Guest Author - Paula Petrie

I have uncovered a new and interesting adolescent book choice. "Ryan, Me, and the Mysterious Book," deals with 'tween peer issues. Author, Nicole Rocheleau, examines how to be a friend and the pressures and insecurities kids face in Junior High.

Nicole asks, “Does Your Child Know How to be A Good Friend? Friendship is such an important element of childhood," says Rocheleau. "But nowadays, many kids feel pressured to choose their friends based on things like who has the best clothes or the most video games, instead of on the core values of trust, concern and understanding. That's why I want to offer books with a positive message, where the main characters have a deep platonic bond that will hopefully inspire other kids to develop strong friendships and to treat each other with concern and affection."

Friendships are necessary for a child's emotional development according to the NYU Child Study Center. The Center cites research that demonstrates how children with friends have better self-esteem and a better sense of well-being. The research also shows that children who have friends have fewer social problems as adults.

Rocheleau is a firm believer in the overall benefits of close childhood friendships. Her goal is to steer kids away from negativity and encourage them to slow down, enjoy their friends and enjoy their childhood. She hopes more parents will nudge their kids in a direction that focuses on reading books with upbeat and fun-loving characters.

"So many books for kids in the 'tween age group feature characters who've been dealt a tragic blow," says Rocheleau. "That can be frightening for kids and I want to introduce them to kids that they can relate to; kids that they could picture themselves hanging around with after school."

That desire led Rocheleau to start writing the Emmy Bolan series. Emmy is a middle-school student whose family is loving, supportive, and quite often laughing about Emmy's latest mishap.

The second installment in the series, Ryan, Me, and the Mysterious Book is a tale of good, clean fun, with a mysterious twist. The story is told from the perspective of 12-year-old Emmy Bolan. Smart, funny and often getting herself into embarrassing situations, Emmy and her best friend Ryan are inseparable. Together they face typical middle school dilemmas, like how to handle a rival student who's out to make trouble for Emmy. But they also find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves an unusual bookstore and a magical book.

Rocheleau is currently writing the third and fourth installments in the Emmy Bolan series. My kids, aged 10-14, all enjoyed this book, and look forward to the next.