The Ticket

Some people never realize how difficult it can be growing up and dealing with all the stereotypes in school. From those social group "clicks" to just knowing how to process what teens deal with in school to making that transition from home all while dealing with the changing of hormones and brain development. Harder than it looks and one we don't give them enough credit for.

In Debra Coleman Jeter's coming of age novel, The Ticket, we get a long look at how hard that life is for Tray Dunaway who has to deal with all those peer pressures that come from going to school and being seen as less than worthy in the eyes of not only her classmates but also from her own mother. Being raised in a poor family, her grandmother painstakingly makes all of Tray's clothes which are mocked by those she faces whenever she goes to school. This pushes Tray to become the shy social outcast who prefers to stay by herself whenever possible but longs for a life that everyone seems to have who have more than she does. She desperately wants to fit in and be accepted, but finds those opportunities have been shut off from her.

She longs for the day when she might be able to buy something that would make her feel the way she dreams about and in the meantime, spends those wasted moments looking through a catalog hoping one day soon, she might be able to buy something instead of homemade clothes. Her mother struggles with a deep depression, spending her days stuck in bed and dealing with migraines that only seem to increase whenever Tray possess a question about when things might change, like simply being able to buy a new pair of socks that won't slide down when she wears them, but is met with less than worth responses you would expect from a mother. When her father is given a lottery ticket as a way of thanking him for driving a man into town to purchase his, they aren't prepared the amount of problems that they will have to face when they actually win. Is this the life she dreamed she'd have one day or is this simply a way of introducing a set of problems they never dreamed they would have when the man suddenly wants a share of the winnings!

I received The Ticket by Debra Coleman Jeter compliments of Firefly Southern Fiction, a division of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest opinion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. The one thing I truly loved about this novel is how it is written from Tray's perspective. How she views her life before the ticket and even afterwards. How she believes money will change things and doesn't realize how greed can destroy much more than poverty can. She dreams of a day when this might happen, and when it does, the reality is a lot different than what she imagines and it might be just what the family needs to learn how to appreciate the riches they never noticed before. I give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and thing this is a great young adult novel for any teen struggling to find their sense of purpose and self worth in the world, when faced with seeing things through a different perspective!

For more information about The Ticket, Debra Coleman Jeter or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Ticket by Debra Coleman Jeter

You can find Debra Coleman Jeter on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on The Ticket, please stop by Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's Book Tour page. 

Invisible

Lola’s not pretty. Lola’s not popular. Lola wishes she could disappear … and then one day she does just that…

For seventeen-year-old Lola Savullo, life is a struggle. Born to funky parents who are more in than she could ever be, Lola’s dream of becoming a writer makes her an outsider even in her own home. Bullied and despised, Lola still has the support of her best pal Charlie and Grandma Rose.

Not only is she freakishly tall, Lola’s a big girl and when forced to wear a bathing suit at her summer job as a camp counselor, Lola’s only escape from deep embarrassment seems to be to literally vanish. Soon after, she discovers the roots of her new “ability”.

Slowly, with Charlie’s help, Lola learns to control the new super power. The possibilities are endless. Yet power can be abused, too…

Then, when tragedy strikes, Lola must summon her inner strength, both at home and at school. She has to stand up for herself, despite the temptations and possibilities of her newfound super power.

A coming-of-age story that will warm the heart.

My Review:

Who hasn't wished at some horrible point that they could simply disappear or become invisible? This is just the beginning for a girl like Lola who is constantly being bullied at school based on her appearance of being tall and fat unlike the others in school. However when a boy by the name of Jon suddenly takes an interest in her seeing past her outer appearance, Lola feels that she can trust him with her new found secret in hopes of finally finding the perfect guy for her.

Along the journey through her year in school, Lola's source of contentment lies with her grandmother who confides in her that the power she possesses is a family secret! She teaches Lola how to use it not for revenge on those that have hurt her but to use it for the benefit of making her a better person. She struggles dealing with her parents who seem to be stuck in their own high school years, dressing and acting much younger than they really are, and a sister who will never understand the personal struggles, Lola faces.

This is such a great book for anyone who has ever been faced with the challenge of peer pressure or bullying. This story teaches Lola that rather than seeking revenge, she should use her abilities to see them as they really are and in the process come to a unique understand that appearances on the outside really aren't who people are on the inside.

I received Invisible by Jeanne Bannon compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and found such great insight on seeing things from a different perspective on those that have dealt with peer pressure and bullying and how they really feel on the inside. For that reason alone, this rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are some uses of profanity in the book but it doesn't take away from the storyline, however some readers may find this offensive.

Here's an extra special treat, this ebook is available on Amazon and Smashwords for only .99 til December 16th! For more information about the book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Invisible by Jeanne Bannon

You can also follow more reviews on this book tour by clicking here.