NEW SERIES
Read Individual Stand-Alone Books OR Full Series?
The Way I See It Books
So what? Why should I care about your life if it doesn’t have to do with mine? To be real, you don’t have a clue on how bad it can get. As their world falls apart, the teens from Hancock High find that truth is not always clear. Will they be ready to accept help from the most unexpected places?
Ozzie – Book 1
“In the interactions of these various characters, Tillit effectively addresses such issues as bigotry, homelessness, and mental health . . . Over the course of this novel, Tillit deftly weaves a story of hope into an account of typical high school challenges . . . Overall, the story is engaging without being preachy, which will appeal to many YA readers . . . A thoughtful tale of finding hope amid life’s trials.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Ozzie believes if he ignores all the voices in his head then he’ll make it. He’ll be what everyone expects him to be: Hancock High’s football all-star. But when the chance comes for him to prove who he really is, he becomes numb and doesn’t care about who may be hurt, as long as the comments don’t attack him. But Ozzie’s silence begins to impact those around him. As Ozzie’s world begins to fall apart, the voices in his head remain strong. If he takes a stand for anything, will it even matter? Or worse, if he does speak, will he cause more harm than good?
- Lexile Level: HL580L
- Interest Level: Young Adult
- ISBN: 978-1-7352642-1-9
Deals with mental health/suicidal thoughts / Confronts harassment / Touches on racism and stereotyping / Encourages self-reflection / Provides homelessness awareness / Broadens viewpoints while providing hope
Order The Way I See It: Ozzie by L. B. Tillit
Zonta – Book 2
by L. B. Tillit
“. . . effectively captures Zonta’s struggles, and her frustration at being misunderstood is palpable . . .”
— Kirkus Reviews
Full Review
Just deal with it! It’s part of growing up. It’s the way guys are! Zonta tries to blow off the unwanted attention that is thrown her way. But it’s not working. Zonta is tired of being nice! It doesn’t matter how polite she is, or how hard she tries, she still feels alone. And if that wasn’t enough, every time she tries to explain herself or her thoughts, she ends up feeling dumb. She tries to do what is right, what is expected, but it only makes things worse. Is there really no one who cares enough to help? Is there no one who gets her?
- Lexile Level: HL570L
- Interest Level: Young Adult
- ISBN: 978-1-7352642-2-6
Empowers resistance to sexual harassment / Addresses impact of ADHD / Dives into the need to be heard/taken seriously / Introduces role of self-defense / Touches on bi-racial upbringing / Underscores the importance of healthy friendships
Order Order The Way I See It: Zonta by L. B. Tillit
Blake – Book 3
by L. B. Tillit
“ . . . an issue-driven story that ably grapples with the harsh realities of adolescence.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Full Review
Blake has a secret – a secret his mother has asked him not to share. If Blake can act normal, then no one will treat him differently. But Blake can’t shake the way others view him after the racist comments he made months earlier. To make things worse, fallout from a terrible attack on a student in his school turns his world upside down. Suddenly alone, Blake has only one hope left: wrestling. Can he win back his friends? Will people even believe his side of the story? Will his secret be safe, or should he defy his mother and let people know who he really is? As Blake faces his fears, he must also find a way to face his best friend who is suddenly his worst enemy.
- Lexile Level: HL590L
- Interest Level: Young Adult
- ISBN: 978-1-7352642-3-3
Dives into the neurodivergent mind of someone with Autism / Addresses the destructive force of bullying and peer pressure / Introduces low-income family dynamics, strengths, and challenges / Embraces uniqueness and celebrates differences / Focuses on building healthy friendships
Order The Way I See It: Blake by L. B. Tillit
Emma – Book 4
by L. B. Tillit
Emma is pissed at the world. She has to be perfect, like her brother. But she won’t! She can’t be! Emma finds a reason to dislike most people. Yet, she is drawn to Blake, someone she used to hate. Without thinking it through she finds herself at the wrestling championship, hoping Blake feels the same way. But his world is very different from hers and she begins to wonder what she is doing. Her best friend, Billy, pushes Emma to look at why she makes bad choices. Emma refuses to listen to Billy and wrestles with a dark family secret as her anger spirals out of control.
- Lexile Level: HL570L
- Interest Level: Young Adult
- ISBN: 978-1-7352642-4-0
Provides an Asian- American perspective / Deals with anger and judgment / Faces stereotyping and racism / Embraces differences between cultures / Addresses academic struggles / Provides homelessness awareness / Broadens viewpoints
Order The Way I See It: Emma by L. B. Tillit
Mateo – Book 5
by L. B. Tillit
Don’t draw attention to yourself! Blend in and stay quiet. It is how Mateo has been raised. Being chill and a loner at Hancock High has become his identity. But he is tired of it! He knows he needs to protect his community, but does that mean he should remain silent when something is clearly wrong? He knows that if he speaks out then people could be hurt. But if he doesn’t do something, someone he really cares about may continue to suffer. He hates that he can’t help his friend, but he doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know who to turn to. Who can he trust? He holds onto the one thing that he does best, sing and shred his guitar. Mateo dives into his music, a safe place, a place where he can stand out and not worry. But when his rock band faces their first battle of the bands, Mateo has to face reality. He can no longer stay quiet.
- Lexile Level: HL570L
- Interest Level: Young Adult
- ISBN: 978-1-7352642-5-7
Provides a Mexican-American perspective / Touches on challenges immigrants face / Reveals struggles with fighting injustice / Faces stereotyping and racism / Addresses physical abuse / Focuses on building healthy friendships / Broadens viewpoints while embracing diversity
Order The Way I See It: Mateo by L. B. Tillit
Lilly – Book 6
by L. B. Tillit
Survive! That is all that Lilly must do. Spring Break leaves Lilly with no place to sleep and no place to shower. She does not feel safe at home—never has. But telling her friends is not an option. She doesn’t want judgment or pity—she will not feel ashamed of her circumstances or her choices! Surviving hour by hour is nothing new to Lilly. When she finally thinks she has it figured out, her plans fall apart. Torn between relying only on herself or daring to trust others, Lilly begins to lean into those who offer her a lifeline. But how long will it last?
Provides insight into teen homelessness and hunger, navigates the complexity of building trust, addresses the challenges of survival, touches on the impact of adult substance abuse, underscores the importance of healthy friendships, dives into differing perspectives, challenges stereotyping, discusses the value of resources, offers hope.
- Lexile Level: HL670L
- Interest Level: Young Adult
- ISBN: 978-1-7352642-6-4
Order The Way I See It: Lilly by L. B. Tillit
Read Individual Stand-Alone Books OR Full Series?
Benefits to reading the books as a stand-alone:
• Able to pick a book or topic of interest.
• Still enjoy a complete story line.
Benefits to reading the books as a series:
• Experience variety of perspectives.
• Gain deeper understanding of the plot lines.
Published by My Easy Read Books™
