Farewell to state's famous recluse

For half a century, J.D. Salinger was New Hampshire's most famous resident. But in keeping with the oddity that was the man and his life, relatively few people knew he lived here, and few of those who did knew exactly where. Salinger's neighbors in Cornish made a game of making it hard for fans, journalists and paparazzi to locate the reclusive author. It was "one of the most enjoyable municipal conspiracies ever; how to keep everyone guessing where Jerry Salinger lived," former state senator Peter Burling, a neighbor of Salinger's, told the Valley News.

Jerome David Salinger won lasting fame in 1951 with the publication of The Catcher in the Rye and the elevation to literary icon of its tortured teen protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Hundreds of books, and probably millions of school papers, have been written about Caulfield and his adolescent dismay at how sad, meaningless and "phony" the lives of adults are. Caulfield wants to save kids from that fate, to catch them before they emerge from childhood's golden fields of rye and fall off the cliff that lurks just beyond it, like he did.

Top Six Teen Books

My recomendation of books for teens

Girls Rule: A very special book created especially for girls (Teens & Young Adults)

Blue Mountain Arts

List Price: $9.95
Price: $9.95

Product Description

This is a book for girls. For girls who are thinkers and believers. For girls who are readers and changers and dreamers. For girls who look for rainbows and friendship. For girls who are not afraid to be different.

Join one such girl, Penelope J. Miller, as she narrates this book, becomes your friend, and takes you on a journey through all the fun, craziness, and challenges of being a girl in the world. She's here with words of experience, support, advice, and a whole lot of laughs. And she's even left some space for you to write down your own thoughts, memories, wishes, and ideas.

Along the path through these special pages, you'll find a shout of encouragement and a sharing of dreams for girls who know deep down that they have what it takes to achieve anything they want. You'll discover a celebration of the lives of girls -- the smiley days, the dreamy days, the giggly days, the teary days, the victorious days, and even everything in between. Because every day, in a million different ways: GIRLS RULE.


The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know Everything

The Enchanted Self Press

List Price: $7.95
Price: $7.95

Product Description

THE TRUTH is a delightful, humorous secret diary, written by a girl who is 11-12 years of age. She is wise and yet innocent. Her words acknowledge those priceless truths that we all knew as kids. She makes us cry and laugh and see ourselves. Everybody loves reading her thoughts, secrets, adventures and solutions to difficult problems. Girls are naturally curious and this book gives them a real opportunity to see how a girl like themselves in so many ways handles her toughest problems and most personal thoughts. Mom can read the book along with her daughter and not only be brought back to herself as a youngster, but find on every page relevant topics for discussion with her daughter. How do you handle a bully? How do you handle a crush on a boy? What about teasing? How do you find time to listen to your daughter? Do we have enough fun together? What really matters? There is space right within the book for the girl and or mom to make notes or her own diary entries. The book ends with discussion ideas that can also open up whole new areas of topics for mom and daughter or the young reader and other members of her family, friends, or teachers. Behind this very easy read, written by a positive psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience, is the psychological message to the girls reading THE TRUTH that they can and must keep the fire and passion of their girlhoods as they grow up and have the courage to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood.. For parents the book is a way back to what made them feel most special at 10, 11 or 12. Once parents are back in the place where their kids live, then listening, trust and real sharing can begin. Every girl and ever parent wants this kind of TRUTH!

The Takers (Oz Chronicles, Book 1) (Volume 1)

BookSurge Publishing

List Price: $9.99
Price: $9.99

Product Description

Never say their name! If you do, they will find you! If they find you, they will eat you!

Thirteen-year-old Oz Griffin knows it's his fault that the Takers are eating everyone in sight. He also knows that a comic book written by a neighborhood boy is the key to defeating them. But every time he and his band of survivors try to read the comic book, the Takers draw closer. Can they get to the end of the story before the Takers devour them?

Kirkus Discoveries Review

The first volume in The Oz Chronicles recalls both Stephen King?s The Stand and L. Frank Baum?s The Wizard of Oz. When 13-year-old Osmond ?Oz? Griffith wakes from an illness on the floor of his closet, he discovers the world overrun by man-eating monsters, the Takers, and it?s largely his fault. In an effort to make things right, he gathers a band of survivors (a baby, an aged mechanic and a talking gorilla, among others), and sets off down his version of the yellow brick road, leading to the Atlanta Zoo. Along the way, he learns that his destiny was written by Steve, a boy from his past. Afflicted with Down Syndrome, Steve created new worlds, replete with battles between good and evil, in the comic books that served as his sole refuge from the teasing of Oz and his friends. Steve?s untimely suicide leaves only the comic books as clues to vanquishing the Takers. Oz, suffering from guilt that he possibly caused Steve?s death, must learn to accept responsibility, not only for his actions in the past, but for the future of civilization as he knows it. The lively narrative will capture the imagination of young teens, especially boys, who will enjoy the more horrifying aspects of the story. The plot is clearly defined, and the action never flags. Hopefully, Book Two is on the way.

2006 IPPY Award Winner

Please visit the author?s website


The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Personal Workbook

Fireside

List Price: $14.95
Price: $10.17
You Save: $4.78 (32%)

Product Description

This hands-on personal workbook companion to the bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens provides engaging activities to help teens understand and apply the power of the 7 Habits. Sean Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens has sold more than 2 million copies to date and helped countless teens make better decisions and improve their sense of self-worth. Now, in the same fun and entertaining style, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Personal Workbook allows teens to build on the principles of the 7 Habits through various thought-provoking exercises. Whether they are already familiar with Covey's Habits or are newcomers to his path to teenage success, teens can immerse themselves in this personal workbook at their own pace and benefit from its positive messages and lessons in their own way. In this interactive volume, teens will find in-depth tools to improve self-esteem, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve goals, get along with parents, and strengthen themselves in many other areas.


The Great Wide Sea

Viking Juvenile

List Price: $16.99
Price: $11.55
You Save: $5.44 (32%)

Product Description

Ben, Dylan, and Gerry are still mourning their mother’s death when their dad decides to buy a boat and take them on a year-long sailing trip. Tensions flare between Ben and his father, but they gradually learn to live together in close quarters. But one morning, the boys wake up to discover their father has disappeared—and they are lost. What happened to him? Where are they? And what will they do when a treacherous storm looms on the horizon?

M. H. Herlong spins a gripping tale of adventure, survival, and the bonds of brotherhood in The Great Wide Sea.