PROSCH
During the long, hot spring of 1910 it seemed all 12-year-old Jo Harper could do was wait. Wait for her father, wait for her friends, wait for the comet that might appear in the sky and wipe out the whole town of Willowby, Wyoming once and for all. But when wild west legend Abby Drake arrives in town lugging an orphaned baby calf, an old-fashioned revolver, and a mystery shrouded with superstition, it’s up to Jo to take action. Why is Abby in town? Who is she after? And what secrets can Jo coax out of her own arch enemy, Emily Bly?
Action, humor, and real life history combine for an exciting mystery about one girl’s summertime quest for family, friendship, and justice on the windburnt Wyoming range at the dawn of a new century.
TO MAKE THE MAGIC LAST—CHERYL PIERSON
Tornado sirens wail, but Steve Cooper and Christy Reed are trapped on the top floor of their apartment building. As they try to get to safe ground, Steve is wounded by gunfire from the two rival gangs who are fighting it out in the apartment stairwell. It can’t get any worse…or can it? With no phone service because of the storm and the building collapsing around them, they must rely on each other. It’s going to take a lot of relationship magic and faith to survive what awaits them…will they live long enough TO MAKE THE MAGIC LAST?
WEEKEND WHIRLWIND—ANGEL DREW
Cassie is excited about going to her first party at Lyndsey Stapleton’s house. Lyndsey is a senior, and everyone that’s anyone will be there. But, it is a senior party and Cassie’s dad is very protective; what if he doesn’t let her go?
With her family on the verge of a breakup and Cassie’s mother’s bad choices, Cassie isn’t sure she can handle the turmoil of the coming weekend. Determined to go to the party despite her mother’s mid-life meltdown, Cassie knows she has some hard decisions ahead of her. How can she ever be her own person if she has to worry about her parents? This party means everything…but will her family be strong enough to survive one very life-changing weekend?
TAKEN BY STORM—DIANA STUART
Angela Spencer has been dealing with storms as long as she can remember. These storms take over her body, leaving her paralyzed in a wave of fear. Dealing with panic attacks has been detrimental to her high school social life, but this summer Angela is starting over. Her summer job leads to new friends, her first crush, and new opportunities to overcome challenges. As she faces down storms, Angela learns who she really is and just what she is capable of.
ATLANTIS TWISTING TIDES—ALLIE BURTON
When fifteen-year-old Atlantean Princess Adria sneaks away to see a hurricane on the surface of the ocean, she finds an air-breather in trouble. Kai’s sailboat is sinking, and Adria risks exposure of her Atlantean powers in order to save him.
Kai believes he’s rescuing Adria. He’s Atlantean too, with his own skills and secrets.
The two teens stumble onto an uninhabited island, still thinking the other needs rescuing. When other Atlanteans show up—Atlanteans plotting against Adria’s kingdom—Adria must decide whether to trust Kai based on the guy she’s come to know…or the company he keeps.
THE LAST OF HER KIND—CHERYL PIERSON
An antique Victrola record player is the cherished possession of Cassie's grandmother but her new stepmother, Trish, detests it and wants it gone. Despite the heated arguments over getting rid of it, Cassie’s father also seems oddly attached to the antique phonograph, and stands up to his new wife and her demands to see it gone. Cassie’s grandmother is sick, probably dying, and Cassie will be the only one left in the house who sees through Trish as Cassie's brothers no longer live with them. Trish is a threat, and Cassie must protect their family—what’s left of it.
Then Cassie discovers a secret; something so wonderful, yet frightening, that she can hardly believe it. Can she make it work to her advantage? Will her new knowledge save her family…or destroy it?
So excited to be part of this anthology of fun young adult stories!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great read, y'all! I've got it planted firmly on my Kindle. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting group of stories! I'm honored to be included. I based mine on an actual rafting trip I took when I was 16 years old. Thankfully, mine was crisis-free. Not so for my heroine, Amy. She proves, most importantly to herself, that she's up for the task of doing the right thing at the right time.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Kristy! Glad to know the real life adventure was a little bit less adventuresome!
DeleteI have two stories in this collection. One is about a young girl who is able to see the visions an old victrola that belongs to her grandmother conjures up...and she knows that old record player has some deadly powers...but it can also help her get rid of her current "stepmother"--the woman her dad has married after Cassie's mother died.
ReplyDeleteThe other story is about a young police officer, Steve Cooper, and his brand new neighbor, Christy Reed, who are trapped inside her apartment as a tornado bears down on them. Their escape is blocked by several young hoodlums from rival gangs fighting it out in the stairwell.
I really enjoyed every one of these stories. They've all got plenty of excitement and some life-changing decisions in each one!
Cheryl
I enjoyed both of your stories, Cheryl! As an aside, we have a Victrola that Wyatt has been fascinated with for the past year or so. We have quite a few Gene Autry 78s, so our needle is shot!
DeleteRichard, my mom, sister and I bought an old one in a cabinet when I was about 9 or 10 for $35--which was a lot of money back in 1967 or so! A man had bought an old building in downtown Prague, OK, and in the attic of the building were several very old antiques that were brand new--as if the previous owner had been a furniture dealer of some kind. Anyhow, the price tag was still on this old Victrola, and Mom bought if for that. Dad was not happy. THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS! LOL Well, anyhow, I have ended up with it, despite my husband wanting to get rid of it, etc. And I have a ton of old 78's for it. I saw somewhere on Amazon where you could order more needles. I have not done it because I don't play it that often. But I love that old thing!
DeleteI am excited to read this. Can't wait~
ReplyDeleteThis Summer Storm anthology is full of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages! I am very blessed to have worked with such an amazing team and I am delighted with the outcome!! I believe the readers will be very satisfied!
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner for today's giveaway of a digital copy of THIS SUMMER STORM is...
ReplyDeleteDIANA UTTER! Diana, if you will please e-mail me at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com I will be glad to send you your prize copy of THIS SUMMER STORM!
Thanks to everyone for coming by today!
Cheryl
Sounds like a great bunch of stories. I've been in tornados, earthquakes, and hurricanes, so I'm looking forward to a great read about such phenomena. My last one was the 1979 Wichita Falls tornado. Things have been calm since then for me, but not for other folks, sadly. I review books and host Blog Tours a lot on my Blog, so come on over sometime. http://pulplair.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI am constantly on the look-out for YA stories for my two oldest grandchildren. Both girls are voracious readers (sisters: 9 1/2 & 17 1/2). I'll steer the older granddaughter toward this anthology. ;-) The younger one is obsessing with Greek mythology right now, so getting her to read anything else is fruitless for a few months. lol (I'm not complaining...I have been known to obsess over mythology myself). ;-)
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