My journey through faith was profoundly shaped by my father, whose colorful and varied career brought unique experiences into my life. From cooking in France, working at Universal Studios, developing real estate, to creating an Italian restaurant, my father’s career took us around the world, exposing me to adventures like tasting Szechuan rabbit heads and fried scorpions in China and exploring a decommissioned nuclear missile silo in Moscow. However, his most impactful gift was sending my brother and me to the Missouri Military Academy (MMA) in Mexico, Missouri, the summer I was twelve. This was no ordinary summer camp. At MMA, I faced rigorous military training: crawling under barbed wire, rappelling down 50-foot walls, and enduring homesickness that felt almost unbearable. It was in these moments of struggle that I found a deeper understanding of God’s presence in my life.
Throughout my life, it hasn’t been the amazing moments that have taught me God’s glory, but rather the harsh and arduous obstacles I’ve encountered. I believe struggle is the key to developing both as a person and growing spiritually. MMA represented the greatest challenge of my young life, and through this trial, I grew tremendously—both spiritually and in understanding myself as a young man. In Murky Waters, I recount my transformative experience at MMA, where I navigated the emotional and physical demands of military life. Through the friendships I forged and the moments of deep reflection, I discovered that faith, resilience, and God’s love can help overcome even the greatest obstacles. My story explores how the toughest trials can bring about the greatest growth, revealing the power of spirituality in times of struggle.
2024 CIBA Gertrude Warner Book Awards Grand Prize Winner for Middle Grade Fiction
Amazon #1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen
A “moving, empathetic must-read about growing up and discovering what matters.” -BookLife by Publishers
Weekly Editor’s Pick” An] accomplished work that packs a big emotional punch…” -Readers’ Favorite”
…emotively captures the struggles of a young teen as she tries to find a place that feels like home…” –IndieReader, IR Approved
Welcome to Bainbridge Avenue, where fourteen-year-old Vicki’s life takes a bumpy turn. She’s got a lot on her plate-sharing a cramped room with her siblings, worrying about her mom who can’t catch a break, and dreaming about a dad who’s nowhere to be found.
But things start to change when Vicki meets Rosa from Apartment 1A, who introduces her to the building’s basement, a hidden world full of forgotten stories and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
As Vicki sets out beyond her neighborhood, searching for her place in the world, she wonders if the imperfect family and friends she has on Bainbridge Avenue might just be the treasures she’s been looking for all along. Join her on a journey of hope, heartache, and unexpected discoveries in Back to Bainbridge.
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