We Are Absolutely Not Okay: Fourteen Stories by Teenagers Who Are Picking Up the Pieces [Kindle Edition]

Students Scriber Lake High School (Author), Ingrid Ricks (Editor), Marjie Bowker (Editor)

Book Description

Imagine being asked to pull a gun on a stranger. Or having a gun shoved in your face by the man you call stepdad.

Envision feeling so depressed you cut yourself repeatedly or down a bottle of pills to make the pain go away. Consider what it takes to tell your parents that you are transgender, or what it feels like to have the dad you love addicted to meth.

We Are Absolutely Not Okay is a collection of true stories written by fourteen teenagers who have experienced life at its darkest but have made it through and are now picking up the pieces. By writing and sharing their stories, they are coping with their past and seizing their future. They are also reaching out to other teenagers—to let them know that they are not alone and that even if their life now is Absolutely Not Okay, they have the power within themselves to make it better.

Product Details

• File Size: 302 KB
• Print Length: 80 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00850JP08
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,056 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars honest and brave May 25, 2012

By Jessica McCarthy

Format:Kindle Edition

I was so moved by this collection of stories written by students at a high school near Seattle. The stories themselves are powerful, but what is even more powerful is the courage it took to tell them and the motivation it took for the students to put together this collection (with the help of a teacher and local author) and share it with the world. With so many ridiculous representations of teenagers on television, etc, it is so important that real kids are represented as well and this is a glimpse into the lives of a few of them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read October 15, 2012

By Tom Airhart

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

One of my grand daughters is one of the 14 students in this book. I am very proud of her. One day at a time and an attitude of it's better to be a mile walking out of hell rather than a million miles going toward hell is what she is learning.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning honesty & truth June 1, 2012

By SeattlePam

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was recommended to me by a friend who knows me well. I love stories of people who are becoming self-aware, learning about themselves and the world. This book has a number of stories written by teenagers that are so stunningly honest in dealing with issues that sheltered me never had to worry about. My heart was ripped open by these kids, who are brave enough to tell their stories with unabashed passion and conviction in this book. The short story format makes it an "easy" read, if reading what it's like to have faced incredible challenges can be called easy. I especially loved the hope in the students' profiles after their stories. It's apparent that this book has/will continue to change their lives. Highly recommended reading for anyone who knows teens, works with them, or ever was one...everyone. It could change yours, too.

More About the Author

Scriber Lake is an alternative high school in the Edmonds School District, located just north of Seattle, Washington. Ours is a school of choice; some students come to Scriber as freshmen, some come seeking a second chance, and some land here for a last chance. The majority of Scriber students have felt lost in the system at some point and many find success in our program. We are a school of small classes and caring teachers who strive toward creative approaches to learning. Scriber is a family. The conception, design and writing (and editing, editing, editing) for this book were accomplished during a four-day mini-course. The fourteen remarkable students involved were 100% committed to the vision of this project from day one; otherwise, it could not have happened.


OUR INTENTION WITH OUR STORY COLLECTION

If you have ever felt alone, betrayed, confused or angry, this book is for you. If you have ever come to school pretending everything is okay when really everything is absolutely not, we want you to know that there is hope - even in the darkest situations. We are real and our stories are real, so you need not feel alone with your struggles. It is not easy to write about depression, abuse, self-harm or sexual identity; however, writing has become our outlet to cope with the past and our doorway to seize the future. We challenged ourselves to find our voices and to write our truths. We hope that you will connect with our stories and find the strength to walk with confidence into the future with us.


CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Amelia Dawn Dahlen
Tebra Draper
Miranda Esau
Jeanette Figueroa
Jasmine Gifford
Leandra Hall
Brayan Hernandez
Kayla Kinnard
Bre Klein
Lauren Nein
Charlie Magdalena
C. Jordan "Rivers" Meador
Stephanie Tangedahl
Neal Tingley


EDITORS

Marjie Bowker
Ingrid Ricks

Note: For privacy reasons, a few students have changes their names