Stay, Girl
By Angelica R. Jackson
Publisher: Crow & Pitcher Press
November 29, 2024
ISBN: 9798986272139
Women’s Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction
Who rescued who? In California’s Central Valley in 1953, the love of a neglected dog helps an abused girl find healing, and the caring family she never had.
Bet Carter’s stepfather is a conman with a history of violence, and he’s trying to force thirteen-year-old Bet into that life, too. His controlling ways make Bet’s world smaller every day, until the death of her ailing mother gives the girl an opportunity to flee to her Uncle Earl’s.
Bet only planned a quick stopover in Amberfields, but after her uncle welcomes her into his home, she keeps finding excuses to stay. Bet wants to help Uncle Earl’s foster dog, Penny, learn to trust again—but how can the girl mend Penny’s spirit when her own is so broken?
Joining a hilarious prank war with her new friend Georgie goes a long way to making Bet feel at home in Amberfields. As Bet’s emotional armor softens, along with her reasons to leave, she finally allows herself to dream bigger.
This heartfelt coming-of-age story will have you cheering for a girl whose determination and optimism help her rediscover the healing power of love.
Content guide: no dogs die, no romance/sex, no graphic abuse on page, includes family dysfunction, mention of drugs and alcohol
About the Author
Angelica R. Jackson, in keeping with her scattered Gemini nature, has published articles on gardening, natural history, web design, travel, hiking, and local history. Other interests include pets, reading, green living, and cooking for food allergies (the latter not necessarily by choice, but she’s come to terms with it). Ongoing projects include short fiction, poetry, novels, art photography, and children’s picture books.
She’s also been involved with capturing the restoration efforts for Preston Castle (formerly the Preston School of Industry) in photographs and can sometimes be found haunting its hallways. An incurable joiner, she is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (where she previously served as her region’s Illustrator Coordinator and Social Media Coordinator), and several other writing organizations.
She shares a home in California’s Gold Country with a husband, a Miniature Pinscher/Nibblonian mix, and far too many books (if that’s even possible). She is the author of the award-winning Faerie Crossed young adult urban fantasy series, and her photos are collected in Capturing The Castle: Images of Preston Castle (2006-2016)
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