Overview

""A powerful, stirring tale of resilience and fortitude.""- BookLife Prize Some stories don't just entertain-they remind you who you were. After her parents' divorce, Kiara is uprooted to a desolate desert town, trapped among tumbleweeds, windstorms, and long stretches of emptiness. Without love to hold on to, she drifts through life trying to please everyone-her mother, who can't show affection; her brother, who barely hides contempt; and friends who aren't what they seem. To become the woman she needs to be, Kiara must escape the town that's suffocating her. Leaving means learning to stand on her own, trusting herself, and walking away from the things she's terrified of losing. There's a bigger world out there-if she dares to reach for it before the opportunity slips away. Book one in the Desert of Dreams Series - standalone stories connected by friendship, place, and the courage to become. This novel is perfect for readers who love: Tender, character-driven coming-of-age stories that stay with you Nostalgic 1980s-1990s settings and small-town desert life Emotional journeys about family, belonging, and resilience Slow-burn small-town romance woven into personal growth Quiet, bittersweet moments that linger long after the last page EDITORIAL REVIEWS ""A poignant coming-of-age, equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring."" - Publishers Weekly BookLife ""a wonderful coming-of-age story ... a powerful and very worthy read."" - Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review) ""...a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope..."" - Publishers Weekly BookLife ""... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights..."" - D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review About the Author: By award-winning author Amanda LaPera, whose books have earned Readers' Favorite 5-star reviews and BookLife Prize, IBPA Benjamin Franklin, and IAN Book-of-the-Year Awards recognition. Content Warning: Different books in the Desert of Dreams Series address sensitive but important topics which may include bullying and peer pressure; troubled sibling relationships; struggling friendships and romantic relationships; divorce; religion; racism and classism; historical events of the late 1980s and 1990s; death; neglect and abuse (physical, emotional, and/or sexual); trauma (generational and situational); drugs, alcohol, and sex; teen pregnancy; abortion; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, and anxiety.

Full Product Details

9781965660010

Table of Contents

Reviews

""...paints a raw and unfiltered picture of how treacherous adolescence can be... a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope.""- Publishers Weekly BookLife* * * * *""a wonderful coming-of-age story...a thoughtful tale of personal agency and identity through amazing, emotional settings makes LaPera's novel a powerful and very worthy read.""- Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review)* * * * *""Filled with moments of daring, realization, transformation... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights wound into one young adult's certainty that, despite what life circumstances hands her, she will not only survive, but grow.""- D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review* * * * *

""...paints a raw and unfiltered picture of how treacherous adolescence can be... a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope."" - Publishers Weekly BookLife * * * * * ""a wonderful coming-of-age story...a thoughtful tale of personal agency and identity through amazing, emotional settings ... a powerful and very worthy read."" - Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review) * * * * * ""Filled with moments of daring, realization, transformation... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights."" - D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review * * * * *

Author Information

For thirteen years, Amanda LaPera grew up in the small rural community of Lake Los Angeles, where, much like her characters, she was disappointed to learn there wasn't a lake and everything she planted died. She and her friends survived, buoyed by resilience and determination. Now her hobbies include watching hummingbirds in her yard surrounded by trees, playing board games with her husband, taunting her sons, and appeasing her dogs. She has sworn off succulents, because she believes they belong in the desert. Amanda LaPera is a national award-winning author. Her book, Losing Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia: A Family's Search for Hope, won a Silver IBPA Award, was a BookLife Prize quarter finalist and a Readers' Favorite Awards finalist. Her sequel Finding Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia: An End to the Search was a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards. She teaches English and is a member of the California Writers Club and the Southern California Writers Association. She is working on her Desert of Dreams young adult series, set during the 1980s and 90s in the California High Desert. To be notified of new releases and special deals, sign up for her newsletter at www.amandalapera.com.

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