Holding On

A young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect with her grandmother as her memory fades in this warm and moving picture book perfect for fans of Pixar’s Coco. There is always singing in Lola’s house. Sammy Davis Jr. in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and all throughout the evening, old Tagalog love songs from Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more. Lola always says: “If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.” Her granddaughter tucks these sounds and Lola’s wisdom deep within her heart. And when Lola starts slipping into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her.

Take a journey to Spring Canyon, Utah, a rural community full of friends and neighbors who love and help each other, even though they come from different cultural backgrounds and religions. Each day they face the prospect of losing a loved one to an unforeseen disaster, when a husband or son is mercilessly torn from a family. Yet they continue to struggle on, trying to improve their lives in spite of the hardships they face. Nels Henningson confronts this battle every day, trying to hold on to his family in spite of the severe stomach ulcers that wrench him with pain. When conflict arises in his brother’s family, the stress on his already-fragile stomach nearly takes his life. When two workers’ unions begin recruiting some of the people in the town, Nels is undecided as to which course he should pursue, especially since one of the unions appears to have ties to the communists. As a contentious spirit begins to divide friend against friend, the turmoil threatens to destroy their peaceful community. How will the Henningson children be affected by this turmoil as their friends are removed from their lives? Will Clara Belle be able to rise above the depression and darkness that has engulfed her for so many years? Is Grant’s and Joseph’s “harmless” prank going to be discovered and put them in jail? Is Rose Marie’s secret life going to tear her from the family? And what will happen to sweet Hanna who hovers near death from an epidemic illness? Through it all, the Henningsons and their friends will strive to find peace by Holding On to their faith and those things that matter the most. Readers have said: “From the opening page of Holding On I felt like I was traveling back in time and into the hearts and minds of the Henningson family. I especially enjoyed the depth and richness of the characters in the book. The dialogue is true-to-life, and I felt a true sense of what it was like to live in Spring Canyon. This is a part of Utah’s history that most people are probably not aware of. There has obviously been an incredible amount of research that went into a book like this, and the blending of history with an intriguing storyline made for a very satisfying read. Holding On is a beautifully written novel, and it stayed with me long after I put it down. I loved this book!” “This novel deeply touched me. I was moved to tears several times when I saw the joy that the characters experienced, in spite of the struggles they were enduring. The storyline was very captivating—it was hard to stop reading—with vivid characters that seemed as real as someone you would meet in real life in Spring Canyon. I also enjoyed the many important life lessons that were woven into the story, helping me in various trials and struggles that I face in my own life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.” “Lori Riddle captures well the flavor and spirit of the poignant struggles and joys of life in Spring Canyon. Her natural and effective dialogue brings her characters to life. This is a good read. I recommend it!” “Holding On is a compelling story of drama, tribulation, camaraderie and romance all rolled into one. I found myself literally absorbed into the Spring Canyon community as I connected with the characters and their difficult circumstances. This is truly a story you can curl up by the fire and enjoy!”

Harvard-trained psychologist and Psychology Today parenting expert Carl Pickhardt gives parents an eye-opening look at what to expect on rocky road of middle school and high school, revealing the Four Freedoms that every child must master to become a healthy adult--and how parents can adapt, encourage, and grow themselves during these tumultuous times. Parenting a teenager is not for the faint of heart. It is during these roller-coaster years that frustrated parents find themselves at their wits' end, barely even recognizing their offspring as they move through the teen years. Carl Pickhardt, Harvard-trained psychologist and the voice of reason behind Psychology Today's advice column, "Surviving (Your Child's) Adolescence," shares critical insights and practical tools that parents need to know as their children move through the teen years toward independence and adulthood. There's a reason the road is rocky--it's supposed to be. Children must pass through "four unfolding freedoms" in order to become competent, independent, and confident adults. How easily parents can navigate these twists and turns with less hand-holding, angst, and hitting the brakes directly correlates to how successful their children will be. The four unfolding freedoms are these: 1) freedom from rejection of childhood, around the late elementary school years, when they want to stop acting and being treated as children anymore. 2) freedom of association with peers, around the middle school years, when they want to form a second family of friends. 3) freedom for older experimentation, around the high school years, when they want to try more grown-up activities. 4) freedom to claim emancipation, around the college age years, when they decide to become their own ruling authority. With each successive push for freedom, both parents and teens need to learn how to do less holding on to each other while doing more letting go. Dr. Carl Pickhardt will show them the way with compassion, experience, and time-tested guidance.

Framing her own story of staggering loss and soaring hope with the biblical story of Job, Nancy Guthrie takes her fellow sufferers by the hand and guides them on a pathway through pain—straight to the heart of God. Holding on to Hope offers an uplifting perspective, not only for those experiencing monumental loss, but for anyone going through difficulty and failure. Includes a study section for readers who want to dig deeper into what the Bible says about dealing with suffering and grief. Additional sections include a Foreword by Anne Graham Lotz and a Resource section linking Scriptures with each chapter's lesson. Endorsements: “Only God could orchestrate such events. And only God could give the Guthrie family the faith and courage to live them. May he use this story to strengthen us all.”—Max Lucado “Nancy Guthrie's faith shines through some of the darkest clouds of human pain. This book and her story will touch your emotions and inspire your mind in an unforgettable way. Seldom will you read anything with such candor and insight, probing one of life's toughest questions: How can grief be a friend along life's journey?” —Ravi Zacharias “Holding on to Hope reads easy, runs deep, and enriches the heart! If you are stymied about God's goodness amidst life's heartaches, then this book's for you.”—Joni Eareckson Tada

Seventeen-year-old Rebecca lives in a world of romantic fantasy and hope. Dark secrets have stolen her voice and her happiness. Her ghosts tread cumbersome through the corridors of her sleep. With the arrival of her prince and his dog, Rebecca has an opportunity to leave behind a past of being subjected to the worst abuse and torment imaginable. The dark denizens of evil have an alternative agenda—to prolong her misery and pain. Can love win the battle? To do so, Rebecca is required to hold on to hope.

Suzanne Farrell, world-renowned ballerina, was one of George Balanchine's most celebrated muses and remains a legendary figure in the ballet world. This memoir, first published in 1990 and reissued with a new preface by the author, recounts Farrell's transformation from a young girl in Ohio dreaming of greatness to the realization of that dream on stages all over the world. Central to this transformation was her relationship with George Balanchine, who invited her to join the New York City Ballet in the fall of 1961 and was in turn inspired by her unique combination of musical, physical, and dramatic gifts. He created masterpieces for her in which the limits of ballet technique were expanded to a degree not seen before. By the time she retired from the stage in 1989, Farrell had achieved a career that is without precedent in the history of ballet. One third of her repertory of more than 100 ballets were composed expressly for her by such notable choreographers as Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Maurice Bejart. Farrell recalls professional and personal attachments and their attendant controversies with a down-to-earth frankness and common sense that complements the glories and mysteries of her artistic achievement.

April had the perfect family, children that loved her and a husband that adored her. Happy and grateful for the life they built together, one bad decision turns her world upside down. Just when she thinks things can't get any worse, she receives a letter that threatens to change life as she knows it, once again. Follow this incredible mother through her raw experiences with trauma. Admire the way she copes with her pain. Laugh with her humor and cry with her sorrow. This powerful story will surely tug at your heartstrings.

An honest romance and an empowering book about bullying --from the author of the City Love trilogy Noelle's life is all about survival. Even her best friend doesn't know how much she gets bullied, or the ways her mom neglects her. Noelle's kept so much about her life a secret for so long that when her longtime crush Julian Porter starts paying attention to her, she's terrified. Surely it's safer to stay hidden than to risk the pain of a broken heart. But when the antagonism of her classmates takes a dramatic turn, Noelle realizes it's time to stand up for herself--and for the love that keeps her holding on.