What do Salvadoran gang members, gluesniffers, prostitutes, thieves, murderers, and a young American woman who wanted to love them all, have in common? You'll find out in Kylla Hanson's "My Life Crazy," where she crafts a beautiful story about lives full of insanity, desperation, joy, laughter, grief, and angst in very real situations on the dangerous streets of El Salvador. "My Life Crazy" provides a raw and unapologetic snapshot of how life is lived on streets that are owned and ruled by the two most powerful gangs of El Salvador, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and their rival the "Dieciocho" (18th Street Gang). It is the story of a heart-wrenching, life-altering friendship that melds two lives, two countries, and two completely different worlds in the unlikeliest of situations.
What does it feel like when the adult members of a family are too preoccupied or self-absorbed to act as parents? What is life like for kids who grow up in a family where alcoholism is a daily reality, where separation and divorce hang like a cloud over daily life? In these situations it is too often the teen who assumes much of the responsibility and has to grow up quickly amidst the struggle to maintain even a semblance of stability. My Crazy Life presents the voices of ten teens who have lived through these situations. Rather than despair, you will hear these young people talking about how they coped and survived. One girl found strength through friendships and her sibling relationships. Another girl, abused by her alcoholic father, tells how her commitment to art and a sympathetic teacher gave value to her life. The Afterword by the head of psychiatry at a metropolitan children’s hospital provides guidance to those seeking help.
Strange as it may seem, other people are not nearly as committed to our happiness as we are. In fact, sometimes they seem like they're on a mission to make us miserable! There's always that one person. The one who hijacks your emotions and makes you crazy. The one who seems to thrive on drama. If you could just "fix" that person, everything would be better. But we can't fix other people--we can only make choices about ourselves. In this cut-to-the-chase book, communication expert Mike Bechtle shows readers that they don't have to be victims of other people's craziness. With commonsense wisdom and practical advice that can be implemented immediately, Bechtle gives readers a proven strategy to handle crazy people. More than just offering a set of techniques, Bechtle offers a new perspective that will change readers' lives as they deal with those difficult people who just won't go away.
Packed full of silly, funny, or downright hilarious poems (with some serious ones mixed in), this new collection by Joshua Seigal (winner of the Laugh Out Loud Awards) is perfect for fans of Michael Rosen. 'Joshua Seigal is definitely my new favourite poet.' Books for Keeps 'Joshua Seigal is a rising star in the children's poetry world...' lovereading4kids With poems on every topic from demon cats to why you should NEVER forget your trousers, this is a must-have new collection from prize-winning poet Joshua Seigal. This book is a wonderful mix of subversive humour and brilliant insight into children's perspectives on the world. Get ready for the craziness to begin! Book Band: Brown - Ideal for ages 7+
According to The National Alliance on Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults in the US will experience mental illness each year (that’s 46.7 million people in 2018), 1 in 25 will experience serious mental illness (11.4 million people), and 1 in 6 children in the US aged 6-17 will experience a mental health disorder (7.7 million). 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34. That’s a lot of sick people, and a lot of families and friends dealing with mental illness every single day. It stands to reason that most of us will find ourselves involved with someone else’s mental illness at some point, perhaps most often within our own families. Unless our life circumstances put us right in the middle of this harrowing predicament, few will realize the difficulties this challenge presents, how different it will be from dealing with other health issues, and how commonly accepted legal and social norms will complicate our lives dramatically. Ms. Walker writes warmly and compassionately about the long journey of mental illness she and her family have endured for decades. She also discusses various related issues and offers tangible suggestions for self-care - all easily accomplished by anyone. Families like hers often find themselves in a constant vortex of unforeseen circumstances, and her practical suggestions encourage others so they might begin to thrive despite the chaos.
If Jesus can change the life of a gangster, what could He do with you? After reading this book, you will have the practical tools needed for developing a deep, fruitful relationship with God. You will have the encouragement you need to see that Jesus is real and fully present in whatever circumstances you face. Discover the astonishing journey of Mondo De La Vega in My Crazy Life: The Moments That Brought a Gangster to Grace. Step into a world where respect, power, and money lure a young man into the dark embrace of one of Los Angeles' most notorious Latino gangs. But behind the facade lies a haunting reality of crime, guns, and the constant threat of death or imprisonment. Mondo's life takes root in a turbulent childhood, filled with abuse and violence. Escaping his reproachful father in Central America, he, along with his sister and mother, seeks refuge in families' homes, moving around from place to place in a small town in Central America, surviving undercover for over a year before their ultimate quest for freedom leads them to the brutal streets of Los Angeles. Driven by bitterness and anger, Mondo is pulled into one of the city's most notorious gangs, climbing its ranks and facing an inevitable future of either imprisonment or an early grave. Yet amidst the darkness, Mondo's sister refuses to give up on him. With unyielding faith, she prays for a miracle and receives a prophetic word that seems impossible to Mondo--a word that will change everything. My Crazy Life is a gripping narrative much like the story of Nicky Cruz, as we see God interrupt Mondo's path with His relentless love and grace. Through supernatural encounters, miraculous escapes, and undeniable fulfilled prophecies, Mondo finds the strength to leave the gang behind and embrace a new life.
What does it feel like when the adult members of a family are too preoccupied or self-absorbed to act as parents? What is life like for kids who grow up in a family where alcoholism is a daily reality, where separation and divorce hang like a cloud over daily life? In these situations it is too often the teen who assumes much of the responsibility and has to grow up quickly amidst the struggle to maintain even a semblance of stability. My Crazy Life presents the voices of ten teens who have lived through these situations. Rather than despair, you will hear these young people talking about how they coped and survived. One girl found strength through friendships and her sibling relationships. Another girl, abused by her alcoholic father, tells how her commitment to art and a sympathetic teacher gave value to her life. The Afterword by the head of psychiatry at a metropolitan children’s hospital provides guidance to those seeking help.
This book is about what life was like in the twentieth century as experienced by one who was born in a small farming and ranching community during the Great Depression and grew up with, lived among, played with, and worked with people of Hispanic descent like himself, and then in a small New Mexico city among people whose descendants came mostly from Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the Indigenous People who were here first. Almost his entire life and career were spent living among, and/or working with, and for the people of the Navajo, Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, Apache, Hoopa and Yurok Tribes and served in an Administrative capacity with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. From a small boy herding sheep in the foothills of the San Pedro Mountains of Northern New Mexico to a country boy living in the city, to a young man serving his country during the Korean Conflict (sometimes referred to as The Forgotten War and Frozen Chosin), to working for his Country in a Branch of the Federal Government that provides human services and assistance to the Indigenous Peoples of this country, to raising a family of eight children, and the adventures he and his family had along the way while living and working in various Indian Reservations located throughout New Mexico, Arizona and California. This was a journey of Learning, Living, and Loving that taught the author and his family the true meaning of the word love; love of God, love of self, love for one and other, and love for others. It has been a life mostly happy, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, sometimes full of grief and tears, but always full of love and thankfulness to our Creator who is the source of our strength and who makes everything possible. Everything that’s written herein has been gleaned from the life and experiences of the author during his eighty-five (and counting) years on this planet, conversations with his parents and his numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, co-workers, and other native New Mexicans who have lived and experienced the kind of lives written about in this book. For accuracy and veracity, he has referenced the works of other New Mexico authors and on-line services such as Wikipedia. He has tried to be as true and accurate as possible in his account and asks for the readers forgiveness for any information which may be found to be erroneously and unintentionally presented.
Packed full of silly, funny, or downright hilarious poems (with some serious ones mixed in), this new collection by Joshua Seigal (winner of the Laugh Out Loud Awards) is perfect for fans of Michael Rosen. 'Joshua Seigal is definitely my new favourite poet.' Books for Keeps 'Joshua Seigal is a rising star in the children's poetry world...' lovereading4kids With poems on every topic from demon cats to why you should NEVER forget your trousers, this is a must-have new collection from prize-winning poet Joshua Seigal. This book is a wonderful mix of subversive humour and brilliant insight into children's perspectives on the world. Get ready for the craziness to begin! Book Band: Brown - Ideal for ages 7+
