|
What
People Are Saying About Sara Griffiths'
"Thrown a Curve"
“Thrown
a Curve is more than just a girl-in-a-boy's-world story.
It's an inspiring and ultimately touching tale of how a misfit
learns to understand and appreciate family, friends, and her
own special abilities.”LIBBY
STERNBERG, EDGAR FINALIST FOR BEST YA MYSTERY, UNCOVERING
SADIE’S SECRETS
“This
is a fabulous young adult character study starring a teenager
who believes life has thrown plenty of curves at her—and
a few beanballs to boot. Baseball is her confidence builder
as she learns that the strong don't just survive, they thrive.
A secondary message involves her dad's failure to communicate
that he loves and is proud of his daughter, who assumes he
hates her. This adds to a fine character study.”HARRIET
KLAUSNER, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW (10/10 STARS)
“Thrown
a Curve is a wonderfully engaging story that explores
the truest of teen-age angst. The relationships in the protagonist's
life—both positive and negative—guide her through
the landmines of the early teens. It’s a place most
teenagers will readily recognize."SUSAN
WILSON, LANGUAGE ARTS SUPERVISOR AND CONSULTANT
“Thrown a Curve is a charmingly clever Young
Adult novel about sports and relationships, about assumptions
and perceptions, and about growing up in a sometimes confusing
world. Thumbs-up for a refreshing novel where life itself
may be a curve ball.” KATHLEEN
KOHAUT, MEDIA SPECIALIST, VINELAND HIGH SCHOOL NORTH
“Wow!
I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I think Thrown
a Curve is for everyone. Any teacher, counselor, or parent
of young adolescents could use it as a learning tool for examining
self-esteem, taking responsibility, and strengthening damaged
relationships. I’m going to enthusiastically hand it
over to my pre-teen daughter. I can’t wait for the sequel.”BONNIE
O’ROURKE, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
“Thrown
a Curve is the kind of book I’m happy to sell to
a teen: it has a wonderful pace, sophisticated character development,
and a likeable protagonist. Griffiths' fluent and edgy dialogue
gives the book’s uplifting message a modern tone that
I have no doubt will appeal to teens as much as it does to
me.”LAURA
HUEMER, OWNER OF GOLDFINCH BOOKS, AN INDEPENDENT BOOK STORE
“Thrown
a Curve is an excellent story and a great read. As a
high school student, I could really relate to Taylor’s
struggle to find the inner strength she needed to believe
in herself while coping with the constant and ever-changing
demands of school, family, friends, and, well…life.
This book is a home run—one I am definitely recommending
to all my friends!”KATIE
ROBINSON, AGE 15
“
‘It’s just so embarrassing. The wrong kid got
the right gift.’ Overhearing her father’s words
sends Taylor Dresden’s life into a free-fall. Sara Griffiths
has drawn on her teacher’s insight and written a sensitive
first novel that will resonate with teenagers everywhere.
Readers will identify with Taylor as she struggles to reclaim
her talent, her father, and her very self. They will understand
Taylor and cheer her victories.” KATHLEEN
ANDERSON, LIBRARY/MEDIA SPECIALIST
"Thrown
a Curve creates a pop-out world that shows the reader
how the life of a teenager really is. I can't wait for the
sequel."SAMANTHA
GUILLEN, 8TH GRADE STUDENT
“Thrown
a Curve is the kind of book I can’t wait to add
to my students’ independent reading list. Readers, young
and old, can benefit from Taylor’s journey of self-discovery
and self-empathy. Taylor employs the silent act of self-imposed
indifference that so many young adults use as a security blanket
to get through the difficult days of adolescence. Perhaps
the best message in this book is that if you can believe in
the thing you’re most passionate about, then everything
else will fall into place—a theme we can relate to at
any age.”AMY
GILSENAN, ENGLISH TEACHER, GRADES 9 AND 12, KEANSBURG HIGH
SCHOOL, KEANSBURG, NJ
“In
Thrown a Curve, Sara Griffiths has created believable
characters who are sure to be well-received by a young adult
audience. It’s a novel in which she deals with many
areas of conflict that young adults face, providing them with
strategies for resolution, not just coping. An enjoyable read,
Thrown a Curve is a great selection for young adult reading
and discussion groups.”DIANE
FANUCCI, LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST AND STUDENT LITERATURE CIRCLE
ADVISOR, VINELAND HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH
“An
uplifting, highly readable, and inspirational story with believable
characters and authentic middle school dialogue. Taylor's
relationship with her family, her peers, and her guidance
counselor draws the reader right in. I was hooked from the
first page! Thrown a Curve is every adolescent's
story of struggling with self-esteem and self-confidence,
and of overcoming obstacles.” FRAN
CRISTALLI, MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
"A
compelling young adult novel that allows readers of all levels
to connect with the protagonist. Author Sara Griffiths truly
understands the trials and tribulations of young adult life."
DANIEL
SAVARESE, LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER
“Thrown
a Curve is a great story that captures the angst of teen
life, dating, family, and just being a girl trying to find
yourself and where you fit in. Author Sara Griffiths does
an outstanding job of capturing all these elements, and building
a main character you truly care about. Taylor is a character
every girl/woman can identify with, whether living that period
of life now or as a woman looking back on that time. Taylor’s
innocence, paired with the complexity of her emotions, truly
mirrors what the teenage years are all about.” LEAH
DELSERRO, TEACHER
“As
she demonstrates in her accomplished debut novel Thrown
a Curve, author Sara Griffiths definitely has a handle
on the ups and downs of the middle school youngster. Every
young teen will be able to identify with at least one, if
not all, of her characters. The book flows smoothly. The spacing
of the lines of text is comfortable for students to read,
especially for those who look at a book’s total number
of pages and how close the lines of text are before they pick
a book or start to read it. The novel will be a welcome addition
to the young adult literature available to middle school students.”BONNIE
DIBLASIO, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 27 YEARS
“I
very much enjoyed Thrown a Curve, which I read in
one sitting. It is a serious and funny look at what teenagers
deal with every day—things parents find far too easy
to forget. The novel throws you right back into the up-and-down
roller coaster of teenage life—the emotions, cliques,
friendships, first kisses, and first loves. A lot of young
girls will identify with Taylor as she tries to figure out
herself and her relationships. Being good at a sport, which
is a big part of Taylor’s life in this novel, helped
me feel good about myself in real life. Finding what you’re
good at is not always easy, but once you do it, you can have
the confidence to face even your most self-critical days.”
JENNIFER
DORE-TERHAAR, ROWING WORLD CHAMPION AND TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN
(1996 AND 2000)
Read
More About the Book
To order “Thrown a Curve”
Click the button below or to purchase your book(s)
by phone, call Bancrofts toll-free number at 800-637-7377.
If, for some reason, no live person answers, leave your message
in the Voicemail address for Ordering, and someone
will respond within 24 hours.
|