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You can use this page to email Debra Hymer about Story of a Teenage Dyslexic.
About the Book
Jennifer, a 17 year old, struggles with low self esteem because of dyslexia issues. She ends her junior year in high school with a dilemma and challenge only to be shipped off to her Granny and Pappy’s in the country for the summer. She’s expected to study and complete a rigorous load of school work, and then start the senior year passing a massive test. But Jennifer has hardly passed any tests in her entire high school era. Jennifer loves her Granny and Pappy dearly and loves to visit them, but besides having to do work on her summer break she will be separated from the only social life she has-her best friend Sarah. Because of her grades Jennifer has lost phone privileges, iPod privileges, and basically all techno has been stripped. At her Granny and Pappy’s there are other challenges she will face. They live in a very small town. They have a church, grocery, café, school, a few quaint restaurants, a few shops, and one gas station.
Then there’s Brittany who makes it her business to get Jennifer in trouble. There’s the town crab, Mrs. Honey, who everybody wants to avoid. Otis is a mysterious stray dog Jennifer meets for the first time when her parents stop at a rest stop, 3 hours away from her Granny and Pappy’s and then a few days later in town. Jennifer gets reacquainted with an old friend who becomes quite a surprise.
Jennifer is challenged to a Bible Quiz and other competitions at a 4thof July festival. These are the two biggest events of the year. Confrontation with Brittany is saved by Otis, then at that same moment Otis brings Jennifer and Mrs. Honey together to find out that Mrs. Honey is really a very sweet lady and is the key to helping Jennifer learn with her dyslexia. Jennifer returns home a new person ready to change the world, Brittany learns a lesson, (maybe) and Otis? Well, let’s just say that Otis moves on.
About the Author
I am a graduate of two of the Institute of Children’s Literature courses and a mother of four grown children. My oldest are twin boys, whom I home-schooled for five years. My youngest son and daughter both struggle with dyslexia.
Dyslexia has become a growing learning challenge in today’s society. Even though more people are experiencing this learning challenge, the education system has yet to catch up. Some large cities such as in Texas and California recognize the need for special assistance, but most have not even recognized it as being a problem. This novel will serve two purposes, if not more. One, the book has literacy benefits for the most critical reader. Two, It’s an easy read that keeps the reader hooked, waiting to find out what happens next. For most dyslexic readers this is the key to keeping them reading. This novel will provide a stepping stone to a better educated generation about what dyslexia means, how to recognize dyslexic symptoms, and how to help dyslexic children and teens. It gives the dyslexic reader somebody to relate to, an incentive to keep trying. A new perspective on how they, in spite of their learning challenge can make a difference in the world.