A Slip In The Right Direction [Paperback]

Rachel Berry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2010

The coming-of-age story of a 14-year old boy Clifton Henderson, aka Slip, living in Chicago. His daily struggles with surviving the street gangs, puppy love, and family life matures him to unexpected wisdom and the desire to inspire others. Clifton also discovers and learns to deal with the natural occurrences of becoming a young man, and his visions of premonition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I wrote this book because I want young men to have more available to read than just sports, comics, and SCI FI. I want young men to read and rise above the stigma that they don't. I want our young boys to have someone to relate to that's going through some of the things they're experiencing and to know good guys have a life too and it's alright to have values and principles. And, I want young ladies to understand some of the things young men go through

From the Inside Flap

A Letter To My Young Kings And Queens
BELOVED,
MY INTENTIONS FOR THIS BOOK ARE TO entertain you, especially those of the male gender. This series is also to introduce you to poetry and get to know the male heart and some of that which rushes through them beginning in their youth, and to identify with Slip aka Clifton Henderson and all that he goes through, learns, dreams of, and aspires to be as he "comes-of-age."My hope is to inspire you, excite your dreams and hopes, and to know that there is a world of people behind you, always, as you continue to come in contact with the friends and adversaries of your journey, and as you grow and be the best "you" that you can be. I want the female readers to relate to and understand the masculine minds of positive young men who eventually turn into those brave kings, protectors, and providers that we are proud to surround ourselves with, marry, love, and support. In life, there are always lessons, challenges, and celebrations. I ask that you bring not only your eyes to this STORY but also your heart, and then support that young man in your life that needs your guidance along his journey to KING-DOM.
Young men and women, please take time to answer the workbook questions in the back. I've created them JUST FOR YOU!
Please visit my Web site to find out information about how to purchase the portrait & poem that also go with this book series.

RachelBerry.webs.com
thecliftonhendersonseries.com/blog


[e-mail]

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Kimathi Enterprises & Publishing Company (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982778201
• ISBN-13: 978-0982778203
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,524,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rachel Berry was born Sarah Rachel Gaines in Newark New Jersey. She grew up in Newark, East Orange, and Orange school systems. Rachel later moved to Virginia and is now a mother of 4 adults, wife, grandmother of 3 gorgeous girls, a published author & poet, motivational speaker, radio talk show host, indie book publisher, book coach, mentor, business woman and a community leader.

Berry worked as a government employee for 25 1/2 years before retiring and starting her own business.

As founder and president of a social community group, this artist juggles a full schedule. "Black Pearls United INC"(an African American sister-circle) was founded in 2000. For a short time "WOMB" (women of many blessings) a support group for single-mothers was also a program she founded in 2004.

Rachel is also an alumni member of Toastmasters International where she has served as Sergeant at Arms and was awarded Toastmaster of the Year.

Mrs. Berry's speaking engagements include ILMW (The International League Of Muslim Women), Hampton Social Services, The Red Hat Society, Sixth House INC., to name a few.

As a wife, mother, grandmother and caregiver to both of her parents Rachel puts family first and enjoys life in Virginia. When she's not writing, she also enjoys reading, dining out, traveling and watching movies. She accredits her gain in blessings and achievements to her relationship and guidance from her creator, association with great women, positive family members, loyal friends, the upbringing of an amazing woman-her mother, and the support and love of her husband and children.

Rachel's book 'From The Heart And Heat Of Me' is a selection of poetry and prose on the many settings of life & love. The poem "Give Her A Chile, So She Know," holds a special tribute to single-mothers.

'A Slip In The Right Direction,' is part 1 of Berry's Clifton Henderson series: a coming-of-age series written for tweens and teens.

Berry's new trilogy release & novel 'Family Pictures - Written Photographs of Jealousy, Lies & Secrets,' is the saga of two women from the same family but with different life styles, educational backgrounds and age groups. Though close, these two women unrepentantly face emotional challenges because of revealed family secrets that not only affect them but the people they call family. This story is a pictorial & literary ride into relationships, betrayal, hidden secrets, jealousy, revengeful relatives, lies, patience, understanding and self discovery.

Be on the look-out for Rachel Berry's upcoming novels 'Between The Tears And The Laughter' and 'How Easy We Forget.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sick Sense, March 7, 2011

By 

Jennifer Coissiere "The Tough Critic"... (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Slip In The Right Direction (Paperback)

Moving to a new place takes a lot of getting used to. It is even harder for a teenager attached to his family home that he had lived in for all his life; for a young man wanting to keep hanging with the friends he was growing up with. All the aforementioned things are what Clifton Henderson, nicknamed Slip by his family, wants. Slip is the main character in Rachel Berry's new series titled The Clifton Henderson Series. The first book introducing him and his quick thinking is A Slip in The Right Direction.

Slip's father moves the entire family to the north side of Chicago in an attempt to get a promotion with the company he works for. Everyone goes along with it, not like they really had a choice, but that does not stop Slip from longing to be back in Connecticut. He tries his best to stay out of any issues with the local gangs; showing no alliances with any of them. However, on one very chilly day in December, he finds himself in a predicament that would change his life. Slip is wise and has great instincts that he calls premonitions. Will his premonitions help him to stay alive?

Ms. Berry is a great storyteller. Her plot left me thinking and trying to come up with my own ideas of what I believe is going on with the characters once the story has ended. She has all these interesting characters, which included the mysterious man living in apartment six; and the two elderly women who lived on the ground floor, Miss Mavis and Miss Leona, who reminded me of the grandmother types who watched everything that went on in the neighborhood. There are many others who amused me.

I liked the concept of the story occurring mostly in one day. However, towards the end the story, the last 48 pages of a 248-page book, seemed rushed to fill in the days that followed the major incidents of the story. I think some of the after effects could have been either developed more or left out. The poem at the end was an added touch to close the story. I would definitely recommend this story to young adults, especially the boys. We need more stories such as this one for our sons to read. Adults will enjoy A Slip in The Right Direction as well.

The author provided a copy of the book for review purposes.

Jennifer Coissiere

APOOO BookClub

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What Can I Do Now?, February 24, 2011

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Slip In The Right Direction (Paperback)

A SLIP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION by Rachel Berry is a coming of age story of a young man who is surrounded by gangs, but joins none of them. His father, unaware of the strength of the gangs, asks his son to go to the store for him after dark. The son, Slip, doesn't want to, but he goes anyway. He feels something bad is going to happen and it does. He goes to the store his girlfriend's family owns. While there, they are robbed by a gang. Slip worries about what the gang will do to the family if he doesn't go along with what they want him to do. He grabs the bags of cash when they ask him to and leaves the store. They all pile into a van and from then on, the gang mistreats Slip. Finally, they end up back at his apartment building. Will he be able to get out of this mess?

Rachel Berry wrote a very good story about what can happen to youngsters in the hood. She even posts questions for them after they've read the book. I think this is an excellent book for youngsters to read. It shows them, in no uncertain terms, what can happen to them as they attempt to find their way through life.

Reviewed by Alice Holman

of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad I slipped upon this one, March 5, 2011

By 

The Book Blogger - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Slip In The Right Direction (Paperback)

Homesick for his life and friends back in Trumbull, Connecticut, Clifton Henderson, a.k.a. Slip begins to grow up quickly on the north side of Chicago. He experiences being kidnapped, falling in love, and how he has a gift that tries to keep him out of serious trouble.

A Slip in the Right Direction is a coming-of-age novel. This means according to author Rachel Berry, "the time period or age during which we become independent and know who we are and what we want to become" Slip almost from the beginning of the book feels a "cold shiver" or wet, dark presence around him while walking home in the rain from playing ball. As the reader, you are grabbed from page one because Slip introduces you to his family which is like any normal, middle class family trying to make it. He has thoughts that many 14 year olds have from time to time: Why did we have to move here? I miss my friends. My sister's a brat and so on. Throughout the book, Slip encounters a few episodes which require him to think as an adult would think and he begins to recall dreams and visions he has had to guide him through.

Having said that, the book certainly has something going for it and I am hoping for the rest of the series quite soon.Sharing this with the young adults/teens in your family is well worth it. Thanks Rachel!