GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen
(Truth Book 2)
(Truth Book 2)
by Barbara Becker Holstein
Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen is the second book in the Truth series by Barbara Becker Holstein. Also available: The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween.
Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen is currently on tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Following in the footsteps of The Truth, Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen begins as the thirteen-year-old protagonist makes a move with her family to a new town. She has grown up a lot over the past year - and has made a list of everything that’s important to her now that she doesn’t want to forget when she gets older. But now, as she enters her early teen years, she begins to write down the secrets she wants to keep - and the ones she has no one to tell about. From new school experiences to a new baby in the family to a new crush, this new teen finally feels empowered on making her own decisions with confidence and keeping those secrets she holds dearest for herself.
In a positive and supportive diary-entry format, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein encourages tween and early teen girls to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together, Secrets is aimed to improve communication, understanding, and self-esteem for young girls as they enter the rocky road of teenager-dom.
Book Video
Excerpt
Date: December 2
Dear Diary,
I have a secret and it’s been eating me up inside, so I have to tell you. I lied to Angela. I told her I had a terrible sore throat and couldn’t come for the weekend. She said she was sorry and that she would invite me again.
I felt terrible, and then my throat really began to hurt. But I just couldn’t go to Springport for a whole weekend - even though I miss being around Angela.
Now that I have best friends here, I don’t feel the same way I used to about going back to visit. And I didn’t know how to tell Angela that. I could tell when we talked on the phone that she really wanted me to come. And she sent me a new selfie, holding a sign that reads I Miss You! She even told me that she doesn’t have a new best friend since I left. She really misses me. She also told me that Paul is in lots of her classes and he asks if she’s talked to me. How could I tell her I’m in love with Rob and don’t care about Paul anymore? How could I tell her that I have new best friends and want to stay here with them?
I did go to Sally’s instead, and we had the best time. Her mother ordered pizza for us and we drank Coke. We watched television and made popcorn and did each other’s hair with all of Sally’s older sister’s hair products we found in the bathroom. I look silly with curly hair. We kept laughing and falling on the floor and giggling, and we played this fun game that Jackie learned in camp last summer. We all lay down on the floor and we each put our head on someone else’s belly. Someone says, “Ha-ha,” and then the next person says, “Haha-ha,” until everyone is laughing. Then you can’t stop laughing because the belly you are on is bouncing all around under your head.
Sally’s mom got really angry at all the noise we were making, and we had to turn off the lights and pretend to go to sleep. I hardly slept a wink, though. I was so excited and having so much fun with my new friends. I was tired the next morning and really did have a sore throat when I went home, but I didn’t care. It was worth it to have so much fun.
Praise for the Book
"Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen is a great Mother-Daughter read and a wonderful catalyst for conversation. In fact there are even Reader Discussion Questions provided at the end of The Girl’s diary entries to initiate both inner and outer dialogues. Entertaining as well as enlightening, Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen is an excellent choice for individual reading as well as book clubs!" ~ Rev. Jeanette M. Pintar
"I wish I could meet the Author, I would give her a big hug and thank her, it's evident that she knows what she's talking about. If you want to understand a little more your tween or bring back old memories, I highly recommend you this book." ~ Julia
"This is a 5 star book that should be in every school library and public library in this country! Makes a great gift too." ~ Patricia Matlock
"This is a great book for all new teens as well as mothers and daughters to read together. The book even has discussion questions at the end making it a great for book clubs. I highly recommend this delightful book." ~ Lorraine M. Smith
"My 13 year-old daughter just read this book and she could not put it down. Over the years trying to get her interested in reading has been difficult. Not this book. From day one she was indulged in it. She could not stop." ~ Marco Viera
Guest Post by the Author
One day I decided to find a way to combine what I already knew as a girl with the knowledge I have as a psychologist. That decision led to a girl coming to life as the main character in The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween.
She kept a diary and had a lot to say. She knew a lot about important things that many adults brush aside or forget. Many of you told me that you identified with many things that happened to her. You related to her honesty and to how real she was. Many of you shared her awareness of the truth. You wanted more books about the girl so you could be with her as she grows up.
As The Truth ends, the girl’s life is changing radically: she is moving to a new town, her mom is having a baby, and her crush on Paul is just about over. She has solved a mystery and has developed a secret way to hold onto the best of herself as she grows up.
In Secrets, the girl is back again with lots more to talk about in her diary. A new school, a new baby in the family, new friends, everything has changed for her. There is a new crush about to happen, and lots of adventures. There are new best friends and some unsettling social dilemmas. Some of these dilemmas involve boys. There are secrets to share, and secrets to keep to herself. There are problems to solve, and ... But I had better get out of the girl’s way. She really wants to begin.
Oh, I forgot to tell you the most important source of my inspiration for Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen, is the girl's insistence that I write these books. Just as your own child will nag and nag you until you do something you promised, this girl just will not leave me alone. She knows a lot about growing up and she insists that I find a way to share her knowledge with others so that girls can grow up strong and healthy. She is amazing, but then again she whispers to me that all of us girls are pretty amazing!
From the Author
I have been a positive psychologist in private practice for the past thirty years. In the course of working with my clients, I originated the idea of The Enchanted Self® a positive psychology therapy where I teach people how to recognize and utilize their strengths, talents, skills and even lost potential. I have developed a number of methods, including using our memories to rediscover what is right about ourselves and our lives, rather than what went wrong, helping people to overcome adversity, experience positive emotions and live the good life!
Since developing this concept, I've been able to use many tools to bring the Enchanted Self to everyone, particularly women and girls. I've written many books, starting with The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy, and then Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! My books for girls are very popular, as they are great fictional reads and also help deal with many of the questions that trouble kids as they move into the tween and teen years. The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween and Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen are the first two books in this series.
I really love to teach and educate about happiness and how to benefit from positive psychology in ways that let us lead lives of meaning and happiness. You can find me all over the place on the web.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon or B&N gift card.
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