Each month, #BuyIndiePress puts the spotlight on indie books from a handful of small presses and the like. All of the details are at the Buy Indie Press page. I’m so excited to put the spotlight on Zest Books, Peachtree Publishers, and Tu Books!
Today is all about Peachtree Publishers!
Peachtree Publishers Official Website
Peachtree Publishers Instagram
Peachtree Publishers is an independently owned trade book publisher, specializing in quality children’s books, from picture books to young adult fiction and nonfiction; consumer references in health, education, and parenting; and regional guide books about the American South, where the company is based. Our mission is to create books that captivate and educate young and old readers alike, with well-crafted words and pictures.
ISBN: 978-1561456239
The first book from Peachtree Publishers that I read was the young adult contemporary novel, The Theory of Everything by J.J. Johnson (@jjjohnsonauthor) which released October 1, 2012. In my review of the novel, I described this as a dark comedy about grief with a main character that everyone can relate to. Looking back on the review reminds me just how much fun I had reading this book. It’s entertaining, it’s thought provoking, it’s everything I look for in a novel I won’t forget. So be sure to add this to your list if you have yet to read it as well as her debut, This Girl Is Different which I have yet to read and her latest novel which I talk about below!
ISBN: 978-15-6145-771-7
Trigger Warnings: Eating Disorders, Alcoholism, Depression, Suicide
I recently read J.J.’s latest novel, Believarexic which released October 1, 2015. Wow. This autobiographical contemporary novel tells the story of a fifteen year old girl in 1988 who is admitted into inpatient treatment for her eating disorder.
First, the writing. It is absolutely spectacular. J.J. is a fantastic storyteller and her ability to craft such a beautifully woven tale which begins in second person – yes, second person – has beautiful prose in verse, smoothly transitions into a more familiar format and still throws in gems in the form of hospital forms, etc… wow. Hats off to you. This was just wonderful. Visually one of the most beautiful pieces of work I’ve read in a very long time.
Then, the characters. Wow. So three dimensional and authentic, some of these people will make your blood boil. I’m looking at you Nurse Ratched Sheryl (though she’s not the only one). So many more will remind you why hope is that spark in the light worth looking out for, worth holding onto. The dynamics of the character relationships, fighting against each other, fighting against themselves was so pure, I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved spending each and every minute with these characters. They will all teach you something about yourself, about the world. I learned a lot about myself reading this book. I faced a lot.
A lot.
I can’t even begin to thank J.J. for sharing her truth, for sharing this experience and providing these words that so many girls and boys, teens, and adults need to hear as they sort out their truth, regain control of their lives, and learn to love themselves and live with their monsters.
This book is intense. It’s so raw. It doesn’t glamorize a single thing. We follow Jennifer, who is bulimarexic and reaches out for help, which is not easy to do, and on top of that, she’s reaching out to a family who’s in denial and is more comfortable leaning in on excuses among other things than taking responsibility.
This girl surrenders and lays it all down and out only to be ripped of her dignity from people who are supposed to help but unwilling to understand the scope of this illness and how crippling it is for all but in such different, distinct ways. We follow Jennifer as she discovers that many rules set up to help those troubled end up doing way more harm than good. We follow Jennifer as she discovers the power in her choices in an environment that deems her completely powerless. We follow pain and guilt and confusion and where do I end because this list goes on. J.J. Johnson pours her heart out, bares it all, I mean all in this story. My heart was so heavy reading this.
Believarexic is the most striking, realistic portrayal of this subject matter that I have ever read. More often than not, it’s as if J.J. has been inside my head for far too long and extracted the most hidden away of parts only to knock me over the head with them. And then she’s formed words and made sense of all that was disheveled. Thank you for the balloon analogy by the way. Thank you. I only wish I had this book when I was going through my own battles at earlier more vulnerable and terrifying times, it sure would have been an immense help.
But the thing is, that battle though less intense than it once was, isn’t over so this book is still helping me today and I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for that. Because I know the power these words had on me, I know for a fact that these words can save someone’s life and so I urge you to read this book and share this book and talk about this book because the words in here are gold. Only everyone can afford it, so get it today.
More Titles From Peachtree Publishers To Check Out:
1. Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil
A sharp, hilarious, and perfectly observed story of high school geeks falling in true love.
Sam Kinnison is a geek, and he’s totally fine with that.
He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of Warcraft – and until Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, he won’t worry about girls.
Then Camilla Carter arrives on the scene. She’s beautiful, friendly, and completely irrelevant to his plan. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a plan of her own – and he seems to be a part of it!
Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies. But perhaps he’s been watching the wrong ones.
Released in the U.S. August 1, 2013
2. The Big Nothing by Adrian Fogelin
Alone. That’s how thirteen-year-old Justin feels these days. His older brother Duane has left home, enlisting in the Army, and his father has walked out, maybe for good this time. His mom is too depressed to get out of bed, much less pay the bills and keep food in the refrigerator. And if that’s not enough, his best buddy Ben has a new girlfriend and no longer has time to hang out. There’s not much left for Justin to do but to put his brain in neutral and slide into the state he calls “the Big Nothing.”
But slowly Justin discovers he has more resources than he thinks. With the help of his classmate Jemmie and her grandmother, Nana Grace, he learns that underneath all the noisy confusion in his brain lies a talent for music. As he spends time with Jemmie, he begins to understand how simple notes make complex music, and how simple feelings can turn into deep emotions. Award-winning author Adrian Fogelin once again offers readers an emotionally charged story featuring a sympathetic adolescent trying to make sense of the people and world around him.
Released October 1, 2004
3. Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
George loved words. But George was enslaved.
Forced to work long hours, George was unable to attend school or learn how to read. But he was determined – he listened to the white children’s lessons and learned the alphabet. Then he taught himself to read. Soon, he began composing poetry in his head and reciting it as he sold fruits and vegetables on a nearby college campus. News of the slave poet traveled quickly among the students, and before long, George had customers for his poems. But George was still enslaved. Would he ever be free?
In this powerful biography of George Moses Horton, the first southern African-American man to be published, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.
Released September 1, 2015
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