Eight Stories Up

As a teenager, DeQuincy Lezine nearly ended his own life, believing it was the only way to escape the emotional pain that was overwhelming him. Instead, Lezine was able to find expert psychiatric care, and went on to found the first university campus-based chapter of the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA. Now a researcher at the University of Rochester's Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, Lezine has devoted his life to preventing suicide in adolescents, and he brings the wealth of his personal and professional experience to bear in Eight Stories Up. He starts by describing his deteriorating state of mind in college, using his own email archive to retell the episode that would nearly claim his life. He then offers hard-earned wisdom and practical advice to other young people who may be considering suicide. In straightforward, easy-to-understand language, and drawing on the psychiatric expertise of David Brent, MD, Lezine discusses the potential causes of suicide in adolescents, how to seek psychiatric treatment, and how to get the most out of professional help. He also surveys some of the therapies used to prevent suicide, how to talk to loved ones about suicidal thoughts, and how to stay healthy at home and at school. The result is both a remarkable memoir and a useful guide that will ease the isolation and hopelessness caused by thoughts of suicide, helping young people to overcome their troubles in a safe and healthy way. Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, Eight Stories Up offers hope to young people who are at risk of suicide, extending a lifeline of support and guidance that can save their lives.

Seven of the eight short stories in this collection were originally published in Collier's magazine. The eighth story, Dreamt Last Night, was published in Redbook magazine.

"The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania."

Here's a way to have a range of picture book stories about the ever-popular Franklin the Turtle at your fingertips. Tie-ins from episodes of the 3D-animated television series Franklin and Friends, these eight separate stories provide models for dealing with a variety of everyday concerns and real problems faced by small children as they navigate the new frontiers of their lives. They help explain how to deal with uncomfortable situations, such as the fear of speaking in front of the class (Franklin and the Wonder), getting a nickname you don't like (Franklin, the Little Bubble) or being the only one who still struggles with a skill that all the other children have mastered (Franklin's Ups and Downs). Some explore handling social relationships, as when friends disagree about the best way to make something (Franklin's Partner), a friend doesn't want to play the same game as everyone else (Franklin's Spaceship) or when a decision must be made about which friend truly deserves to win the prize (Franklin and the Gecko Games). And a couple offer suggestions for fun and interesting ways to challenge yourself, such as solving a mystery with teamwork (Franklin and the Big Small Case) or using your imagination to travel to outer space (Franklin in the Stars). Besides being terrific read-alouds that feature familiar, appealing characters, stories about Franklin and his animal friends are always a perfect fit for character education lessons, particularly those on compassion, caring and kindness --- Franklin's strong suits.

A story never before told and a memoir to help change our understanding of the world around us, 13-year-old Naoki Higashida's astonishing, empathetic book takes us into the mind of a boy with severe autism. With an introduction by David Mitchell, author of the global phenomenon, Cloud Atlas, and translated by his wife, KA Yoshida. Naoki Higashida was only a middle-schooler when he began to write The Reason I Jump. Autistic and with very low verbal fluency, Naoki used an alphabet grid to painstakingly spell out his answers to the questions he imagines others most often wonder about him: why do you talk so loud? Is it true you hate being touched? Would you like to be normal? The result is an inspiring, attitude-transforming book that will be embraced by anyone interested in understanding their fellow human beings, and by parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends of autistic children. Naoki examines issues as diverse and complex as self-harm, perceptions of time and beauty, and the challenges of communication, and in doing so, discredits the popular belief that autistic people are anti-social loners who lack empathy. This book is mesmerizing proof that inside an autistic body is a mind as subtle, curious, and caring as anyone else's.

"Presents concrete methods of incorporating storytelling by students of all ages into classroom practice to help teachers meet U.S. education standards of reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and visually representing"--Provided by publisher.