Title: Teal, Teal Flint Surviving Adolescence
Author: Catina Noble
Genre: YA Fiction
Book Blurb:
Follow along with teenager, Teal, as she navigates high school, her parents divorce, the relationship with her best friend Olive. Let’s not forget the the questionable next door neighbour, Miss Tate, first crushes, peer pressures, first kiss, what exactly did the friendship code cover many other adventures.
Excerpt:
“Actually, make that no dating until you are twenty-two.” Her mother nodded to herself. Her mother was the parent, not Teal. This was already understood.
Teal had heard this lecture many times before so she rolled her eyes in response. She smiled as her mother glared. Teal bit her tongue and decided it was best not to say a word back because this would be considered “rude.” The truth was, Teal wanted to tell her mother that glaring at people (like her mom was doing) was also rude.
When her mother had asked about the guy Olive was seeing’s he had stopped as soon as she heard the name Brad. As in she put-the-pizza-down-and-stopped-chewing kind of stopped.
“What?” Teal shrugged. What was her problem?
“Is his name Brad Trenton?” The guy who plays football at your school?
Her mother waited for a reply, but she never looked away from Teal. It was kind of creepy from where Teal sat. In fact, her mother reminded Teal of Brad himself right now.
“Yeah. Why? Her thoughts were racing. Why did her mom care so much about the guy Olive was dating? What was in it for her? Olive was dating him and Olive was Teal’s best friend. So of course Teal was in it but she didn’t see how it was any of her mom’s business.
Teal licked the last hint of pizza sauce off her right thumb.
“Are you sure it’s Brad Trenton, that football kid in your class?”
Teal looked at her mother. Had the woman lost her hearing while Teal was at school? On the other hand, was she deliberately trying to piss Teal off? What was her problem?
“Yes, Mom, Olive is with Brad Trenton.” Teal repeated this slowly for effect as she waited for something dramatic to take place. After a couple of moments, nothing happened and now Teal felt stupid.
“Oh.” Her mother picked up the dirty dishes and carried them over to the dishwasher.
“What?” Teal asked in frustration. She hadn’t been given any indication as to why her mother was asking these questions when Olive was not her daughter.
Maybe her mother thought it was not right for Olive to date anyone at all in her book. Maybe Brad had nothing to do with it.
Teal stared as her mother wiped down the kitchen counter and the table with a teal-colored dishcloth. Her mother looked deep in thought.
“I saw Trina with Brad at the mall around lunch time. The two of them were holding hands.” Her mother’s voice was barely above a whisper. Her eyes locked with Teal’s.
Teal took a long swig from her can of pop. She needed a moment. She had to say something. Anything really, just so she didn’t feel stupid. Olive was her best friend and of course she felt the need to defend her because that’s what best friends did. That was part of the friendship code.
Teal’s mother stared and waited.
“You saw them?” Teal asked even though no amount of confirmation would satisfy her.
Her mother was quiet.
Brad was with Trina, holding hands, while he was currently dating her best friend, Olive.
Teal smiled. She was jealous of Olive because she had a boyfriend and she didn’t. In addition, Olive was beautiful. Teal’s smile quickly faded. This was serious. What if her mother had made this whole thing up to convince Teal that dating was not such a good idea?
Teal thought about it for a moment. No way. Her mother would never do anything like that.
“I have homework to do,” was the only response Teal could manage. There was nothing left to say.
Teal grabbed her phone and made her way to her room to figure out what to do. She wanted to see if Olive had, in fact met up with Brad.
There was text from Olive.
Waited for over an hour for Brad at our usual coffee place. He never showed up. Now I’m grounded because I forgot to call Mom and let her know that I had plans after school. She is taking my cell away right after I sent this text. No cell for a week!-O
This was actually a relief to Teal. She needed time to decide what to do and if Olive didn’t have her phones he would’t expect a reply back. Bad was six feet tall, well-muscled, about one hundred and eighty pounds, his dark brown hair was always kept super short like a crew cut. His eyes were the color of chocolate. Yes, he was good looking, but Teal still didn’t like him. The net time she would speak to or see Olive wouldn’t be until Monday morning when they grabbed their stuff from their lockers before class started. This was great! Teal had some time to think.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Teal faces many challenges teenagers face today including but not limited to; first crushes, peer pressure, disagreements with best friends and parents, expectations of school and parents. On top of all this Teal is exploring her own identity, values and morals. A must read for any teenager!
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs September 10 – September 17, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on September 18, 2024.
Author Biography:
Catina Noble is a Canadian, multi-genre writer. Her work is eclectic and contains something for everyone. She has over two hundred publications including her books, short-stories, poetry and articles. Her work has appeared in several publications, including, but not limited to; Chicken Soup for the Soul: 10 Keys to Happiness, Woman’s World Magazine, Bywords Magazine, Y Travel Blog, Canadian Newcomer Magazine, The Mindfulword, Perceptive Travel and many others.
In 2013 her poem You Can’t See Me won first place in the Canadian Author’s Association (NCR) poetry contest. Four of her books Finding Evie, Vacancy at the Food Court & Other Short Stories, I’m Glad I Didn’t Kill Myself and Everest Base Camp: Close Call have won the Reader’s Favourite silver seal of approval. Her favourite place to write is at a local coffee shop. Sometimes her dog Aspen, and cat PJ, supervise the creative writing process.
Social Media Links:
Instagram: @Cncreate
My favourite Young Adult book is The Hunger Games. The entire series is so good.
My favorite Young Adult book is Looking For Alaska by John Green. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thank you, Catina, for sharing your book in our Middle-Grade and YA Event!