D-Dating Violence and Characters in YA Books

ating Violence






1 in 3 teens are victims of dating violence.

Dating violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control over another. It can be in the form of physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, digital, financial, and/or stalking.

Some are some characters from YA books that focus on dating violence.

Brooke from Break From You by (me) wants to believe she has it all: the perfect guy, the perfect relationship, the perfect life. She wants to believe it so much that she's willing to overlook the fear, the isolation, and the pain her boyfriend has caused her. She knows it isn't right but tells herself that love isn't always easy.






Natalie Jarrett from Damaged, Natalie's Story by Talia Jager is a seventeen-year-old girl who falls in love with the wrong boy. When she finds herself in the hospital after one of his violent attacks, she can no longer turn a blind eye. Suffering from severe injuries, her doctor tells her she will never be the same again. She struggles to heal as she blames herself.





Paul from Things Change by Patrick Jones is a hansom, troubled seventeen year old senior. He begins dating Johanna. When he starts to hit her, he knows it is wrong, but promises to change. He pins the blame on his violent father who has died years before.







Don't Forget about the power of three!!!

Head over to Moxie Writers for more on the YA cause/tough issue and organizations that help.

Head over to Susan Oloier's site for a song and lyrics that pertain to today's issue.

C-Cutting/Self-Injury and Characters in YA Books

utting and self-injury

Cutting and self-injury/self-harm is the act of deliberately harming your own body, most commonly by cutting or burning. It is not typically a suicide attempt, but rather, an unhealthy way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger, and/or frustration.

Cutting and self-harm is an addictive behavior. It is unknown how many teens self-harm because those who self-harm go to extremes to hide it. 

Here are some characters from books that focus on cutting and self-harm.


 Callie from Cut by Patricia McCormick cuts herself. Never too deep, never enough to die. But enough to feel the pain. Enough to feel the scream inside.










 Kendra from Scars by Cheryl Rainfield is a sexual abuse survivor, cuts to cope with the pain, but when Kendra's abuser starts threatening her, she must find a way to face her past and stop hurting herself--before it's too late.







 Willow from Willow by Julia Hoban  blocks the pain of losing her parents by secretly cutting herself. But when Willow meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is, she begins an intense, life-changing relationship that turns her world upside down.








Don't forget about the power of three!!!

Head over to Moxie Writers for more on the YA cause/tough issue and organizations that help.

Head over to Susan Oloier's site for a song and lyrics that pertain to today's issue.

B- Bullying and Characters in YA Books

ullying



Bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere, any age, and statistics are showing that bullying is an increasing issue.

More than 1 in 4 teens are bullied, and over 160,000 youth stay home each day due to fear of being bullied at school.

Here are some characters from books that center around the issue of bullying...


Noelle from Outcast by Susan Oloier dreams of a different life, one where Trina Brockwell doesn’t exist. Trina has bullied Noelle since junior high. Now she’s tired of it. With the help of her black-sheep aunt and a defiant new classmate, Noelle seeks revenge. But vengeance comes with a price: Noelle risks friendship, her first love, and herself to get back at those who have wronged her.







Lil from Playing Nice by Rebekah Crane is different and has many secrets that make her a target for gossiping and online bullying. But Marty sees something special in Lil. Something honest, something real.







Don't forget!!!

Head over to Moxie Writers for more on the YA cause/tough issue and organizations that help.

Head over to Susan Oloier's site for a song and lyrics that pertain to today's issue.

A- Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Characters in Books

Today starts the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge where you blog each day of the month (excluding Sundays) starting with the letter A on April 1st and ending with the letter Z on April 30th.

This year Susan Oloier and I decided to do the challenge with the power of three. Moxie Writers, Susan's blog and my blog will all be blogging under the same topic of YA causes/teen tough issues.

Over at Moxie Writers we will briefly address the issue/cause and then offer organizations that assist in the cause.

At Susan's site, she will share a song with some of the lyrics that pertain to the cause/issue.

And here at my site, I will share characters from books associated with the cause/issue.

lcohol and Drug Abuse

Teens may try drugs and alcohol for many different reasons including: trying to fit in, likes the way drugs/alcohol makes them feel, believes it makes them seem older, or to try new things and take risks. Use leads to abuse, and the consequences of abuse can be very devastating.

Here are some characters from books that center around drug and alcohol abuse.






Kristina from Ellen Hopkin's Crank is a straight-A honor roll student. When she decides to visit her dad for three weeks, she meets Adam who convinces her to try meth. When she returns home, she is addicted to the drug, and in turn, begins a downward spiral of her life.










Anonymous from Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks is a sensitive, troubled teenage girl who records her thoughts and concerns in a diary. She is addicted to drugs and eventually overdoses.