Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul
What People Are Saying About
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul . . .
“As stars are to the night sky, there are many solutions to problems. I enjoyed Preteen Soul because it is a great way to look at life from someone else’s point of view.”
Brittany Grams, twelve
“One story was so funny that my friend almost fell out of his chair because he was laughing so hard.”
Eric Dobson, ten
“The preteen years can be a complicated and exciting time and a soul can get confused and lonely . . . Chicken Soup to the rescue. Once again, Chicken Soup comes through like the emotional remedy it’s been proven to be. These are the topics that kids care about, written in a way that makes them think and feel. Preteen Soul makes it easier for me to talk to my kids about the things I value most.”
Leeza Gibbons
CEO, Leeza Gibbons Enterprises
“All of the stories were enjoyable and different. Just about every story had a problem and solution. They were exciting and interesting. I think every kid should read Preteen Soul.”
Josh Acosta, eleven
“Exactly the inspiration, real-life stories and perspective that preteens need to shape their world.”
Jason Dorsey
founder, Institute to End School Violence
author, Can Students End School Violence? Solutions from
America’s Youth
“The stories were funny. They were the best out of all the other books I have read. All of them were true—nothing was fake. The people really did those funny things.”
Luis Villa, ten
“My classmates and I evaluated the stories that were considered for Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. It was amazing. The writers told us about times when they felt happy, sad and mad. We could all relate because the stories are all real.”
Marisa Cottam, ten
“Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul is filled with priceless stories that reveal that kids can do big things. As these stories are shared worldwide, they will empower and inspire young people to be sensitive and caring global citizens.”
Yvonne Marie Andres
founder, Global Schoolhouse at Lightspan.com
“The emotions of other kids taught me many unforgettable lessons about the hard things kids go through in life and the good things that kids go through, too.”
Sabrina Turin, eleven
“Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul is terrific. Encouraging, inspiring and a tremendous resource for kids, this book teaches with a variety of situations that every kid can relate to or learn from. Growing up is tough . . . this Chicken Soup will make it easier. I can’t wait to pass this book along.”
Jon Wagner-Holtz, eighteen
founder, Kids Konnected
CHICKEN SOUP
FOR THE
PRETEEN SOUL
101 Stories of Changes,
Choices and Growing Up for
Kids Ages 9–13
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Patty Hansen
Irene Dunlap
Health Communications, Inc.
Deerfield Beach, Florida
www.hcibooks.com
www.chickensoup.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chicken soup for the preteen soul : 101 stories of changes, choices, and growing up for kids ages 9 to 12 / [compiled by] Jack Canfield ... [et al.].
p. cm
ISBN-13: 978-1-55874-800-2 (trade paper)
ISBN-10: 1-55874-800-8 (trade paper)
ISBN-13: 978-1-55874-801-9 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-55874-801-6 (hardcover)
1. Preteens—Conduct of life—Juvenile literature. [1. Conduct of life.] I. Canfield, Jack, date.
BJ1631 .C465 2000
158.1'28—dc21
00-044897
© 2000 John T. Canfield and Hansen and Hansen LLC
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.
Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
R-10-07
Cover illustration by Danny Cannizzaro, age fifteen, Orange County High School of the Arts.
Typesetting by Lawna Patterson Oldfield
To those who read
Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul
and were inspired enough to
request a follow-up book—
we dedicate Preteen Soul!
And to our own kids
who know what it’s like to be a preteen:
Christopher, Liz, Melanie,
Marleigh and Weston.
We will love you through every stage
of your lives.
THE FAMILY CIRCUS® By Bil Keane
“I’ll be glad when my voice changes. Maybe somebody will listen to me then.”
Reprinted by permission of Bil Keane.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Share with Us
1. ACHIEVING DREAMS
Where in the World Is Carmen? Marieta Irwin
Trash Bags Are for Trash Makenzie Snyder
Run with It Susan Overton
The Back of David’s Head Mary Ellyn Sandford
Going to the Dogs Stephanie Taylor
If I Could Change the World for the Better, I Would . . . *NSYNC and Friends
A Run to Remember Barbara L. Glenn
Shining Down Michael Kavalinas as told by Monte Stewart
Dreams Ryan Kelly
2. ON FRIENDSHIP
The Forgotten Friend Judith Burnett Schneider
Backfire! Lou Kassem
Best Friends Whitney M. Baldwin
My Best Enemy Dakota Lane
Heaven Sent Beverley Mitchell
Keeping in Touch Emily Burton
My Big Solo Cynthia Marie Hamond
Now You See It, Now You Don’t Anne McCourtie
3. ON FAMILY
Hey, Remember When? Kyle Brown
Families That Care, Care About Families Rachelle P. Castor
Together, We Can Do Anything Jarod Larson
Gains and Losses Xiao Xi Zhang
Forever Garrett Mia Hamm
Supper David Barbara Lage
I Flushed It Pier Novelli
This Old Chair Christa Holder Ocker
Mom Apryl Anderson
4. ON LOVE
Bobby Lee Daphne M. Orenshein
Love Lives On Laurie Hartman
Dusty, the Wonder Dog Mary Saracino
The Teacher Who Cared Courtni Calhoun
The Act of Love Kathy Kemmer Pyron
Cry When You Are Sad Jonathan Piccirillo
Only Love Lasts Forever Denise and Rett Ackart
The Reason for Living Lauren Elizabeth Holden
5. ON DEATH AND DYING
April Morning Justin Day
Ryan’s Story Kelli Frusher
I’ll Never Forget Him Megan Weaver
An Angel in Disguise Megan Jennings
My Little Superman KeriAnne McCaffrey
Don’t Forget to Say I Love You Nicole Fortuna
Grandma’s Cloud Game Nadine Rogers
Mr. Oberley’s Star Cynthia Ross Cravit
Life Is Short Scott Klinger
In Every Thought Leslie Miller
6
. ON ATTITUDE AND PERSPECTIVE
Big at Heart Mark Schulle as told by Bunny Schulle
The Best Christmas I Never Had MaryJanice Davidson
The Hidden Treasure Debbie King as told by Ashley King
The Snow Angel Christine Fishlinger
You’ll Be Good for Him Eugene Gagliano
Scott David Ferino
Adam’s Apples Kim Aaron
Who Said There’s No Crying in Softball? Amy Severns
The Yellow Piece of Paper Lauren Thorbjornsen
Hard Work Pays Off Karl Malone
7. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Annie Wiggle-Do Kathleen M. Muldoon
Two Percent Is Enough Krissy Creager
The First Day of Middle School Patty Hansen
Perfect, I’m Not Julia Wasson Render
Rediscovery Raegan Baker
A Little Coaching Noah Edelson
The Last Runner Lisa Beach
The Power of the Pen Arlys Angelique Endres as told by Carol Osman Brown
Tough, Sturdy and Triumphant Elijah Shoesmith
8. ON CHOICES
Forever Stay in My Heart Jillian Eide
Two Tickets to the Big Game J. Styron Madsen
Fireplug and Dad Rusty Fischer
Nice Catch! Doris Canner
The Gorilla Syndrome Elizabeth J. Schmeidler
Just Desserts Beverly Spooner
A Chicken-Noodle-Soup Day Donna Beveridge
Everything Will Be Okay James Howe
A Silent Voice David R. Collins
Walking with Grandpa Uncle Greg
9. ON TOUGH STUFF
Kelsey Shane Ruwe
Losing Mom Diana Carson
Celebrate the Good Days Leslie Beck
Think Before You Act Lauren Wheeler
Getting Better Tiffany Jacques
For the Best April Townsend
A Smile Can Save a Life Jason R. Dorsey
My One Regret Angelia Lee Swift
The Perfect Figure Nikki Yargar
Pale Dawn of a New Day Katherine Ackerman
10. ON CHANGES
My Very First Kiss Patty Hansen
A Life Once Lived Brandi Bacon
Papa Brian Normandin as told by Mary Normandin
Taking a Stand Irene Dunlap
Loving Equally Nicole Peters
Just Do It! Son Truong Nguyen
I Love You, Lindsey Lindsey Rawson
My Best Friend Tamera Collins
You Know You’re Growing Up When . . . Multiple Authors
11. ECLECTIC WISDOM
Redsy Barry Fireman
Tippy Christine Armstrong
What’s a Miracle, Granddad? Lew Talmadge
Never Put Rocks in Your Mouth Shirley Barone Craddock
The Moment I Knew I’d Never Be Cool D. Marie O’Keefe
Lost Casey Veronie
Kindness Is a Simple Gift Michael Oknefski
Our Christmas Secret Lori Menning
What I’ve Learned So Far Multiple Authors
Afterword: The End Paige Holland
More Chicken Soup?
Supporting Preteens
Who Is Jack Canfield?
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?
Who Is Patty Hansen?
Who Is Irene Dunlap?
Contributors
Permissions
Foreword
This is real life—in a book.
Y’all know that life may not be perfect, right? But no matter how complicated or challenging life might be for you, you are one of the blessed and lucky ones! From this point on, you have a manual for life!
Finding out what others have gone through during their preteen years can help you realize that you’re not alone and maybe even keep you from going through the same things. Be open-minded enough to let their experiences help make your transition into teenage-hood a smoother one. At least this way you’ll have some shortcuts!
Be kind to others, even the people who you may not like. You might find that they’re dealing with the same stuff as you. Remember that everyone has something to offer to this world.
Above all, go for your dreams. The world will be a better place when you give life your best and follow your heart.
God Bless,
Kenan Thompson
Film and television actor
Acknowledgments
We are deeply grateful for the many hands and hearts that have made this book possible.
Our very special thanks to Gina Romanello for being the glue that enabled the progress of this book to go so smoothly. You masterfully juggled all of the components of our Preteen Soul book production and made it look so easy. You’re a pro, Gina. Thanks for your dedication. We love you.
To Maria Nickless, thank you for your ingenious promotions and your dedication to making the world a better place for kids.
To Brittany Shaw, researcher extraordinaire and paparazzi queen, you have added an element of fun and excellence to our office. Your efforts to contribute to the world in a positive way are apparent every day.
To DeeDee Romanello, thanks for your ongoing support. Your meticulous bookkeeping keeps Patty on track so she can concentrate on the five thousand daily items she routinely needs to address.
To Joy Pieterse for your cheerful disposition, your loving heart and all the support that you give to Patty and the kids. You are such a blessing.
We thank our kids—Christopher Canfield, Marleigh and Weston Dunlap, and Liz and Melanie Hansen—for supporting us in making the world a better place for all kids. To Kent Dunlap for believing in our projects and being there for Irene and the kids. To Angela Jack, thanks for your constant love and support. To Eva Espinosa for holding down the Hansen fort, and for tuna sandwiches whenever it appears that we might all starve!
After Kid’s Soul came out, we received more than five thousand submissions from all over the world for this book. We looked very seriously at 225 stories then put them to the ultimate test: to be read by hundreds of discerning kids and preteens. The efforts of teachers and their students from all over the country were invaluable. They read and evaluated each story with honesty and a commitment to helping make the best book possible for their peers.
They were: Kerri Merrit and Gayle McGehee of North Side School and their third-grade classes; Marilynn O’Dowd of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea; Karen Risch of Greenport Elementary; Erin Oechsle of Perry Hill Elementary and their fourth-grade classes; Mike LaMoine of West Elementary and his fifth-grade class; Laura McDiarmid and Wendy Hearn of Oak Middle School; Linda Spreitzer of Conrad Ball Middle School; Noelle Swanson of Jefferson Middle School and their sixth-grade classes; Donna Thompson (we still love you, Donna!) of Riverchase Middle School and her sixth- and seventh-grade classes; Mary Greenlaw of Hartland Elementary and her fifth- and seventh-grade classes; Jackie Wiseman and Jackie Scott of Kaiser Elementary and their fifth- and sixth-grade classes; Melissa Voss and Kathy George of Anthony Wayne Junior High School and their seventh-grade classes; Patricia Krause and Mary J. Mayne of Doherty Elementary and their fourth- and fifth-grade classes; teachers and students at Woodbine Elementary School; Sara Glass of Stanley Stern’s eighth-grade class; and to Dierdre, Jessica and Michael Moore who participated in their home-school setting.