Some stories don't just entertain - they remind you who you were.Two facts about Lake Los Angeles: one, there's no lake, and, two, it's nowhere near Los Angeles.
That's where Kiara ends up after her parents' divorce-in the middle of nowhere-a land of Joshua trees, dust devils, and tumbleweeds. Kiara's mom calls it affordable housing; Kiara calls it hell.
Growing up in the 1980s and 90s, Kiara drifts through life trying to please everyone-her mother who can't show affection, her brother who barely hides his contempt, and friends who aren't what they seem.
When she meets green-eyed Cole, she discovers the spark to seek out more from life.
Escaping the town that's suffocating her is Kiara's only option. But leaving means trusting herself and letting go of the things she's terrified of losing.
There is a life beyond the desert. Can she dare to dream a way out?
The first book in the Desert of Dreams Series - standalone stories connected by friendship, place, and the courage to overcome.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Tender, character-driven coming-of-age stories
- Nostalgic 1980s-1990s settings and small-town life
- Journeys of self-discovery and courage that linger after the last page
"a wonderful coming-of-age story... a powerful and very worthy read."- Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review)"exceptional... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights" - D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review"deeply compelling, moments of warmth and humor... a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope." - Publishers Weekly BookLifeBy award-winning author Amanda LaPera, whose books have earned Readers' Favorite 5-star reviews and BookLife Prize, IBPA Benjamin Franklin, and IAN Book-of-the-Year Awards recognition.
Content Warning: Different books in the Desert of Dreams Series address sensitive but important topics which may include bullying and peer pressure; troubled sibling relationships; struggling friendships and romantic relationships; divorce; religion; racism and classism; historical events of the late 1980s and 1990s; death; neglect and abuse (physical, emotional, and/or sexual); trauma (generational and situational); drugs, alcohol, and sex; teen pregnancy; abortion; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, and anxiety.
About the Author :
For thirteen years, Amanda LaPera grew up in the small rural community of Lake Los Angeles, where, much like her characters, she was disappointed to learn there wasn't a lake and everything she planted died. She and her friends survived, buoyed by resilience and determination. Now her hobbies include watching hummingbirds in her yard surrounded by trees, playing board games with her husband, taunting her sons, and appeasing her dogs. She has sworn off succulents, because she believes they belong in the desert. Amanda LaPera is a national award-winning author. Her book, Losing Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia: A Family's Search for Hope, won a Silver IBPA Award, was a BookLife Prize quarter finalist and a Readers' Favorite Awards finalist. Her sequel Finding Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia: An End to the Search was a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards. She teaches English and is a member of the California Writers Club and the Southern California Writers Association. She is working on her Desert of Dreams young adult series, set during the 1980s and 90s in the California High Desert. To be notified of new releases and special deals, sign up for her newsletter at www.amandalapera.com.
Review :
"...paints a raw and unfiltered picture of how treacherous adolescence can be... a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope."
- Publishers Weekly BookLife
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"a wonderful coming-of-age story...a thoughtful tale of personal agency and identity through amazing, emotional settings ... a powerful and very worthy read."
- Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review)
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"Filled with moments of daring, realization, transformation... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights."
- D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
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