101 Stories of Changes, Choices and Growing Up for Kids Ages 9-13 Read online

  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 Crav
it

  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.