Sweet Tea: A Novel - Softcover

Decker, Wendy Lynn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 061597998X ISBN 13: 9780615979984

Publisher: Serenity Books, 2014

Synopsis

The fourth anniversary of Olivia's daddy and John Lennon's death is approaching. Like the shot heard 'round the world, TV and radio stations keep the frenzy alive and recognize Lennon's life, while Olivia's mama remembers Daddy's death. Instead of healing, Mama's strange behavior keeps getting worse. After viewing an afternoon talk show, Olivia discovers her mother might have more than a case of eccentricity-she may be mentally ill. When those fears are confirmed, Olivia is faced with more decisions than any sixteen-year-old should have to make. With no adult family members to turn to, she is forced to trust the only people who've offered help: one strange man and a friend her mother makes at the mental institution. Facing intricacies of her mother's illness one minute and relationship decisions about her new boyfriend the next, Olivia finds that through faith and determination, she can conquer it all in this poignant story of love, institution, compassion, and hope.

About this title

Review:

"In this day and age, society still finds it difficult to face the challenges families encounter that are living with a mentally ill parent. Ms. Decker's novel brings these issues to light in a realistic manner that engages readers as well as helps them understand certain traits to look for should they face this type of situation." -Christine Harris, Co-President - Middlesex County NAMI "Wendy Lynn Decker has a very unique and talented gift of writing. I really enjoyed the down home style that assimilates a Tom Sawyer genre and I wouldn't be surprised if this book became recommended reading for contemporary school systems... " -Ray Costa, LPC, LCADC, NCC "Sweet Tea is a fine young adult story...So many titles on mental illness narrow the focus to coping and neglect the overall bigger picture of how home life with mental illness can interact with a wider world outside home's front door" -D. Donovan, Book Reviewer, Midwest Book Review Decker brings to life the chaos, confusion and poignancy of loving and living with a mentally ill mother. I couldn't stop reading, even when my heart was aching and my brain was cringing." - - Shari Sanford, Paperback Exchange Bookstore, Belmar, NJ

About the Author:

Wendy has enjoyed writing since the first time she began penning letters to her mother at age five and putting them in the mailbox before she woke up. She lived the first twelve years of her life in the small town of Garwood, NJ where she spent most of her time riding her bike or staring out the window of her third-floor apartment dreaming up stories. She began sharing her writing with her grandmother, who would pay her small amounts of money for her work. However, quite a few years passed before she received payment for writing again. Over the years, she has held the title of wedding band singer, fitness trainer, secretary, human resource coordinator and stay-at-home mom, and that's just to name a few. Finally, in 2006, she added the long-awaited title of author to her list. The Bedazzling Bowl is a story about Aly M. Bellisher, a ten year old teller of tall tales, who learns about life while attempting to make sense from words of wisdom her mother leaves hanging from magnets on the refrigerator door. Wendy enjoys writing for all ages and in many genres. Writing for middle-grade readers and young adults holds a special place in her heart. Although most of her writing has been for the inspirational market, she likes to think that whatever market she writes for, her writing will enlighten and inspire readers. "The best stories are the ones that stay with you long after you've finished them. I hope that my stories and characters will remain in your memory as if they were real people you've spent time with and you will leave knowing something more than you did before you met them." Wendy lives on the Jersey Shore just a few blocks away from the ocean. When she's not writing, she's either singing or enjoying the sounds of the waves as she takes long walks on the beach dreaming up new ideas to write about.

About this edition

• Publisher: Serenity Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 061597998X
• ISBN 13: 9780615979984
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 210