This week we’re going to do a special friendship activity as school has been in session for a while and I’ve been hearing that there’s a lot of friendship drama going around—especially with some people having some friends in school and some doing online classes. I wanted to do this exercise in case you’re going through anything like this right now and maybe you can share it with a friend to talk about what you’re feeling right now.

If you did the True Colors reading guide sessions you might remember we made a list of some of the qualities that the girls Landry becomes friends with have. As you’ve watched Landry grow and change through the different situations she’s gone through, you see her stand up for herself a little more. She also begins to realize who her real friends are and who are the fake ones. More importantly, she’s seeing the qualities that make up a good friend that she should have as well. It’s not just about having a good friend, but it’s about being a good friend, too.

This week I want to do an activity based on that. Take a look at the list of the qualities of Landry’s friends from the past activity if you have it or you can make columns with each of the girls’ names and write down words that you think of when you think of each one. Here are some examples: thoughtful, caring, loyal, honest, gentle, kind, etc.

Now I want you to take a piece of notebook paper and make a list of what you think would make up the qualities of the perfect friend. Write down every little quality as this is just for fun and you’re not going to show this to anyone. Here’s some more ideas: same values/good values, likes the same books (or shows, movies, music) I like, I can talk to them about anything, she doesn’t judge me, doesn’t make me feel bad about myself, can always cheer me up, listens to me…and so on.

First, look and see if you have friends these qualities remind you of and jot their names down. Then think about if you have friends who don’t have those qualities. Are they just different from what your ideal friend is or have they become more toxic? In the book we see Landy has both the good encouraging friends (Peyton and Ashanti in particular), and the ones who have become a little more toxic like Ericka. There are also the friends she feels she has to walk on eggshells around (like India and Devon).

In True Colors we saw Landry going through changes and growing and that continues in Best Friends…Forever? She used to be so close to Tori and Ericka, but now those friendships don’t feel the same.  Have you gone through something where you don’t have the same relationship with someone even though you’ve been friends with for a really long time? Write about how that makes you feel and why you think you grew apart.

It can be tricky dealing with friends that you feel like maybe you’ve outgrown. You don’t want to break off friendships just because you don’t have things in common anymore, so be mindful not to exclude someone just because you’ve found friends you have more in common with. At the same time, you also have to be careful not to stay close with friends who have become more toxic. What do I mean by that? Well, do you ever message or talk to a friend and then walk away feeling bad about yourself or just feel a little uneasy or even sick? Maybe you remember when we did an exercise talking about passive aggressive friends? Maybe after you walked away, you started to wonder if the comments they made that were mean about someone was actually about you.

Start paying attention to those uncomfortable feelings. Write them down when they come up for you and see if there’s a pattern of this friend doing that or if it’s just a one-time thing. I think we’ve all had moments where we’ve questioned someone’s intentions or meaning and instead of having a difficult conversation about whether or not they’re mad at you, instead you just…drift apart.

It’s so easy to misunderstand what a person is really saying and you could get your feelings hurt when they actually didn’t try to hurt you at all. It’s so hard to come out and talk these things over, but it’s also hard to lose a friendship over a comment that’s wasn’t meant to hurt you.

Behind the scenes: I have had plenty of moments where I was talking to a friend and walked away wondering if they were making fun of me or if they weren’t being real with me. It leaves you feeling lost and confused. At least it has left me feeling that way. I wanted to write about Landry having that experience, but

​I also wanted both Peyton and Ashanti to have that experience because of a misunderstanding they both had with Landry. Because it really can go both ways—you can be the one feeling bad about something, but maybe you also said something that you didn’t even realize that hurt or upset someone else. It was important to me to show both sides of that, so Landry would know how to handle that as well.

One of my best friends said to me that we should have a pact so if one of us says something that hits the other person funny, that we should just take a minute to ask them what they meant by that and talk it out instead of cutting each other off or slowly keeping our distance. Maybe someone’s having a bad day and that harsh comment wasn’t isn’t even meant for you. This might be a good time to make that same pact with a friend that if one of you says or does something that makes the other one feel unsure or hurt that you can go to the other person without fear of getting into an argument and talk it out.

It’s much better to clear up something like that than to lose a friend. My dad once said it’s hard to find a good friend and it’s also important to have a good friend as well. In another book of mine called, Next Door to a Star, I have the character, Hadley, learn that if you want to have a good friend then you need to learn to be a good friend.

We’ll pick up our usual reading (chapters 27-30) for next week.

Today is the last day to enter to win BIG in the Sweet September Giveaway!

Young Adult Romance Authors Jade Lazlow, Jane McGarry, Jessa Russo, and Krysten Lindsay Hager, and Sweet Romance Authors A.K. Morgen, Rose B. Mashal, Sydney Logan, and Tami Franklin have teamed up to bring you an extra dose of sweet this fall!

Win a Kindle Fire 7, Amazon Gift cards, and ebooks by following participating authors on Bookbub and Amazon, or by signing up for their mailing lists. Check out all the details and enter below!

https://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/sweet-september-giveaway
 ​

Love’s Full Circle is on sale Sept. 28 – Oct. 4 for $0.99
 
Blurb: Kayden James may have missed out on her happy ever after. But, as a successful marriage and family therapist, at least she can help other people find theirs. Now that her career has taken off, Kayden is finally ready to put the past behind her. . . until it strolls into her office unexpectedly one day. The last thing Kayden needs is for her ex-boyfriend to stir up old feelings. She’d rather stay a single cat lady than let him break her heart again.

Liam has spent a long time living with one regret—letting Kayden slip through his fingers. He’s determined to make amends for the way he treated her all those years ago, but he’s finding it hard to melt her icy exterior. If he can just convince her to trust him and see that he’s changed, their love finally has a chance of coming full circle.

Author Bio: Cherry resides in the Mitten State with her husband of 19 years and a tabby cat named Caden. A true Michigander, she points at the palm of her right hand when telling people where she lives, drinks Vernors ginger ale when she’s under the weather, wears shorts and a sweatshirt at the same time, and measures distance in minutes, not miles. She also cheers for her favorite football team, the Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!

A confirmed night owl, Cherry wholeheartedly agrees with whoever said, “I could be a morning person, if morning happened around noon.” It’s no surprise then she prefers to write in the evening. She’s a bit of a pantser writer, meaning she dreams up stories without using an outline, so every day is an exciting adventure as she waits to see where the characters lead her next!
​
A lifelong avid reader, Cherry turned to writing as a creative outlet. Drawing partly from her own experiences, and partly from her wild imagination, she weaves romantic tales with a smidgen of religion and a hint of mystery. Cherry’s first novel, The Fearful Heart, debuted in 2014, and she has never looked back. She continues to grow as an author, learning more about the writing craft with each book.
 
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherry-Christensen-Author-1427146804175227
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cherry-christensen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9872402.Cherry_Christensen
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cfyfechristense/_saved/
 
Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R9P8JP3

   

                This week we read chapters 24-26. The previous sessions can be found here:
www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html

                In chapter 24 we see Landry and some of the girls are nervous about starting high school next year. What are some of the reasons that they are anxious about? Can you relate to their worries?

                Peyton is also anxious, so they decide to have a night at her house watching movies. They’re on the couch with snacks feeling safe and secure when India and Devon come over with India’s high school cousin and her friends. What do you notice about the differences between the girls in this scene? Have you ever felt uncomfortable in a new group?

                In chapter 25 Landry starts reassessing everything from the way her bedroom looks to her hairstyle. She worries she seems so much younger than the other girls. What does she do to her bedroom that shows this?

                In chapter 26 the high school girl, Kendall, asks Landry if she wants to hang out. While they’re out, Kendall begins to confide in Landry about the pressures she feels from her high school friends especially when they want her to blow off spending time with her grandma even though Kendall’s grandmother isn’t well. Landry and Kendall are able to share some experiences they’ve had dealing with “frenemies,” which are people you think are your friends, but sometimes act a bit too much like enemies. What are some of the examples they talk about in this chapter?

                There are a couple of scenes in this chapter that I’d like you to think about and write your feelings on:

1)What happened to Kendall with the dance she thought she was going to be asked to and spent all her money on a dress only to find out a friend ruined her chances of being invited

2)The incident in the cafeteria where Kendall had an accident with soup and everyone (including her friends) laughed at her, but one person came to help her out

          At the end of the chapter, Landry tells Kendall how worried she is about starting high school next year saying, “I am a nervous wreck over the whole thing."

        Kendall laughed. "It's so nice to hear, because I was my first year, and I thought I was the only one."

   "It seems like everyone else has like, an in at the school or knows someone."

    "Yes! Like they have a high school fairy godmother that takes them by the hand and teaches them how to be cool or at least not make a fool of themselves," she said.

     "That's exactly how I feel."

    Landry is surprised to learn even Kendall (who she thinks has it all together) was terrified to start
high school and still gets anxious sometimes.

      Have you ever had anyone who you thought had it all together admit that they were scared or unsure of something too? How did you feel when you learned that?

Behind the Scenes: I got a lot of messages from teachers and parents after students read this part of the book when Landry says to Kendall:

     “I'm just so anxious about next year and trying to fit in and make new friends in such a big school."

   "I'm surprised you're worried about fitting in, Landry. I assumed a model wouldn't have any anxiety about that stuff."

    "Why?" I asked, shocked.

   "I dunno. You're pretty, blonde, and tiny. I just assumed you had it made."

      "I thought the same thing about you."

      This part jumped out at them because they could relate to how Landry was feeling in this moment. I felt the same way when it came to starting high school. I was ready to leave middle school because I was over the drama and in-fighting and felt like I couldn’t really be myself there. So I was eager to move on in some ways, but still terrified of the great unknown. I write about the high school girls looking so much older because that was how I felt around them when I was in 8th grade.

​    I also write how the other girls (Tori, Ericka, Thalia) are thrown by how unconventional some of the high school students (male and female) are in wearing different clothes, makeup, etc. I put this in to show that while it scared the younger students, it also shows the older ones are beginning to experiment with their appearances and figure out where they fit in. Yet the idea of that seems scary to the younger ones and their parents.

                Taking a step out of your comfort zone is never easy and often teens and preteens begin to do that with their appearance whether it’s with makeup, their hair, or a new style of clothes. I can remember coming to school and finding a blonde friend had dyed her hair jet black or shaved part of it off or was suddenly wearing a totally different style of clothes. It seemed like people were trying on new personalities a lot.

     Figuring out who you are and where you fit in is never easy and sometimes people show this through how they dress. Like the time I used a spray-in hair lightener on my super dark hair which gave me orange-y streaks! Or the purple eyeliner I put on that made me look thirty instead of thirteen. Sometimes I’d use my allowance to buy clothes that I saw in magazines or in a movie to try and look older. I used to pour over magazines to try and find the latest trends.  

    It can be scary when a close friend makes a huge change physically that leaves you feeling left behind. I remember coming to high school after a summer and finding all the girls had cut their hair short and now were blonder and there I was feeling self-conscious with my very long dark hair. I finally decided to cut it and what’s interesting is my parents didn’t buy any of those photos a photographer took because they said, “It didn’t look like me.” Instead, they framed the previous pictures I had taken and I realized years later that what they meant was that I looked more comfortable in those photos than in the ones where I was trying to fit in with my shorter hair.

    Sometimes just being aware of why people are switching up their looks or trying to look or act older can help you understand it. They’re just trying to find where they fit in best. And just like Landry feels better knowing that Kendall was scared to start school again, it helped my readers to know that Landry had the same worries they did. Most people are scared to try something new, so don’t feel bad if you are as well. Instead, maybe you can reach out and find someone else who is also anxious and talk out your fears together.

    Read chapters 27-30 (they’re shorter chapters!) for next week.
                 

Last time we read chapters 21-23 of Best Friends…Forever and you can find the previous sessions here: www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html

            In chapter 21, Landry talks with Ashanti and they get their misunderstanding cleared up.

     What did you notice about how they dealt their situation? How has Landry handled things differently with her friends since her talk with her dad? How have things gone differently with her friends Devon, India, Peyton, and Ashanti since her dad’s advice?

        Landry mentions that Yasmin isn’t nice unless she’s talking to someone who was, “either a guy or met her standards of being cute, popular, and rich.” Have you known anyone who treats people that way?  

            In chapter 22 we see a lot of changes in Landry in this chapter. She acts very different than she did in the first book and even in the first part of this book. She stands up for Thalia for one and also shows more confidence. Make a list of the changes you notice in Landry in this chapter.

            Things are still complicated between Landry and Tori as we see in the scene set in the cafeteria. Write about how that scene made you feel.  

            We also see in this chapter that Landry is worried about the high school orientation coming up. You can see Landry has a lot of emotions about starting a new school next year and basically starting from scratch. Have you either had to start a new school or are you worried about it?

      Write down things that you’re worried about either with starting a new school or starting/continuing high school or middle school. Then go through them and see what it is that worries you about each one—is it making new friends? Finding your classes in a new (bigger) building? Go through each one and see if you can find some ways to take away the scariness behind them. Can you tour the building or get a map of it to see where your classes are? Can you ask around or post online to see who you know that is going to that school? Maybe you know people who have friends going there that they could introduce you to. It always helps to have a game plan.

     In chapter 23 we see Landry and Ashanti at freshman information night and how they feel so out of place at the high school. Landry has trouble meeting new people there and feels overwhelmed.

        Mr. Russell asked me what I thought of the school, and I just shrugged and said it seemed big. The truth was I had no idea how I was going to handle it. It seemed like there were twenty-thousand students at the freshman info night, so what would it be like when all four grades were there together? Plus, I only knew people from Hillcrest. I didn't meet one new person that night, and the only other high school student I knew was Vladi, and he had broken up with me, so he wouldn't want to hang around with me next year.

      How did the scene at the high school make you feel? Could you relate to Landry or Ashanti more in this?

Behind the scenes: I was terrified of starting high school. Landry’s freshman information night was very much how mine went down to the going with another friend and her step-dad although my dad met us there. I’ll never forget how they split us up alphabetically and I wasn’t worried at first because my friend and I had the same first letter in our last names…and then they managed to do the split with by the first two letters of my last name and put her in another group! It was terrifying. Even the mascara girl was there and I remember how everyone looked so much older than the eighth graders from my small private school. It was loud and crowded and scary. I was never more scared of anything than I was starting 9th grade. Yet my freshman year ended up being pretty amazing.

       Have you ever been terrified of something and it turned out to be fine in the end? How did you feel after? Did you feel like you were able to handle more than you thought? Or maybe you realized sometimes things that seem scary aren’t so bad in the end. Journal about your own experience and then go back to it the next time you’re worried or scared about something. Feel free to share it online and hashtag it #LandrysTrueColorsProject.

            Read chapters 24-26 for next time!
​

Today we welcome author Debra Daugherty on the blog! Check out this interview with her below.

Tell us about your work!
 
Hi, Krysten, and thank you for letting me be a part of your blog today.

I write children’s stories, PBs thru YA. Presently, I have a YA romantic suspense series set in different European cities, two middle grade manuscripts, and several picture books that I have been querying.  My picture book, CALAMITY CAT, was published by MeeGenius in 2013, but sadly, it is no longer in print. THE DRAGON’S RING, an adult fantasy, (I feel it leans more toward YA), was published by Astraea Press/Clean Reads in 2016. I’ve also had two children’s stories published in Guardian Angel Kids’ ezine.
 
What was your favorite book when you were growing up?

I fell in love with LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott. The book was a gift from an aunt, and I read it over and over. The character, Jo March, inspired me to be a writer. None of my manuscripts were burned like hers, but I did lose one on my computer, THE DRAGON’S RING. I rewrote it, and it ended up being published.
 
What is your favorite book as an adult?

My list is constantly changing. I am a Jane Austen fan and love all her books. As a picture book author, I find myself drawn to that genre. THE REMEMBER BALLOONS by Jessie Oliveros touched me deeply as I cared for an aunt who had Alzheimer’s. I enjoy the Tudor Court novels by Philippa Gregory, stories of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII.
 
I always reread my favorite books. Do you reread books and if so, which one(s) have you read over again?

Yes! I reread my favorite books all the time. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, and LITTLE WOMEN both have worn covers. I also have read many times THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. Her story should never be forgotten, and I often wonder what books she might have written had she lived.
 
Who are some of your favorite authors?

I feel like I’m repeating myself, but Jane Austen tops my list. Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Philippa Gregory, Dr. Seuss, Louisa May Alcott, Krysten Lindsay Hagar (I love your Landry stories!), Pat Zietlow Miller, Tara Lazar, and so many others, I’d fill ten pages.
 
A lot of creatives (artists, writers, musicians) have talked about how the pandemic has impacted their creativity. How has it been for you?

In the first few months I’ve noticed a change in my writing. There were days I had nothing to say. The words wouldn’t come. Since I couldn’t write, I decided to offer help with critiques. I traded manuscripts with several authors, and by reading their pages and offering suggestions, I found my love to write return. I’ve since written two new picture book manuscripts, and with help from my critique partners, revised my middle grade novels and one of my YA’s. One of my critique partners lives in Ireland, and I had so much fun reading her story. She used Gaelic words unfamiliar to me. My great grandparents came from Ireland, so I was able to learn some of the lingo they used.
 
What are you working on now?

I am revising and submitting. And for a fall writing contest, FALL WRITING FRENZY, I am working on a story about one of the 14 pictures featured in the contest. It needs to be 200 words or less, which means I will have to do some cutting, but I hope to have it ready by the October 3rd deadline. I have a couple of picture book ideas, but nothing on paper yet.
For anyone interested in this contest, here is the link: https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/fall-writing-frenzy-contest-2020/

I’d like to thank you, Krysten, for asking me to be a part of your blog today. You had some great questions!

THE DRAGON’S RING by Debra Daugherty
 
Book Blurb: Sir James Trueblood is determined to capture a unicorn so he can marry Princess Isadora. The knight begins his quest, not realizing the Princess is following him in disguise. On his journey, Sir James encounters a witch and a dragon. With the dragon’s ring, his mission is a success, but then he learns the unicorn will die if not set free. Now he has a dilemma; marry the Princess or free the unicorn.
 
Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Ring-Debra-Daugherty-ebook/dp/B01J73OAUG/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=the+dragon%27s+ring+by+debra+daugherty&qid=1599756056&sr=8-3
ISBN 9781621355663
ASIN B01J73OAUG
 
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/dmddeb  or @dmddeb

Websites: http://ddaugherty329.wixsite.com/authordebradaugherty
https://writing-for-children.webnode.com
https://authordebradaugherty.wordpress.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DebraDaughertyauthor/

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7579797.Debra_Daugherty

Amazon Author’s Page:
https://www.amazon.com/DebraDaugherty/e/B01K1RUSCG/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ddaugherty329

Tumblr: http://authordebradaugherty.tumblr.com/
 

  ***This week's behind the scenes was done by request from readers and their parents.

Last time we read chapters 17-20 of Best Friends…Forever and you can find the previous sessions here: www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html
​
            Landry is having a rough day in chapter 17 and it keeps getting worse: some of her closest friends are mad at her, her boyfriend breaks up with her, and then she finds out some other friends are hanging out without her. She tells her mom that things are fine, but then spills everything to her dad and asks for advice.

     Why do you think she shares everything with her dad, but not her mom? Do you ever find you have an adult in your life that you can share things with easier? Write about that person and why they’re easier to talk to when you have a problem or just need to talk. Maybe write them a thank you note for always being there for you!

            Landry’s dad tells her how he was judged when he decided to go to medical school and shares how he handled it and gives her some advice. What do you think of his advice to her?

            In Chapter 18, Landry calls both Ashanti and Peyton to try and explain and make things right. She also learns that her father was right that India was acting out of jealousy and she clears the air with Devon, too. Sometimes it can be scary to take a big step and try to clear up a big misunderstanding. You never know how people will react.

      Have you ever had to contact someone to apologize or try to explain something? How did it go? Have you ever had someone come to you to apologize or explain something that you misunderstood? How did you treat them?

      In chapter 19 we see Ericka making Landry feel uncomfortable and bad about herself all while pretending to care about her. Write about your thoughts on this scene. Have you ever been in a position like this? What would you have said to Ericka if you were Landry?

            Next, Landry is approached in the cafeteria by Halle and Maggie who are suddenly interested in hearing all the gossip about her breakup with Vladi. Landry is very uncomfortable and wonders about their motives. Have you ever been in a situation like this? How do you think Landry should have handled it? Later, Kyle makes a comment to her in the hallway and Thalia stands up for her.

       Write out your thoughts on what Kyle says to Landry. Then write how you feel about his intimidation of Thalia afterward. Have you witnessed or experienced anything like that? Did you tell anyone what was going on? 

            Landry has a talk about true friendship with India and learns where she was coming from with her jealousy. Things were not as they seemed. Did you think about why India was acting the way she was toward Landry? And what do you make of how Ericka is acting? 

            In chapter 20, Landry goes to a movie with friends and sees Ashanti there with Halle and feels replaced. She says suddenly she doesn’t care what Vladi is doing because she misses her other best friend. Have you ever had a misunderstanding with a friend that hurt?

Behind the scenes:  I recently had some parents write about how their 6th and 7th graders are going through friendship issues right now as school is starting back up, so I decided to do this week’s “Behind the Scenes” to reflect what they were dealing with right now. 

            Friendship misunderstandings have happened to me over the years and it does feel like your whole world is ending. It can be so awkward going to school and having to face people when you feel like your world is falling down around you. I remember sitting in class and try to focus on the teacher’s voice while I could hear people whispering around me. It was the worst! But I came out of that knowing how to be a better friend and how to tell who was a real friend who could be counted on.
​
      For so long, when anything happened, I would always be on the defensive and always walked on eggshells to not upset anyone and never stopping to say anything to the Erickas of the world—and I have known a LOT of Erickas over the years. I still run across them now and then. I’m not sure if I felt like I deserved to be treated that way, but I took it for so long. And if I got the courage to stand up for myself, then it was like they had to make me pay for my little bit of self-confidence.
     
       I remember sitting on a field trip and feeling miserable and wondering why I was suddenly this person’s target. Now I can look back and see they were just insecure and trying to make a place for themselves. I wish back then I could have seen that these people weren’t real friends and kept my distance instead of trying to change myself so they’d like me. I can’t tell you how many times I thought if I just did this or that, then it would all be okay and I’d fit in or be accepted. I wasn’t being true to myself and it would result in me being willing to pretend to like things I didn’t like.

       It comes up a lot at middle grade and young adult writing events when a speaker will ask if anyone in the group liked high school and I’m usually one of the only authors that will raise their hand and everyone asks, “How can you write for teens if you liked high school?” They point out usually people who hated those years write those kinds of books. And I respond, “Compared to grade school and middle school it was sooo much better!” And people laugh, but that’s the truth. All the mean girl antics I went through in my grade school and middle school years made me stronger and by the time I got to high school I had a better idea of who I was and what I was looking for in a friend. I went in determined to be myself and not conform to what other people wanted from me.

      So right now, if you’re where I was and thinking, oh if only I did this or looked like that, then they’d like me… Please don’t. Please realize you are created the way you are to stand out and to share who you are with the world. Realize these people don’t see your worth and go find someone who does. You don’t need to make a big deal out of it or tell anyone off, you can just be polite, but distant. Take the high road. You will never please anyone you have to change for. 

        ***Just a little additional fact: my sister was the inspiration for Mr. Albright’s college friends lying to him about applying. She had the same thing happen when she was applying to business school. Her friends tried to talk her out of it and said they weren’t applying. She decided to do it anyway and found out they lied and had already put in their applications. I felt it was important to put this in the story to show you should always follow your purpose in life.

Read chapters 21-23 for next time.

Today we have author Jacquelyn Randle on the blog. You might have seen her on an episode of Power Kids with me. (I'll put the video at the end of the interview.) Check out my interview with her and learn what she's working on now!

Tell us about your book!
 
My latest release is “I’ll Love You Wherever You Go”, is a children’s picture book for ages 1-6 years old that features a poem inspired by my daughters. I had a really close bond with my eldest daughter and when news my youngest was on the way a certain level of new mom fear set in. I worried about how I would maintain the bond with my first daughter and build a bond with my youngest daughter, all while trying to manage time between myself and the girls. As I joined various online groups for new and experienced mothers, I saw I was not alone. I picked up tips about how to create and maintain their bonds and applied them to our daily life. As they aged their bond continued to grow but being an avid reader I didn’t see any books that showed a sibling relationship like they had and that is where the book was born. Filled with colorful and whimsical illustrations portraying scenes of joy and love between siblings readers can relate to regardless if they are a boy or girl.
 
What was your favorite book when you grew up?
 
My favorite book when I grew up was Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. The illustrations drew me in and still stand out to this day in my memory. Summer was always a fun time for my family and this is one of the books from childhood I instantly related to. Goodnight Moon is a classic that I had to make sure my own children had at bedtime as well.
 
What is your favorite book now?
 
The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. It was a book I went into blindly but changed my way of thinking and being with people. I refer back to it often as well as recommend it to others on a self mastery journey.
 
I always reread my favorite books. Do you ever reread books and if so which one(s)have you read over and over again?
 
I’m an avid reader so for me to read something over it has to be inspirational or in the self help genre.
 
Who are some of your favorite authors?
 
Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison.The list really does go on. I read so much I really can’t keep up, I love them for their own unique reasons and slowly starting to fall in love with sci-fi/fantasy category
 
What are you working on now?
 
Currently, I am working on the expansion pack to “I’ll Love You Wherever You Go”, which will feature the second book in the series, overseeing a few other author projects, and my next fiction piece.
 
You can find out more about her work and buy her books here:
Website: C & E Reflections Inc ce-reflectionsinc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CEReflectionsInc
IG:  www.instagram.com/ce_reflectionsinc/

            This week we read chapters 14-16. The previous sessions can be found here:
www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html
            In chapter 14, Landry goes to school after getting her hair drastically cut. Write down all the ways the other people describe and talk about her hair.

     Notice the words they use like, “chopped,” and, “you finally did something with it,” and their reaction to her putting on some lip gloss. Journal about how that makes you feel for Landry. Have you ever gone through an experience like she does? Write about your experience and ask yourself why your friend or acquaintance acted that way. Do you think they were being honest, that they are just a, “blunt person,” or was there something else going on?

            Then go back and ask yourself if you have ever used words like that when talking to a friend? Maybe you didn’t mean to make them feel insecure, but think about why you said what you did. Did you feel you were just being honest or that you feel your personality is a bit on the blunt side or was there something more to it. Did you really not care for whatever it was you were talking about or did you maybe have a little bit of jealousy going on or insecurity? Now take that feeling and go back to your experience and ask yourself if the person who made you feel insecure might have had certain intentions when they spoke.

Behind the scenes: The reason behind this exercise is because was after this book came out, I had several readers contact me about this scene and the previous makeup counter scene. They really identified with these scenes. In fact. one person wrote to me, “I had something so similar happen to me and for years I have felt bad about myself due to it, but for some reason when I saw it happen to Landry it jumped out at me that they were jealous. It had nothing to do with Landry’s hair at all, but their feelings of jealousy. But why couldn’t I see that back then when it was happening to me? Why couldn’t I see it wasn’t my looks that were terrible, but jealousy playing out there as well?”

            Now for the interesting part—the person who wrote that to me was a reader who was an adult who loves reading teen fiction and she said it opened her eyes up to a lot of things that she felt insecure about when she was growing up. From these scenes (and others we haven’t gotten to yet,) she was able to see the motives behind the passive aggressive comments. She said she was finally able to begin healing hurts from a long time ago. Always remember healing can come at any time or any age. It’s never too late.

     You can come back to this exercise each time you are in a situation like this and journal on it and see what you see beyond the words used. I hope it helps you like it did this woman. If you feel comfortable, you could talk to a trusted adult about this section and see if they went through anything similar that they’d be willing to share with you as well.

            There’s a lot in chapter 15 to think about, but look at the section where Landry talks to her dad about the friend drama that’s going on with Devon, Peyton, and India.

He says, “I think you should try talking to that India girl, too. I know you think she was just trying to get between you and Devon, but have you considered maybe she was just scared of being left out so she threw the blame on you?"

"Because she's a jerk? A stupid, jealous jerk?"

He laughed. "No, well…maybe, but I think she was acting more from fear. You should take that into consideration."

"I should forgive her for turning my friends against me?" I asked. Was he nuts? What was in his orange juice?

"Weren't you a little scared the day you accidentally mentioned Peyton's name when talking to Devon?"

"Yes, but that's different. I'm not an evil troll."

"Do you want to be forgiven?"

"Of course," I said.

"Then be understanding of where India was coming from, and tell both Peyton and Devon that you never meant any harm. If they all see that you are being genuine and honest, I think they will come around."

I nodded, but wondered if Grandma Albright had briefly joined a hippie commune as a teen and left out a pamphlet or something that my dad picked up as a child. If I went up to those girls all about forgiveness, love, and daisies, they would laugh in my face. Parents just didn't remember what it was like to be in middle school.

            Write or discuss your thoughts on what Mr. Albright tells Landry. Do you agree—why or why not?

            In chapter 16, Landry is devastated to see her friends got the crystal butterfly necklaces without her. She is so upset that she ends up hurting Thalia feelings due to her wanting to escape the hallway before people saw her cry and then Landry manages to hurt Ashanti’s feelings due to a misunderstanding when she always intended to include both Thalia and Ashanti with the matching necklaces.

     Take a moment to see this scene from all the sides. How do you think you’d feel if you were Landry seeing the girls with their matching necklaces? How would you feel if you were Thalia in that scene? What about how you would feel if you were Ashanti in that scene? Have you ever been in a situation like that where you were the one left out? Write or discuss your experience or draw a picture of how you felt at the time.  

     Okay, now we’re going to go deeper again. Ready? Have you ever made someone feel left out of hurt their feelings in this way? I know it’s easy to say, “nope,” and move on, but reflect on it for a moment. Do you recall a time where someone told you that you made them feel left out? It’s not fun to think about those times, but write about that or draw a picture.

     We all do things like that, but what’s important is to learn from those moments and do better. None of us are perfect, but we can try to be more mindful of what we say and do.

     Also, stay tuned because I will be sharing pictures of the butterfly necklaces that inspired the storyline as well as the one that was made especially for the book!

Read chapters 17-20 for next time. The previous sessions can be found here:
www.krystenlindsay.com/reading-guide.html
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