Double Negative
C. Lee McKenzie
“My life was going, going, gone, and I hadn’t been laid yet. I couldn’t go into the slammer before that happened.” Hutch McQueen.
Sixteen-year-old Hutchinson McQueen is trapped between an abusive mother and an absentee father. Shackled by poor vision and poor reading skills, he squeaks through classes with his talent for eavesdropping and memorizing what he hears. After another suspension from school and suffering through one of his mother’s violent attacks, he escapes to a friend’s house that turns out to be a meth lab. The lab is raided and Hutch lands in juvenile detention. When the court sentences him to six months in a new juvenile program, he meets a teacher with Alzheimer’s who will change his life and hers.
About the Author
I’m a native Californian, and I live on the edge of a redwood forest with my husband and assorted cats. I’m down to one at the moment, but considering adopting. When I’m not writing or blogging I’m hiking or practicing yoga.
I wrote my first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, after reading a news article about “self-abuse” among ivy league students. It was so disturbing to think young people needed to inflict pain on themselves to cope with their lives that I finally had to write about it. It turned out to be a fictionalized account that I hope offers some insights into the growing problem. My second novel, The Princess of Las Pulgas, deals with a young girl and her family. They have everything and suddenly nothing. Alligators Overhead is my first try at a middle grade novel. It’s about magick and some uniquely talented alligators. It has garnered praise from readers, and Kirkus Reviews gave it the thumbs up for adventure and an entertaining read. Here’s what they said:
“McKenzie pens a swampy middle-grade story full of humor, hauntings, quirky characters and a mystery that continues to develop to the very end… A short, fun story that will excite both young and old imaginations.”
The Tour
December 1st
–Journey with Books >> Review
–Reading To Distraction >> Review
–FictionZeal.com >> Guest Post
–Loving the Language of Literacy >> Review
–Suzy Turner, YA Author >> Spotlight
December 2nd
–book boyfriend junkies >> Guest Post
–Archaeolibrarian – I dig good books! >> Review
–Girls With Books >> Excerpt
–Blissful Books >> Interview
December 3rd
–Mom With A Kindle >> Guest Post
–The Young Folks >> Review
–Contagious Reads >> Review
–lushbookreviews >> Guest Post
–Shayna Varadeaux Books & Reviews >> Review
December 4th
–SBM Book Obsession >> Excerpt
–Total Book Geek >> Review
–Sassy Divas Book Blog >> Review
–That Crazy Book Chick >> Review
December 5th
–Two Ends of the Pen >> Interview
–Crystal’s Many Reviewers >> Review
–We Stole Your Book BoyFriend >> Review
