Guest Blogger Susannah Harris is the manager of AdLit.org, a national multimedia initiative offering resources to the parents and educators of struggling readers and writers in grades 4-12. Susannah has been a tutor herself for more than 16 years working with a range of organizations including The Higher Achievement Program and Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, She is the Volunteer Coordinator for The Community Club, a tutoring program serving middle and high schools students in Washington, D.C.
Yesterday, President Barack Obama reminded us in his inaugural address that “we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
To encourage teens and at-risk youth to make healthy, productive choices for themselves, AdLit.org, the National Education Association (NEA) and award-winning young adult author Walter Dean Myers have launched the Second Chance Initiative, The initiative is centered around Myers’ new book Dope Sick, which stretches the boundaries of realism to bring forth a tale of second chances, redemption, and the promise of hope.
In Dope Sick, Lil J has lived through the layers of pain that are so difficult for inner-city youngsters to transcend and has been exposed to an astonishing array of drugs. His path from “brokesick” to “dopesick” leads to a drug deal gone bad and a shot undercover cop. Lil J suddenly finds himself in an abandoned crack house with a bullet wound to the arm. He would do anything to change the last 24 hours. That possibility becomes real when he stumbles into Kelly, who is set up in front of a TV set with remote control, ready to provide Lil J the opportunity to assess and confront his own existence and ultimately, a chance to change the direction of his life.
The first three chapters of Dope Sick are available for download from AdLit.org now, and from February 10-24, the entire book will be available for free online reading on HarperCollins’ website.
Visit AdLit.org for the following additional resources to promote meaningful discussions with the teens in your life:
- The first three chapters of Dope Sick
- An interview with award-winning author Walter Dean Myers
- A Dope Sick Reading Guide with writing activities and discussion questions
- Resources on preventing substance abuse, teen pregnancy and high school dropouts.
- Resources to strengthen school and family partnerships to support young people.
- A flier to help spread the word