Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
1 On Relationships
Starlight, Star Bright Kelly Garnett 2
Seven Minutes in Heaven Andrew Keegan as told to Kimberly Kirberger 5
Practical Application Dan Clark 8
A Geek, a Nerd, a Bookworm Kimberly Russell 9
My Angel Has a Halo Amanda Johnson 13
A Cool Drink of Water Camden Watts 15
Unrequited Love Rachel Rosenberg 18
Gray Constance Ananta Sobsey 23
Starting a New Path Jessie Braun 24
Discovery Eugene E. Beasley 28
Hopscotch and Tears Becca Woolf 31
Inside Melissa Collette 34
Lost Love Robby Smith as told to T. J. Lacey 36
Why Guys Like Girls Kimberly Kirberger 40
Love Is Never Lost David J. Murcott 43
David's Smile Cambra J. Cameron 46
2 On Friendship
The Rift Erica Thoits 50
The Right Thing Kelly Garnett 53
Donna and Claudia Carol Gallivan 57
A Friend for Life Jennifer Love Hewitt 62
Speechless Shawna Singh 64
I Need You Now Becky Tucker 70
Choices Alicia M. Boxler 71
Friends Forever Phyllis Lin 75
I Remember Gilbert April Joy Gazmen 78
The Tragic Reunion Amy Muscato 82
3 On Love and Kindness
Bobby, I'm Smiling E. Keenan 86
An A for Mrs. B Karina Snow 89
Kids Who Are Different Digby Wolfe 92
McDonald's Shelly Miller 93
A Valentine for Laura Don Caskey 95
A Simple Hello Katie E. Houston 97
Change for a Dollar Bonnie Maloney 98
My Friend Charley Robin Hyatt 100
My First Experience at Tasting the Raindrops Christy Clouse 102
So How Do You Boost an Ego? Kirk Hill 105
Losing an Enemy Patty Anne Sluys 108
Give Random Acts of Kindness a Try! Melissa Broeckelman 111
4 Tough Stuff
Losing Hope Heather Klassen 116
A Call for Help Jill Maxbauer 121
Tomorrow Came Again Ashley Hiser 124
It Happened to Me Joanie Twersky 126
Tell Me Why You Cry Nicole Rose Patridge 129
Nintendo Master Katie Gill 133
Already Perfect Elisa Donovan 135
My Toughest Decision Kristina Dulcey 139
It's Tough to Be a Teenager Tony Overman 141
Not Your Typical Prom Night Stacy Bennett 143
No Matter What Happens Alison Mary Forbes 146
Hero of the 'Hood Paula McDonald 148
Visionary Jason Leib 156
The Mom I Never Had Becka Allen 158
Good Night, Dad Luken Grace 161
5 On Family
Beautiful, She Said Jessica Gardner 166
Steeped with Meaning Daphna Renan 169
There Is an Oz Terri Cecil 171
A Father's Wish Kent Nerburn 175
Heartwood W. W. Meade 178
The Cheerleader Marsha Arons 184
The Bridge Between Verses Shashi Bhat 188
The Ones in Front of Me Lia Gay 19l
Role Reversal Adi Amar 193
Snowdrops Sarah McCann 197
My Most Memorable Christmas Reverend Robert Schuller 200
My Real Father Anonymous 203
Making Dad Proud Josh Nally 206
The Perfect Family Marc St. Pierre 209
6 Learning Lessons
Making Sarah Cry Cheryl L Costello-Forshey 214
The Wedding Ring Marsha Arons 218
Andrea's Fresh Start Peg Verone 222
A Lesson for Life Medard Laz 226
Remember Me? Ann Landers 228
A Wider Classroom Kate McMahon 230
The Bat Bryony Blackwood 232
The Player Kelly Garnett 233
The Porcelain Bride Doll Marsha Arons 237
Myself Peer Counsellor Workbook 241
Firmer Ground Diana Chapman 243
Love and Belonging T. J. Lacey 247
What I Wish I'd Known Sooner Meredith Rowe 252
My Most Embarrassing Moment Rochelle M. Pennington 258
Call Me Cindy Hamond 263
7 Making a Difference
For You, Dad Heather Metzger as told to Bill Holton 268
Somebody Loves You Wil Horneff 272
The Power of a Smile Susan Record 276
Pay Attention Dan Clark 279
Joe Camel Meladee McCarty 281
Anything Is Possible Jason Dorsey 283
A Challenge That I Overcame Arundel Hartman Bell 287
A Street Kid's Guide Jennings Michael Burch 289
Teenagers Today Kimberly Kirberger 293
An Open Heart Sandy Pathe 295
8 Growing Up
Wonder, to Me Jill Thieme 298
How Much Does It Cost? Margaret Hill 302
Image Isn't Everything Jamie Shockley 306
Hi There, Ugly! Greg Barker 310
Imprints Donna Miesbach 312
I Won't Be Left Behind Sara Nachtman 314
An Athlete's Prayer Sandy Dow Mapula 316
The Blank Page Jenni Norman 318
Who Is Jack Canfield? 321
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 322
Who Is Kimberly Kirberger? 323
Contributors 324
Permissions 336