People often say that silence is golden. In certain cases, it is. But when someone is suffering from an eating disorder, silence can lead them down a dark and isolated path. A young woman named Skylar has found herself on this path. As she strives to find her guiding light, she is weighed down by worry and self-doubt. She reaches out to her mother for help, but her mother refuses and misery takes … takes Skylar’s hand instead. She finds herself losing her sense of direction in life, her last shred of happiness, her soul. But hope is not lost. Skylar seeks treatment and is rewarded with newfound family and friends. They are the first crucial step to her long recovery, and fill her with the determination she needs to reach her full potential. With newfound confidence, Skylar digs deep to find her true purpose in life.
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bookclub-19
This book is my life. This book told my story. As a teenager, people do not understand how much pressure we are under. People do not understand what we go through. I love this book so much. I cried, laughed, and I had a good time reading this book. It brought so much clarity into my life. I love me some Skyer because she rocks! Eating disorders are serious and not too many people take it seriously enough. I loved this book so so so so so so so so much!
It is amazing how a book help opens your eyes. It brought my girls and me closer! I love my girls!
BTW: bookclub-19 I have a confession to make. I finished the book before you all did. I had to find out what happened! Sorry, but not sorry. Love you all much!
Bookclub-19
Skyler is brave and she is courageous. I love this book so much. I had an eating disorder. This book gave me the courage to tell my friends and parents. I loved Skyler because I always wonder was I alone with my thoughts and desperately yearning for love from my mom. The author wrote my story. My dad and I are close, but my mom pushed me to an eating disorder because she always talked about my weight. Just like Skyler, I felt like I didn’t need anyone, but I did. I needed love and for someone to care for. This book is the story of my life! I love this book so much! I laughed, cried and cried, yelled, scream, and before this book I didn’t know how to say what I felt and now I am free! Please read this book! It is a wonderful read and it will change your life! I wish our school would give us wonderful books like this to read! Life-changing!
#bookblub-19
My girls and I are writing reviews today about Charlena E. Jackson’s books (well the ones we read so far). First, I want to say ALL of Charlena E. Jackson’s books are very insightful, speak the truth, and about the reality of life! I think all young girls, teens, young adults, and college-age girls should read the books we are writing reviews for tonight. We read In Love with Blindfolds On first, and we loved it! Then we went down the line and read Dying on the Inside and Suffocating on the Outside (which was a wonderful read!), Unapologetic for my Flaws, and All 2nd (make sure you read the 2nd ed because it has more to give than the 1st edition, and the quotes in the 2nd ed are AMAZING!), A Woman’s Love is Never Good Enough 2nd ed (make sure you read the 2nd edition!), and Dear Fathers of the Fatherless Children.
**Note we are in the process of reading I am Speaking Up but You’re Not Listening 2nd edition, then Teachers Just Don’t Understand Teachers Hurt 2nd ed (I know it’s a kid’s book but I cannot wait to read it!)
In Love with Blindfolds On: Was a FANTASTIC read! It kept me on the edge of my toes. I must say, I read ahead of my girls because I wanted to know what happened next! Ryder was on a roller coaster ride, and honey, you went through so much, she never had sweet dreams when it came to Tee. I love how the author speaks the reality of a domestic young violent relationship. She made this book come to LIFE!. This is a MUST-READ NOW! Too many young teenagers are falling down the rabbit hole of love.
Dying on the Inside and Suffocating on the Outside: Interesting read! I never read a book about a teen eating disorder. I use to be a teenager who had an eating disorder and I wish I had this book years ago. This book is profound and a MUST-READ for people who are facing and battling an eating disorder. Poor, Sklyer when through it, and it wasn’t easy at all. However, she transformed slowly, but surely… I loved this book so much because it was my story!
Unapologetic for my Flaws and All 2nd ed- My, my, my, this book is for ALL girls and all ages because it is a POWERFUL read! It touched on all kinds of topics and issues teenagers go through, and I loved this book so much! I think ALL school (middle 8th graders- the high schoolers should be mandatory to read this book! It would help a LOT of girls learn how to speak their truth!
A Woman’s Love is Never Good Enough 2nd ed: The author told many of her personal stories and it helped me to want to not make the same mistakes as she did, and it opened my eyes to see that not everyone is for me, It really helped me at a young age to know that I need to put myself first and it is okay to give myself self-love. I loved this book so much because the author was bold to talk about her life, but she wrote it in a way as if she was telling her readers to be cautious because regardless of what you do for others as a woman most of the time it will never be good enough! I love this book is my woman’s bible!
Dear Father of the Fatherless Children: Helped me as a teenager without a father in my life. I was reading how I felt, and my heart desires. This book helped me to forgive and move on. I was very emotional reading this book. I loved every single chapter! A must-read for everyone without a father in their life. It would help you move on because life is meant to be lived!
If Charlena E. Jackson read her reviews I want you to know you saved my life in so many ways. I appreciate you.
We have to want to help outselves first! I loved this book because I’ve been there and done that. I had an eating disorder and it was really bad. I didn’t know if I was going to live or die. As a matter of fact, at that time I didn’t care if I lived or died. There have been times when I feel like now I am still big and overweight, but you know after reading this book my mind changed. I love me for me. I love the skin I am in. When I feel like I am slipping this will be my go-to book for courage and strength. love love love this book!
Dying on the Inside and Suffocating on the Outside woke me up! Just as the other reviewers I too was like OMG this is my story! The author wrote about my life. I was battling with an eating disorder, and at times I still do. However, after reading this life-changing and revelation book I told myself that I AM WORTHY of LOVE and it STARTS with me. I always wanted the approval of others, and I wanted to be perfect, and I felt like my body was so ugly and unattractive. The boys didn’t like me, and I didn’t like myself. The chapter Cover-Up was my story and I cried and cried because I know how Skyler feels! I was just looking at myself in the mirror, and I didn’t want to eat today, but after reading the chapters in this book, I step back and said, I love me. I am not going backward. I cannot fall back down the rabbit hole. The author just does not know that she is saving lives, if not, one thing I know she saved mines. Thank you for writing a book that I needed to read. I value myself. The quotes help me get through the day when I feel like I was to go backward. I have to tell myself Life is Good. Take time to see it and live it. MUST-READ!
I found I’m Speaking Up But You’re Not Listening 2nd ed in a Little Libray in my neighborhood. I really enjoyed the read. It brought my children and I closer. We, as parents need to talk to our children because our children’s voice matters. We need to listen as well because our children have their issues too. I loved each chapter because they spoke loudly to me and I made sure I had an understanding of the message. If we do not listen we will never know. I just found this site, but I inbox Charlena E. Jackson on Twitter and left her a message. It felt special because she sent me a message in return, and re-tweeted the messages I sent her. She seems so down to earth! I was telling her that she changed my daughter’s life for the better, as a matter of fact, she saved my baby life because she was in a violent relationship and I didn’t even know, There were many books I found that Charlena E. Jackson has written in the Little Library. A couple I purchased. I thought it was pretty awesome that she took the time to put her books in the Little Libraries. Teachers Just Don’t Understand Bullying Hurts 2nd, was a blessing to my son because he was an Emmanuel. I do not know how many times, I had to fight for my baby. Nearly every single day he was being bullied, but his teachers didn’t care. I agree with Charlena E. Jackson, when my son started to take up for himself, he got in trouble, however, the teachers never seem over the course of the years when my son was being bullied or maybe they didn’t care that my child was being bullied. It was too much to bear because my son was unhappy. I took him out of school and homeschooled him. Finally, he had peace. The system is broken and they just don’t care about our children. I read Dear Fathers of the Fatherless Children, and she spoke the truth, it wasn’t any bashing going on, but she sure didn’t sugar coat anything. Every parent needs to read it, and I agree with the reviewers on other sites, it needs to be in the father’s parenting classes. Unapologetic For My Flaws and All 2nd ed was an amazing read! I loved how the main character has a family (a mother and a father who are successful! We have too many books speaking down on the black family household, not all black families live in poverty) I also loved how Breana the main character is in high school and early college! I loved how she had a plan! Like other teenagers, she had her boy problems, but I loved how Charlena E. Jackson made this young lady into someone special! Our girls need to read a book such as this to empower them, and for them to know they can fly and do anything they put their mind to! I also like how Breana took a stand for her rights and justice! A Woman’s Love is Never Good Enough 2nd ed is exactly how I felt. I read the entire book in one day! Charlena E. Jackson wrote about how most women, if not all feel. We need to give ourselves some me time. We need to stop trying to save the world and do it all because after all, we cannot do it all. The book that saved my daughter’s life is In Love with Blindfolds On, I never knew she was in a violent relationship, She always seemed so happy, but after she read the book and we read it together she told me everything she was going through. No Cross No Crown Trust God Through The battle 2nd edition was a blessing and right on time! It is such an inspiring book! I am in the process of reading Dying on the Outside and Suffoercating on the Inside right now. One thing I noticed about Charlena E. Jackson’s books is that all of them have a quote before each chapter! Those quotes are encouraging, and inspirational! I hope Charlena E> Jackson read her site, if so, please know, Charlena E. Jackson, you are changing lives for the better. Let God keep using you. I know I told you this yesterday on Twitter, but I want to say thank you again. You are a blessing and an angel that is heaven-sent. Jessica Marie
I think there are so many people sleeping on this author. Her books are very informative and talk about the reality of life of what people actually go through. I had an eating disorder and the author was on point with everything that happened to me. Thank God, I am so much better! I related to this book because I’ve been there and done that. I loved the book cover! If you look closely behind Skyler there are positive words in the circle (background) and the quotes in the book are so fabulous!
This author Charlena E. Jackson writes amazing books! She writes books that are relatable and that are so true! I order her books all except one. I am going to follow the leads of some of the reviews that I read so far. Which is smart! I noticed they wrote one review and copied and posted it on all of the books they’ve read. Smart! Therefore, I am going to be a copy cat lol!
1. In Love with Blindfolds On, well, I was reading my story because I lost my way because I was in an abusive relationship as well. Every day we were physically fighting, and it was hell every single day. Just like Ryder, I did not know what to do. I thought I could change a person who didn’t want to be saved. The only person who changed was me. I tried to prove myself to my partner, but what for? what I did wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough.
2. Dying on the Inside and Suffocating on the Outside was my story too because while I was in my abusive relationship I had an eating disorder because I wanted to stay small and slim for my partner. That was easy, but hard at the same time because I was gaining and losing weight. I have my partner all of me and I never found me again. I am a new person. I got tired of having my partner making me feel worthless. I found it!
3. Unapologetic For my Flaws and All 2nd edition is a GIRL POWER book! I was in an abusive relationship, but I wasn’t like Bree, I didn’t know my worth, well Bree kept going back, but she finally left. Me, I stayed for years. Bree was like forget this crap! I loved how her family was close. I loved Loved how she was in Early College, I AM TOO LOL! I felt like after I read that part, Bree working, in early college, BF problems, and have a BFF that is close to her and her family, I felt like I was reading about my life. Ha! After my BFF read Unapologetic she enrolled in Early College! I loved the GIRL EMPOWERMENT! LIFE CHANGING EVENTS FOR Young Women! There is also a HUGE situation that happened, but you have to read it! It was good too! ALL I can say is I stand with Breana the BRAVE!
4. Teachers Just Don’t Understand Bullying Hurts 2nd ed, I read it with my baby sister, and it was a good book! I really loved it! It was very emotional, funny, and touching. People bullying hurts! STOP BULLYING! Teachers you all NEED to listen! Parents need to LISTEN too. BULLYING is a SERIOUS MATTER!
5. A Woman’s Love Is Never Good ENOUGH 2nd Ed is a REALLY GOOD BOOK! I was like Preach Charlena E. Jackson. Every girl and woman need that book! I am not going to give anything away, but it is a REAL good book for women! My mom calls this book, Self-care, self-love! My momma always says Y.O.U. She says the author says Y.O.U means You Over Unhappiness! Now, that’s creative! What is so funny my daddy read the book, and had changed for the better! He says he understands women now! Cool beans daddy!
6. Dear Father of the Fatherless Children, as the author says, where are you? I am so happy I have my daddy in my life! However, my BFF dad isn’t in her life and I feel bad for her because this book is so emotional. Dad, come on, do your part! I am a daddy’s little girl! Dad be apart of your kids’ life it does make a difference. Thanks, daddy for being in my life! You’re the man!
7. I’m Speaking Up but You’re NOT listening 2nd ed is such a GOOOOOOD book! My parents and siblings read this book together, and my parents understood a LOT better what we as kids go through, thanks Charlena E. Jackson!
I didn’t read No Cross No Crown Trust God Through the Battle 2nd ed because I am not a religious person, but I am going to give it 5 stars because this author hasn’t missed a beat!
8. I CANNOT wait until she releases The Stars Choose Our Lovers and IF I Lost Myself, I Lost IT All. The author gave us a tease!!
Oh, note: If you all want a sample of chapters before you buy the book. Go to the author’s website she got a couple of them and Wattpad. Once you read the sample chapters you are going to want to know what happened next!
I thought it was very thoughtful of her to post some sample chapters on each site! Ha! she knew what she was doing!
I AM A FAN FOR LIFE!
First, I want to say, that I am a fan of Charlena E. Jackson. When she releases a book I truly believe that I am one of the first, if not the first to read it. ALL of her books I can relate to, and I am going to take time to review all of her books:
Pinwheels and Dandelions is such a great book! I was engulfed in each page because it is a page-turner! I too was in foster care, but I stayed in it until I was thrown out. Ember, went through a lot and I can very much so relate to her. I am happy someone finally wrote the truth about how the world of foster care. Some kids are lucky and sadly some of us or not. I wish I had this book when ‘shipped’ to each home as if I was a nobody.
Dying on the Inside and Suffocating on the Outside and how I always felt, when I was in foster care I had an eating disorder, as a matter of fact, I had an eating disorder all my life because I wanted to die and I didn’t care to live life anymore. I loved how the author touched gently on the sensitive topic because not too many people want to talk about the issue. Oh and if you look closely at the book cover, you will see encouraging words on the cover! That’s super cool!
In Love with Blindfold On, well the title alone and the images speak for themselves. I was in all kinds of bad relationships that I couldn’t ever seem to shake. However, I am still here. Poor, Ryder, and as I said to myself poor, Gabby.
Teacher Just Don’t Understand Bullying Hurts 2nd, is how and what I went through every single day! My teachers didn’t care and I believe there are small fractions of teachers who care, very small extremely small window. All children and teachers, oh and parents need to read this book out loud to their children/teachers.
That brings me to I’m Speaking Up but You’re Not Listening 2nd, Again, all parents and teachers need to read this book as well with their children and students. I loved the Chapter What About Us, so many young kids, teens, and now young adults like me always wonder what about us! Yes, Our voices deserve to be heard as well.
The Stars Choose Our Lovers is such a loving book! I love how the author tells the story of how so many of us who are LGBTQ are treated. I am a lesbian and sometimes, I am not. It depends. However, I have a right to be whomever I want to be and date whoever I want to date. Right? We are told we can love freely, but once we do we are judged for who we love. It is so hard to spread hate. Why is that? However, you would think kindness and love would be easier to spread.
Dear Father of the Fatherless Children, as the author bluntly put it, where are you? I asked that question time and time again, but I never received an answer. My mother struggled to put food on the table, she did the best she could do. My father (I am giving him too much credit.) My DNA donor came in and out of our lives, made like hard for my mom, and little did he know for his kids as well. We suffered because of what we lacked and he wasn’t willing to help. The only thing he did was point fingers at everyone instead of himself. He paid child support for it was only 119.00 a month. He asked as if that was enough. It wasn’t enough for gas to take us to school for the week. I wonder why the government spits in women and children’s faces. Yet, the deadbeat dads are not held accountable for anything.
A Woman’s Love is Never Good Enough 2nd edition, that is a good book! I wish my mom was here to read it. She would have loved it. My mom was under so much stress she died from a heart attack and I was put in the system. What I learned from a Woman’s Love is Never Good Enough 2nd edition is a young girl/woman should always love herself first. A woman shouldn’t ever tear herself down to make a man feels like he is a man.
This brings me to, Unapologetic for My Flaws and All 2nd edition. I loved that book dearly because it teaches young girls to stand up for themselves. I too was in early college. School is what I focused on the most. School was all that I had to want to live.
I bought My Personally Brings Out The Best in Me Quotes and Journal book, boy oh boy, I wish I had that book growing up! I am happy I have it down because I write down my feels. It is good to write down your feelings.
I am going to end on a good note with the book that the author wrote that saved my life and that book was No Cross No Crown Trust God Through the Battle 2nd edition. When I read this book, I instantly felt like I wasn’t alone. The author went through a lot of struggles like my mom, however, I am so happy the author made it through to tell her story. This book made me believe that there is a God. All this time I was walking around hating God, but after reading this book I realized I have a testimony to write just as the author did.
In my early 20s, after reading all of the author’s work thus far I decided to enroll in college. I look up to the author. Although I do not know her, I look up to her because, if she made it, I know that I can do it!
Gabby
This book is a lifesaver!
Outstanding book, definitely should read it!
I love Skyler and I loved this book so much! One of my Fav’s!
Sometimes people try to destroy you as a person and sometimes it is your own family. Skylar’s mother was such a headache. Skylar suffers mentally and physically because of her mother. Her mother emotionally broke her down. Skylar had it rough but she didn’t live the life her mom set out for her–she rose above it. It wasn’t easy, but she made it through. Her struggles were real and it is sad to know that people in the world are going through what Skylar went through. Well written book. I enjoyed reading every page. Love sometimes isn’t in your family it is outside the blood that runs through your veins.
After reading the Stars Choose Our Lovers I became a fan of the author Charlena E. Jackson. I love how she writes about how we all are human and go through life challenges. She gives people hope.
I read a couple of the author’s Charlena E. Jackson books and they are brilliant! Skylar is a brave young lady. I loved how the author focused on Skylar’s eating disorder and her battles with her mother. I am not going to give the book away. However, I loved how Scarlet made her own family. It shows family is not always blood. I really enjoyed this book and it was a page-turner just like the rest of her books!
Page-turner!
Oh my, I was into Skylar’s story! I love me some Sky! She was stubborn, someone, however, a fighter, and very smart. Although, her life was a mess she didn’t let her battles defeat her. Once again, Charlena E. Jackson did not disappoint.
Another piece by the author Charlena E. Jackson!
I do not know where to start. I am a HUGE fan of the author Charlena E. Jackson. I got hooked on her book Dying on the Inside and SUfforcating on the Outside. I LOVED Skylar and boy was she a fighter! One would think Skylar was in her own way, but when you have a parent who is so cruel on purpose that can cause a person to lose it. Skylar had many uphill and fast slopes battles, but she never gave up. The last book I read of hers was In Love with Blindfolds On, and that book there was AMAZING! Ryder, had so many signs, however, just like most of us we ignore the red signs. I do not want to get into this book too much, it is a must-read as well! The Stars Choose Our Lovers is such a heartfelt, wonderful, and courageous book! Scarlet and Mia are two of a kind, but then again, they have a lot of differences as well. I love how the author takes her time to go into every detail in her book and about life in general. I noticed the author did not have quotes at the beginning of her chapter in this book. However, I found the quotes on Pinterest! I cannot wait until she releases her next book! I will be the first to read it! Last but not least, love is love we should spread it on endlessly the right way.
I am a fan favorite of this author and I love her work honestly. This I can say is one of my favorite books of hers. I can honestly say I love her Fiction books more than anything else. Yet, even though it is fiction it still is based upon true events that people go through in real life. Skylar is a strong young women and went through many challenges especially for her age. The author really put this story line together well and I can’t wait to read the next book out!
bookclub19
I had an eating disorder therefore I can relate to this book 110%. I was very emotional because I felt Skylar’s pain. I knew exactly what she was going through. I love this book from the beginning to the end!
Bookclub-19
There were so many times I was in my head. There were so many times I let other people’s comments get into my head. I had an eating disorder, but it wasn’t as serious as Skyler. I love this book because it touches on the reality of life and what a person really goes through who has an eating disorder. I felt like I was in the book walking in Skyler’s life. The author made this book come alive. My girls and I loved this book. It was sad and a relief for many of my girls because they came clean about their disorders. The author is bringing people together–she brought my girls and me together. We are closer than ever before. Great read!