When Monique isn’t writing, you can find her playing taxi driver to one or more of her 12 children, plotting her next novel, scrapbooking, or being the “Mamarazzi” at any number of child-oriented events.
Even though she realizes there will never be enough hours in any given day, Monique tries very hard to enjoy the journey that is her life. She shares it with a terrific husband, her dozen children, twelve grand-darlings, too many cats, and many real and imaginary friends. She is the author of several books in three series and hopes to write many more.
Putting her body in motion before her brain is in gear creates a mountain of problems for 12 year-old Ginnie West. She is certain that defending her twin brother, Toran, from the biggest bully in sixth grade was the right thing to do. But Ginnie couldn’t be more wrong.
She quickly figures out that Toran doesn’t appreciate being rescued by a girl any better than Pierce likes being knocked down by one. When Pierce seeks revenge on Ginnie, Toran sets aside his anger and helps her plot a playback prank at Pierce’s house.
Sadly, Ginnie learns that Pierce has a reason for being a bully when she sees his dad drop him to the floor like a ragdoll with one awful blow to the chest. Realizing he’s a boy in big trouble, Ginnie switches gears and decides to be his ally, even if he won’t let her be his friend.
What reviewers are saying about this book:
*Like Anne of “Anne of Green Gables,” Ginnie is a character you can’t help but love.
*I couldn’t put these books down. I was not only entertained, but inspired.
* An excellent book that deals with the sensitive topics of bullying, abuse and forgiveness. It is action packed and full of raw emotions.
*Bucheger does an amazing job of writing this story but without giving a cookie cutter answer to the problems Ginnie faces.
Top Ten List
Ten fun facts about the book: Trouble Blows West
1) Ginnie's teacher, Mrs. Johnson, is based on my high school creative writing
teacher, Mrs. Marion Joyce Johnson.
2) Mrs. Johnson, my teacher, is the mother of astronaut Gregory H. Johnson–
he piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavor twice.
3) Colonel Gregory H. Johnson read Trouble Blows West and wrote a Foreword
for it.
4) Heart of the Wests (Ginnie's home) is a real place in Ohio.
5) The blonde girl on the cover (Gracie–who is modeling for Ginnie) lives in the
real West Farmhouse.
6) The brunette girl on the cover (Jessie–who is modeling for Tillie)–is Gracie's
cousin in real life.
7) There are real goats, chickens, cattle, dogs, cats, turkeys, ducks on the real
West farm–but NO horses.
8) I spent a lot of time at the "real Wests" farm–as a teenager–babysitting the
kids that lived there–especially Gracie and Jessie's dads–and their aunt.
9) Gracie and Jessie's cousins grew up on a different farm I mention in the
books: Chandler's Crossing–Toran and Ginnie's friend, Austin's home.
10) I raised a lamb named Appomattox (because I was fascinated with the Civil
War) on the real West farm and showed it at the county fair as a teen.
ON THE WAY TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE:
When Tillie shook her head, returned the smile, and then rolled her eyes,
Ginnie knew she had done her job and reassured her best friend. She turned
back to Pierce.
His eyes bore through her. “This ain’t the end of this,” he hissed. His chin
wiggled as his face grew more purple, a bit like an eggplant, but not so
attractive. His cheeks were as wide as his face was long, like an overblown
balloon.
Ginnie whipped her head toward him, sending her blonde braids flying. “For
your sake, it better be, Pierce Owens, ’cuz there’s only two ways this ends. I
knock you on your can again or you beat up a girl. Neither way looks good—for
you.”
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