"Dreamers dream. Writers write." John Henry Redgate
Anne C. LeMieux
Award-winning Author
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Parents Choice Silver Honor Book
IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD...
New Young YA Novel by A.C. LeMieux
Sometimes a guy has a lot on his mind...
Gifted alto sax player Daniel James Durkin, Jr. faces some added freshman-year challenges at Stonebridge Regional High School as a twice-exceptional student born with a rare neurodevelopmental disability called Williams syndrome ("WS").
Daniel's WS superpowers include music, hyper-sensitive hearing, and empathy. His WS vulnerabilities include high anxiety, visual-spatial deficits, and other medical issues, like a heart that sometimes "hiccups" and feet so flat his doctor calls them "pedes pancakes"- not so great for the marching part of marching band. He gets by with a little help from his friends, especially artistic Phoebe Eagan, a "storybook-beautiful" new girl in town, and with some luck and courage from the Challenge Coin talisman that belonged to Captain Daniel James Durkin, Sr., his deceased dad.
From a distinctively Williams syndrome perspective, Daniel tells his story of navigating the public school ecosystem in two lanes-"SpEd" and "GenEd". While grappling with normal adolescent issues of identity and independence, he also has to hurdle obstacles to educational and social inclusion along the way. Daniel's first year in high school brings its share of joys and achievements, as well the shadow of chronic bullying by a long-time rival band member, that nearly results in tragedy.
PUBLISHED FICTION
DO ANGELS SING THE BLUES?
DO ANGELS SING THE BLUES?
by A.C. LeMieux
Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award 1995
Publishers Weekly Starred Review 1995
Kirkus Reviews Pointered Review 1995
"The relationship between Boog and Theo-best friends since childhood and co-founders of a blues band-undergoes changes during their senior year of high school when Theo falls in love. Book tells the story of these changes in a quiet and moving novel. Theo is a charismatic teenager, successful with music, school, and friendships, so it is a surprise to Boog when Theo falls in love with the enigmatic, withdrawn Carey. As the year progresses she becomes increasingly important to Theo, and he consistently chooses her over Boog and the band. The year ends in tragedy when Theo is accidentally killed as he crosses a highway. Boog is now forced to forgive Theo for cherishing Carey at the expense of other parts of his life and to forgive Carey for being the agent of change. Boog tells the story in the sometimes casual, sometimes intense, voice of a teenager. He and Theo are sympathetic, richly drawn characters with human complexities and frailties. LeMieux treats her theme with care in an emotional but never maudlin story of tragedy and growth." M.V. Knoth
(The Horn Book Magazine. November/December 1995.)
Re-Release Coming Soon!
With Bonus Prequel Short Story "JUST SAY..."
NONFICTION
Poetry - Essays - Articles
