In Leah's Wake

Their intentions, however misguided at times, had always been good. Stereotypes lead us to believe that teenage rebellion is produced by single parent homes or other variations of dysfunctional families. But in In Leah's Wake, Zoe and Will Tyler are both two hardworking parents that love their two daughters fiercely. But even that doesn't stop their Leah Tyler from attempting to break free and make it on her own. If there's one thing we can learn something from In Leah's Wake, is that there is no formula for rebellion. A home with two working parents with great intentions can still produce rebellion. A girl with great grades, athletic talent, scholarships on the table and other variables that point towards a great future can still be jeopardy. Her boyfriend is bad news and everyone but Leah can see this. Through, smoking, experimenting with drugs and skipping classes, Leah goes down a spiral that destroys everything she s ever worked for. It even threatens to destroy her family. I strongly recommend In Leah's Wake This is a story that will stay with you for days and weeks. The no, not my daughter idea will be stripped away forever. It's also a reminder that when one daughter goes astray, we must never forget about the other children. The Tylers are the average family with two hard working parents and younger a sister that adores the eldest. They could be the family next door. They could even be your own. You'll want to round up this family and help them out. You'll want to force feed Leah some common sense. You'll be hooked with In Leah's Wake. Radical Parenting, the award-winning parenting blog written by teens

"In this story of a talented teenager rejecting her golden future, Terri Long accomplishes something quite extraordinary. She manages to write with equal empathy about both Leah and her parents and in so doing creates a powerful and intimate portrait of a family in disarray. I felt I knew these characters better than my friends and neighbors. In Leah's Wake is a beautifully written and absorbing novel." Margot Livesey, Author of Banishing Verona and Eva Moves the Furniture

Terri Long's accomplished first novel takes the reader on a passionate roller-coaster ride through contemporary parenthood and marriage. It's sometimes scary, sometimes sad, and always tender. Susan Straight, National Book Award finalist and author of Take One Candle Light a Room and Highwire Moon

The Tyler family had the perfect life — until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore.

As Leah's rebellion escalates, her parents, Zoe and Will, wage a desperate battle to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future. Meanwhile, her younger sister, Justine, must bear the burden of coping with the destruction her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake.

In Cortland, Massachusetts, where money and image reign supreme, the Tylers, once town royalty, soon find themselves isolated, the subject of vicious gossip and speculation. Jerry Johnson, the townie-turned-town-cop who intervenes, may be the only person in town who instinctively understands Dostoevsky's conviction, that "everyone is responsible to all men and for all men and for everything."

This mesmerizing debut novel tells the tale of a contemporary American family caught in the throes of adolescent rebellion — a heartbreaking, funny, ultimately redemptive quest for love, independence, connection and grace.

Terri has written news and feature articles for local and regional newspapers, edited articles for business and technical journals, and written print and Web copy for marketing, advertising and public relations. She has taught writing at Boston College since 1996.