Young Adult Fiction Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse
Spiral
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Initial publish date
- Oct 2008
- Category
- Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse, Horses, Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
- Recommended Age
- 12 to 18
- Recommended Grade
- 8 to 12
- Recommended Reading age
- 12 to 18
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781551439327
- Publish Date
- Oct 2008
- List Price
- $16.95
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781551439303
- Publish Date
- Oct 2008
- List Price
- $9.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781554697205
- Publish Date
- Oct 2008
- List Price
- $7.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
When fifteen-year-old Abby is seriously injured, her wounds go far deeper than her broken back.
Rehabilitation therapy teaches her to cope with her new physical reality but once she's home with her family, she refuses to participate in life and withdraws into a world of drugs.
Abby's family discovers her addiction, and she is sent to a farm that specializes in Equine Assisted Therapy. She must still do battle with her cravings, but when she witnesses the connection between another young patient and a pony, she decides that if this girl can heal, she too can learn to be present in life again.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
About the author
K.L. Denman was born in Calgary, Alberta, and spent her childhood in a house one street away from the open prairie. When she was 11, her family moved to Delta, British Columbia, and she got to know life on the coast: tides, clam digging, rain gear, green grass year-round and enormous trees. It was there that Kim and her sisters got their first pony. She continued to live near Vancouver for many years while finishing school, attending college, and eventually getting married and starting a family. She always loved writing and when her teen children and their friends provided inspiration and re-kindled memories of this challenging passage, writing for teens became an irresistible venture.
Today she lives on a small farm on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast with her family of people, two dogs, three cats, two horses and an elderly mule. When she's not writing or caring for critters, she's reading, trying to grow vegetables, taking pictures, or volunteering at therapeutic riding. More information about Kim is available on her website at www.kldenman.com.
Awards
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Excerpt: Spiral (by (author) K.L. Denman)
He opens his hand, and there's this little plastic bag of powder. White powder. He reaches into his pocket again and pulls out a short straw. "Voila," he says. "Care for a toot?"
I stare at the cocaine, and while part of my brain wants to say, "No, jerk, get out," another voice inside me is saying, "Why not?"
Editorial Reviews
"Surprisingly touching...captures something about the near-mystical quality of the connection between horses and people."
CBC Radio One - All Points West
"An excellent addition to Orca's high interest, low vocabulary "Soundings" series...a realistic and thoroughly gripping read. Highly recommended."
CM Magazine
"Highly recommended."
Tucson Unified School District
"Succeeds with a strong plot and suitably empathetic characters to attract a teen audience...Contains a surprisingly realistic and positive message about dealing with life's challenges."
Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group
"Strongly recommended for school libraries...The emotional yet believable plot is deftly told with honesty and freshness. The focus on what is possible may cause some students to review their choices and set a new focus."
Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee
