Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


On the Ledge by Amy TurnerOn the Ledge: A Memoir by Amy Turner

Publisher:  She Writes Press, (September 6, 2022)
Category: Memoir, Dysfunctional Families, Mental Wellness
Tour dates: September 6, 2022-October 7, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647422257
Available in Print and ebook, 256 pages

On the Ledge

Description On the Ledge by Amy Turner


In 1957, when Amy Turner was four years old, her father had to be talked down from a hotel ledge by a priest. The story of his attempted suicide received nationwide press coverage, and he spent months in a psychiatric facility before returning home. From then on, Amy constantly worried about him for reasons she didn’t yet fully understand, triggering a pattern of hypervigilance that would plague her into adulthood.

In 2010, fifty-five years after her father’s attempted suicide, Amy—now a wife, mother, and lawyer-turned-schoolteacher—is convinced she’s dealt with all the psychological reverberations of her childhood. Then she steps into a crosswalk and is mowed down by a pickup truck—an accident that nearly kills her, and that ultimately propels her on a remarkable emotional journey. With the help of Chinese Medicine, Somatic Experiencing, and serendipities that might be attributed to grace, Amy first unravels the trauma of her own brush with death and then, unexpectedly, heals the childhood trauma buried far deeper.

Poignant and intimate, On the Ledge is Amy’s insightful and surprisingly humorous chronicle of coming to terms with herself and her parents as the distinct, vulnerable individuals they are. Perhaps more meaningfully, it offers proof that no matter how far along you are in life, it’s never too late to find yourself.

My Thoughts On the Ledge by Amy Turner


Stuck between her mother’s alcoholism and her father’s depression, Amy’s childhood was not easy. In 1957, Amy Turner’s father tried to kill himself by jumping off of the ledge attached to his hotel room window. He was on a business trip and ended up having to be talked down by a priest who just happened to be passing by.

Starting the memoir from this place—the first moment that her life changed forever—Amy goes on to explain how her father’s subsequent hospital stay affected her entire family. From the time that she was four years old on, Amy’s family had to sidestep her father’s fragile moods and continually worry about his mental health. Although Amy makes it clear that she loved her father, the adapted ways that she learned to deal with him throughout her childhood took a toll on her.

Many years later, Amy’s life is forever changed in another split second when she is hit by a car. Although she is soon deemed to have only sustained a concussion, Amy spends many terrifying hours after the accident and during the Life Flight to the hospital, wondering if she is going to die. Events like this can understandably change a person, and it is from this that Amy began to take a good, hard look at her life and her childhood.

‘On the Ledge,’ is a memoir that is well worth your time and worth adding to your TBR list! Turner’s look at her inner child and all of the events that lead her to the place in her life that she is now, was refreshing and thought-provoking.

I couldn’t put this book down throughout the entire time that I was reading, and finished it in one day. I deeply admire Turner’s resilience and appreciate her sharing her story with readers everywhere.

About Amy TurnerOn the Ledge by Amy Turner


Amy Turner was born in Bronxville, New York, and is a graduate of Boston University, with a degree in political science, and of New York Law School, with a Juris Doctor Degree. After practicing law (rather unhappily) for twenty-two years, she finally found the courage to change careers at forty-eight and become a (very happy) seventh grade social studies teacher.

A long-time meditator and avid reader who loves to swim and bike, Amy lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Ed, to whom she’s been married for forty years. They have two sons. On the Ledge is Amy’s first book.

Website: https://www.amyturnerauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyturnerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyTurnerWriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyturner2000/

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On the Ledge by Amy Turner

Dragons In My Classroom by Barbara KennardDragons In My Classroom: A Teacher’s Memoir by Barbara Kennard

Publisher:  She Writes Press, (June 14, 2022)
Category: Memoir, Educator Biographies, Mid-Life Management, Inspirational
Tour dates: June 15, 2022-July 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647423650
Available in Print and ebook, 224 pages
 Dragon’s In My Classroom

Description Dragons In My Classroom by Barbara Kennard


As a young book lover with dyslexia, Barbara found the solution to her reading struggles in Miss Gluding, her first-grade teacher, who showed compassion for her student’s plight—and knew how to help her. From that time on, Barbara knew what she wanted to be: a teacher, just like Miss Gluding.

Unfortunately, Barbara also had some bad teachers in the years that ensued—including her sixth-grade teacher, an exacting woman who called attention to Barbara’s learning disabilities in front of classmates. Still wanting to follow in Miss Gluding’s footsteps in 1964, Barbara vowed she would be a better one than her sixth-grade teacher; instead, however, she became very much like her, with unattainable expectations for her students and herself. After seventeen years in the teaching profession, she realized she had to either change her teaching style or change careers. By providence, right as she stood at this crossroads, she was offered the opportunity to teach overseas at The Dragon School in Oxford, England, for a year—an opportunity she jumped at.

In the year that followed, Barbara would rely on her faith in God to give up a lot of what she knew about teaching and learn to do it differently—ways that wouldn’t have room for her perfectionism. In short, she would have to begin again.

My Thoughts Dragons In My Classroom by Barbara Kennard


Barbara Kennard knew that she wanted to become a teacher from a young age, like her first-grade teacher.  She did not want to be over bearing, like her sixth-grade teacher.

Let me start from the beginning. Barbara had a learning disability, dyslexia. It is a very common problem but when she went to school, there was no such thing as special education.  Luckily for her, her first-grade teacher would not give up on her and she learned to read. That teacher influenced her so much that she wanted to follow in her foot steps.  Even though when she started sixth grade, she was discouraged by her over bearing teacher.

I completely understood how she felt. You see, I also had dyslexia and struggle to learn how to read, write and do basic math.  By the time I went to school, in the 60’s, my school had a special education first grade class.  My teacher, Mrs. Conden, had the patience of a saint and I learned.  Once I caught on how to read, you could not get me to stop!  However, I also had a terrible Kindergarten teacher who punished me for things like not being able to cut out a heart on Valentine’s day that actually looked like a heart.  Of course, that was from the dyslexia as well.  At least, I know that now, as an adult who had studied disabilities towards my Social work degree. I also had an over bearing fifth grade teacher.

I wanted to be in a helping profession, like Ms. Kennard but certainly not teaching, due to my negative experiences! That is where we differ.  She wanted to be like her first-grade teacher and not her sixth-grade teacher. She succeeded in becoming a teacher.  She loved teaching in a Montessori school but eventually ended up teaching in an all-boys school in Boston.  That was more challenging for her.  Between the administration and the parents, she started to feel burned out.

A friend of hers, from the administration came to talk with her one day.  He could tell that she was feeling burnt out.  He told her about a program they had with a school in Oxford, England.  Teachers would swap places for two years. He said that he did it and he gained an entirely new perspective from it. After discussing it with her husband, she decided to do it and moved to Oxford for 2 years. It was named the Dragon school.

She loved the experience and grew leaps and bounds from the experience.  After the 2 years she was back in Boston with renewed energy. She had a new outlook.  How so you ask? Sorry, I am not giving away any spoilers here, you will have to read the book.  Yeah, I can hear you now, “but a book about teaching must be boring!” Well, I am here to tell you, not this book, not ‘Dragons In My Classroom’!

Ms. Kennard writes with poetic prose that is anything but boring.  She writes lovingly about her students, about Boston, and Oxford.  I felt like I was there, as her friend and assistant teacher. You don’t have to be a teacher, parent, or student to love this memoir!  It has something to teach everyone while entertaining at the same time.  She has achieved so much, especially for someone with dyslexia!

Kennard writes from the heart and I cannot recommend ‘Dragons In My Classroom’ highly enough.  If you do read it, please come back and share your thoughts.  In fact, I think it would make for excellent book club discussion!

5 stars

I received the eBook for my honest review.


<h2>About Barbara Kennard

Dragon’s In My Classroom by Barbara Kennard

(c) Cedric Buard

Barbara Kennard taught English and performing arts to elementary, middle, and high school students from 1980 to 2015 and has received two teaching awards: The Christa McAuliffe Award for Teaching Excellence and The Barbara Kennard Sixth Grade English Prize, established in her name at The Fessenden School by a Fessenden family.

Barbara lives in Texas with her husband, pianist Brady Millican, and their cat, Piper.

Website: barbarakennardauthor.com
Facebook: facebook.com/barbara.kennard.167
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraKennard7

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Dragons In My Classroom by Barbara Kennard

Yes, Again by Sallie H. WeissingerYes, Again:(Mis)adventures of a Wishful Thinker by Sallie H. Weissinger


Publisher:  She Writes Press, (October 26, 2021)
Category: Memoir, Grief, Loss, Romance, Dating
Tour dates: May 27-June 9, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647423155
Available in Print and ebook, 224 pages
Yes, Again

Description Yes, Again by Sallie H. Weissinger


In this laughter-through-tears memoir, Sallie H. Weissinger, a late-in-life widow, recounts the highs and lows of navigating the tricky online dating world of the 2000s. Interwoven throughout her adventures in search of a new relationship are stories from her childhood as a military brat, her southern heritage, her various marriages, and the volunteer work in Central and South America that helped her keep moving forward through it all.

Weissinger keeps her sense of humor as she meets men who lie, men who try to extort money, and men with unsavory pasts. When she experiences even more loss, her search for a partner becomes less important, but—with the help of friends and dogs—she perseveres and, ultimately, develops her own approach to meeting “HIM.” Blending the deeply serious and the lighthearted, Yes Again shows us that good things happen when we open up our minds and hearts.

My Thoughts Yes, Again by Sallie H. Weissinger


(This review is reposted from October 28, 2021)

Sallie H. Weissinger divorced her first husband and then found the love of her life, Matt through the personal adds.  However, 24 years later, Matt dies of cancer and she is devastated.  She actually suffers several losses over just a 4-year span.  As she picks up the pieces of her life and learns to cope with loss, after some time, she wants to find another life partner.

She is in her 70’s and there are no longer personal ads in newspapers. In ‘Yes’ Again’, she shares her experience navigating dating websites.  She does this honestly and with a lot of humor.  Fed up with online dating sights she decides to try something new, she creates herself, she named PASTRAMI. It is an acronym for the traits she wants in a partner, for example;  physically fit, adventurous, spiritual, traveler, etc… She then enlists the help of her friends to find men that fit the mold and even offers a $5000 reward to the charities of match makers choice if she stays with the man for one year. She even enlisted assistance to set up a PASTRAMI website.

After going out with men that sounded promising but didn’t work out, she was about to give up but then a friend told her about a guy, Bart that lost his wife about a year before.  It was practically love at first sight for both Sallie and Bart.

In this heartfelt memoir, we learn the details about all of Sallie’s losses and heartaches and how she overcame the obstacles they formed.  I think many people who suffer the kind of loss she did, give up on life and just go through the motions. Instead, Sallie throughs herself into life with traveling, volunteering, and eventually dating. Especially for a woman in her seventies, she is an inspiration.  We can all learn a lot from her.

The thought of loosing my husband, now of 25 years, is my worst nightmare.  If it were to happen, I will certainly need to read this book again to get reinspired.  ‘Yes, Again’ gets all 5 stars from me!

I received the eBook from Net Galley for my honest review.

Praise Yes, Again by Sallie H. Weissinger


“A funny, touching, and ultimately uplifting story of a woman searching for love and purpose.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Weissinger celebrates her 75th birthday in Yes, Again by taking the reader on a tour of her big heart and where that heart has taken her. This glorious story of a life lived in love is the perfect read because it’s hilarious, honest and full of hope. We are all lovers, or we wish we were and Sallie shows us how: never give up, occasionally give in and don’t stop believing. Brava!”-Adriana Trigiani, Bestselling author of
Tony’s Wife 

“If you like to read memoirs, you won’t be disappointed in Sallie H. Weissinger’s Yes, Again. I really loved it….it was a pleasure to read a book written by a woman who didn’t let age get in the way of seeking love and living life fully.  While she may not have realized it when writing, Sallie provided a life lesson for those of us of a certain age: There’s no reason not to take charge of our lives and make things happen. Whether it’s looking for love, reaching personal and professional goals, or living on purpose every day, women can disrupt aging and rise to life’s challenges.”—Camille Goscickivitalaging4women.com

“After reading Sallie’s soulful book, I have to say this gifted writer got the love she wanted the old-fashioned way . . . she earned it!”-Lacy J. Dalton, singer and songwriter

“Linearity works for many things; however, in Sallie H. Weissinger’s potent book (and even more potent life) she shows us how tapping into grace can be a tangible way of entering into mystery, meaning, and direction. By recounting times of staggering loss, loneliness, self-doubt, perseverance, and openness to the ineffable, Sallie demonstrates how the journey of life can be a glorious pathway for those with a bit of daring!”-Bill Say, MA, life coach, Process Work Diplomate, and instructor at CIIS, JFK University, and the Wright Institute

About Sallie H. Weissinger


Remove term: Yes Again by Sallie Weissinger Yes Again by Sallie Weissinger

(c) COURTNEY FLAVIN

Sallie H. Weissinger is a native of New Orleans and was raised as a military brat away from the South (Germany, New Mexico, Ohio, Japan, and Michigan). Every summer, she and her family returned to visit her mother’s relatives in New Orleans and her father’s family in a small Alabama town. She has lived most of her life in the Bay Area and also in New Orleans. These days, “home” includes not only New Orleans and Berkeley, but also Portland, Oregon, where she lives most of the time with her husband, Bart McMullan, a retired internal medicine doctor and health care executive, and their three dogs.

A retired executive herself, she now teaches Spanish and does medical interpreting for non-profit organizations in Central America and the Dominican Republic. Weissinger is a passionate member of the Berkeley Rotary Club and has served on the boards of Berkeley Rotary, the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, and the East Bay (formerly Oakland) SPCA.

Website: https://www.yesagainmemoir.com/

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Yes, Again by Sallie H. Weissinger