"Teen fights for equality in power-packed novel"
My new book (a novel) went up on Amazon today. It's about a sixteen-year-old girl who participates in the blockade and occupation of the US Capitol.
As the story begins, Angela Jones is the primary caretaker of her invalid mother. Having taken on the responsibilities of an adult, she is still treated as a child by law. A 23-year-old political activist opens her eyes to the urgent issues facing humanity, including the sinking economy and catastrophic climate change, problems that will have devastating consequences for Ange's future.
Ange is arrested during the protest and winds up in a juvenile detention facility. While there, she finds herself fighting for the right to live independently, in opposition to laws that require her to be released to a parent or guardian.
Living overseas has really highlighted for me the massive age discrimination experienced by US teenagers. In most developed countries the school leaving age is 16, also the age when most working class youths get full time jobs and move into their own flats and apartments. In many countries, sixteen-year-olds (as full fledged taxpayers) are allowed to vote. I blog about this at http://stuartbramhall.aegauthorblogs.com/2010/07/17/election-2010-lowering-the-voting-age/
I suspect The Battle for Tomorrow will be controversial because it talks frankly about teen sexuality, contraception and abortion. Americans don't believe in talking about sex to teenagers, which may be the reason the US has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 43% of girls and 39% of boys have had sex by age 18 (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_024.pdf).
Here's hoping The Battle for Tomorrow will be the 21st century Catcher in the Rye, only the hero is a sexually active female and the action takes place in the streets of Washington DC.
To celebrate my new book, I am offering a 2 for 1 offer (expires May 14th) -- a free ebook version of The Battle for Tomorrow with purchase of new, used or ebook version of my memoir The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee. Message me to obtain coupon code for a free download.
Links for The Most Revolutionary Act
(winner of 2011 Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award):
New and used print copies: Amazon
ebook (all formats) for $5.99:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/55477
Links for The Battle for Tomorrow
softcover $18.95: www.thebattlefortomorrow.com
ebook (all formats) $5.99: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/51531
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