Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival Virtual Book Tour

Amazing Amanda and the Crazy School Carnival includes comedy and yet realistic
life issues. Readers will laugh, giggle, worry, and cheer Amanda’s attempts at
growth. Amanda is a pre-adolescent girl who deals with body issues,
middle-school drama, angst with new girls, coming of age issues such as seeing
beyond the surface, handling responsibilities of leadership, and questions
about faith. Set in a mid-size central Minnesota town, the story is told
exclusively from Amanda’s point of view. Amazing Amanda is a clean, family
friendly story.

Chapter One: Section 6B

“Almost late again!” Twelve-year-old Amanda Hamann grumbled as she hurried along the sidewalk to Beltran Elementary School. She hoisted her purple book bag higher on one shoulder. “And it’s only the first week of school. It’s not fair!” 

She kicked a pop can into the street. A passing car honked and swerved. Amanda balled her fists but resisted the urge to raise one at the driver. Didn’t they know she was having one of her no-good-rotten days? She felt heat rise up her neck and flush her face and knew her freckles were popping.

If her mom had knocked on her door before going downstairs, Amanda could have been ready on time. When she stumbled into the kitchen half-dressed, hair sticking out in a frizzy mess, both her parents were heading out the backdoor. 

“What’s going on?” she demanded. Her dad always left early for work at the furniture factory, but her mom worked from home.

Her dad’s words stung. “You knew last night your mom had to go to the doctor this morning.”

Amanda had completely forgotten. Anxiety twisted her insides. With her mom’s cancer surgery a few years ago and Amanda’s own knee surgery two years ago, any new health problems caused her major worries. 

Anxiety churned within her like late summer thunder clouds, as she stormed toward Beltran Elementary. Her left hip started hurting and she had to slow her pace. If only she could lose some weight, maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much. She struggled all the rest of way to the double doors of the two-story brick building. 

Mr. Fenton, the janitor, was about to lock the school doors for the day. “Wait,” she wailed, thrusting one arm out. With a burst of speed, Amanda made it just in time.

As a teacher for almost thirty years, Beverly Abear enjoys writing for
middle-grade and young adult readers. She has several stories in progress that
she hopes to finish and get published. The Amanda stories are mostly set in a
k-6th elementary school like the one the author attended in northern
Minnesota. Because her faith has greatly affected her life, Beverly’s passion
for her readers is that they grow to trust in the Lord and enjoy an abundant
life in Him.