Teen Chronic Illness

Priya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease during her sophomore year sends her back to her loving but overbearing family in New Jersey. Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones”, a virtual support group for chronic illnesses. When Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that's shut in the basement.

So many teenagers today feel tired. Some causes of excessive tiredness, like lack of sleep and improper sleep hygiene, can be easy to remedy. However, other causes, like digestive problems, hormonal changes, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), may require more serious care. If your teen has been struggling with fatigue and lack of energy for months, you know it can be miserable. And discouraging. In Tired Teens, Dr. Fischer explains how to identify the warning signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue in teens.

Sara is a champion in the horse show ring…but can she conquer the obstacles of high school? Although Sara Mitchell is on her way to winning another championship jumping title with her flashy Appaloosa, Star, she’s plagued by feelings of inadequacy. Her self-doubt increases when, instead of making her popular as she hoped, becoming a cheerleader ends in disaster. Sara is then diagnosed with a chronic illness and her sense of not belonging skyrockets. Her illness also causes the end of a relationship with Travis, the only hot boy she’s ever dated. With Travis out of her life and illness...

Ellie Haycock has always separated her life into sections: Ellie at home and Ellie at the hospital. At home, Ellie is a proud member of her high school’s speech and debate team alongside her best friend and her boyfriend. At the hospital, Ellie has a team of doctors and a mom who won’t stop posting about the details of her illness online. It’s not hard for Ellie to choose which of the two she prefers. But this latest hospital stay is different.

Seventeen-year-old Arman Dukoff can't remember life without anxiety and chronic illness when he arrives at an expensive self-help retreat in the remote hills of Big Sur. He's taken a huge risk - and $2,000 from his meth-head stepfather - for a chance to "evolve", as Beau, the retreat leader, says. Beau is complicated. A father figure? A cult leader? A con man? Arman's not sure, but more than anyone he's ever met, Beau makes Arman feel something other than what he usually feels - worthless.

2023 FINALIST - AMERICAN WRITING AWARDS YOUNG ADULT - NONFICTION Congratulations to 16-year old author, Riley Boerger, for receiving the recognition of 2023 FINALIST - AMERICAN WRITING AWARDS, YOUNG ADULT - NONFICTION category for TWELVE SPOONS! Sixty-two doctor appointments, sixteen blood draws, one surgical procedure, and one hell of a story. Ruth Bilbruck, a normal girl living in a small town in Washington lived a normal television life. She went to school, had friends and hopes for the future. That all changed when Ruth started having sharp, stabbing pain in her hips. She traded in her ...

John Lynch was a promising athlete, but at age 11 was struck by a crippling illness. He was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (JA), a disease that affects 300,000 children, making them unable to live full-functioning, pain-free lives. John continued to seek new treatments, but not until age 53 was he given the “miracle drug” that enabled him to sustain a 30-year legal practice. During that time, he dedicated his life to helping others who suffered from JA and became a much-honored advocate for easing their distress.