My Story
My Story
Book of the Year Award
ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award
Finalist
Book of the Year Award
Young Voices Foundation
Gold Medal
Book of the Year Award
Military Writers Society of America
Finalist

Created specifically for military teens and pre-teens

Description

My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens is a series of blogs by four military teens that highlights their feelings and experiences before, during, and after parental deployment. It provides support and education for all military teens and pre-teens by honoring their unique joys and sacrifices, addressing their fears and hopes, and exploring how parental deployment affects their lives. Although the four youth in My Story are fictional, the stories are real . . .the blogs are a compilation of real life experiences of military kids we have been honored to meet and learn from.

The blogs in My Story address issues such as:

  • Pride in parent’s military service
  • Sadness, anger and confusion regarding deployments
  • The excitement of homecoming
  • Challenges of reconnecting after deployment
  • Finding a "new normal"
  • Teen depression
  • Dealing with parent’s emotional and physical challenges (e.g., PTSD, substance abuse, injury)
  • Divorce
  • Resilience and post traumatic growth


Preview the Book
  pdf icon Welcome Page pdf icon Mariah’s Lessons Learned
  pdf icon Section of Mariah’s Blog pdf icon Section of Adam’s Blog



Read Reviews

"My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens tells it like it is for teens whose parents have been deployed. The riveting accounts from the hearts of four military teens will make you cry and make you laugh. This book brings home the costs of war in a way that can’t be measured in dollars and cents. The mental health problems, sorrows and family turmoil are described in unvarnished terms. So are the pride and joy of being a military teen."
Jim Ramstad, U.S. House of Representatives.

"Once again, Michelle and DeAnne Sherman have provided a wonderfully insightful tool that goes to the heart of translating research to practice. My Story uses the social networking environment that is so familiar to teens to paint the real picture of military kids, chronicling their journeys and perspectives. The Shermans’ work, as always, truly speaks to students, parents, and professionals. We are thrilled to have this thoughtful and relevant publication as a part of our resources."
Dr. Mary Keller, Executive Director, Military Child Education Coalition.

"My Story is a wonderful and touching piece of work...your efforts will help countless youth."
Gary M. Blau, Ph.D., Chief, Child, Adolescent and Family Branch; Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), United States Department of Health and Human Services.

"As a two time Iraqi combat veteran I found My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens to be a great resource when working with adolescents who have parents in the military. It brings big questions and issues to the forefront of military families and does an excellent job of putting tough topics in terms that everyone can understand."
Micah Ternet, Iraqi veteran. Vet Connection Coordinator, NAMI Minnesota.

"My Story uses a clever, accessible, helpful approach with blogs by military teens...the book is sure to appeal to, validate, and support thousands of military youth."
A.L. "Dutch" Doerman, Psy.D., ABPP. Psychologist. Colonel, United States Air Force (Retired).

"My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens opens our eyes and hearts to the special struggles, challenges, and inner strength of teenagers who are coping with a parent's deployment to a war zone. It should also inspire us to more deeply appreciate the sacrifices of these young people and develop stronger support systems so they never feel alone."
Kathy Saltzman, Minnesota State Senator.

"My Story opened my eyes to what it’s like for a kid whose parent is in the military. It would be really hard to have my mom or dad gone to a war zone for so long and miss out on all my football games, choir concerts, and well, my every day life. I have a lot more respect for military kids now. I seriously had no idea!"
Adam Shepard, 16, Rosemount High School.

"A compelling new book that offers military teens understanding, support, encouragement, and practical help with the many challenges associated with a parent’s combat service and the emotional residue that often follows. Provides the reader with a direct connection to the powerful and insightful voices of four military teens who share their experiences and emotions about their parent’s combat service in Iraq or Afghanistan. These compelling blogs offer teens (and their parents) practical ideas for addressing the wide array of emotions and challenges that are a part of the day-to-day life of many military families. A must read for any clinician whose practice includes adolescents from military or veteran families... clinicians should share it with their adolescent clients and parents alike!"
James (Jim) A. Martin, Ph.D., BCD. Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired). Professor, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College.

"In My Story, teenagers with parents in the armed services will find their own story, gain valuable support, and learn tools for coping with a parent’s deployment. I strongly recommend this book for any child with a parent in the armed services."
Ursula Bowling, Psy.D., Psychologist. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

"Fast-paced and clear-eyed, My Story offers help and hope in the digestible, interactive way that today's teenagers read and learn ... fills a critical gap in self-help books for military families."
Kristin Henderson, military spouse and author of While They're at War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront.

"An excellent tool to use in schools and for counselors working with teenage military family members. A great way to start off a group discussion."
Angela Pereira, Ph.D, MSW, LCSW-C, Colonel, US Army (Retired).

"Poignant and relevant to the military kids we work with ... an easy-to-read tool that prompts meaningful conversations and healing."
Mary Beth Galey, MA, LP, Senior Director, Counseling Services, Lutheran Social Service.

"A lot of the feelings were spot on. The book talked about restating the rules and talking about what's best for now ... it gave tips to help us and help people you know."
Mary Margaret Bracken, 16; her father, Lt. Col. James Bracken, has served in Iraq, Orange County Register, January 5, 2010.

"Easy-to-read, accessible account of four military teens ... encourages military teens to explore their own feelings, and guides them to constructive ways to cope with parental deployment. Instructive not only for military teens, but also for parents, teachers, friends, and spiritual leaders to grasp the impact that a parent’s combat experience has on teens today. Kudos to the authors!"
Kathryn J. Kotrla, M.D., Associate Dean, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Round Rock Campus.

"'Right on' when it comes to what military adolescents are thinking and feeling with regards to the deployment cycle. I plan to utilize this book with my work with military adolescents ... it should be given to all adolescents with a deployed family member."
Douglas H. Lehman, LCSW, CAC III, Social Work Service, Fort Carson, Colorado.