From inner-city Rochester to the Himalayas

Students at an inner city school in Rochester, NY, took action after reading SOLD – and raised nearly $125 to help trafficking victims. Inspired by their compassion for others, their teachers and I matched that gift and now $500 is on its way to a shelter that rescues and treats girls who were sold into the brothels of India.  As their teacher, Peg Vadala says, ‘you wouldn’t expect kids from Rochester to connect with the situation of a girl in a mud hut’ thousands of miles away but you will be touched by the generosity and compassion of these kids.

Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times is right: this is a generation of activists, kids with a moral compass and a belief that they can – and must – change the world.

Here is the link to the story: http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=296882

Why do so many girls self-injure?

One in 12 teenagers, mostly girls, self-injure. They cut, burn or take life-threatening risks, according to a recent study.

This means that if you look at any group of a dozen teenagers one of them is probably self-injuring – probably in secret. And certainly in pain.

My book, CUT, came out 10 years ago and librarians tell me it’s still one of the most requested – and also most stolen – books in the library. And while that’s good for sales, it’s very sad news for me as author.

Because I don’t understand why, after 10 years, we as a society haven’t figured out a way to stop this epidemic.

Researchers say that brain development may be a factor – that the area of the brain associated with impulse control and the ability to modify behavior may hold an answer. They also say many kids will go on self-injuring into adulthood if they don’t get treatment. They say this is not ‘just a phase’ that young people will grow out of.

So why haven’t we been able to stem this tide of violence?

Maybe it’s because it’s not the same kind of violence boys tend to engage in – violence directed at others. It’s violence directed at one of our most vulnerable and marginalized groups: teenage girls.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Students at Mercer College in Macon, GA noticed something we all see from time to time: billboards for ‘massage parlors’ and escort services. But those students saw them for what they are: fronts for sex trafficking. More importantly, they did something about it.

First, they took aim at the billboard companies – putting pressure on them to refuse to post these ads. Then they went to taxi services that drive trafficking victims from one motel to the other, from one ‘massage parlor’ to another – and take half their earnings. Then they targeted the landlords at these establishments asking them to refuse to rent to businesses that are merely fronts for the exploitation of young women.

This is courageous, sometimes dangerous work. And it needs to be done on an ongoing basis since traffickers change their routes and locations all the time. And it is work we could any of us can do with a phone call.

This week in New York, a survivor of trafficking will testify in favor of a plan to fine taxi drivers who knowingly transport trafficking victims.

Great strides have been made in fighting trafficking. But full justice will not be done unless we choke a part of the supply chain – which is right there in plain sight.

Ripple Effects

This story provides a neat example of a ripple effect when a fortuitous visit to a local bookstore took place.

Here is the link: http://www.bclocalnews.com/lifestyles/131363403.html

Some of the best book reviews I’ve ever gotten.

Last week when I was in Loudoun County Virginia as their One Book Author, I had the privilege and joy of visiting the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center. One of the miracles taking place there is that the kids  – smart, funny kids on a journey of self-transformation  – are becoming readers. Some are kids who’ve never before finished a book. Some are kids who were so distracted by the chaos in their lives, they never had the peace and quiet to read. Now, with the gift of time – and the encouragement of their librarian – these kids are reading 2, 3, 4 books a week. And bragging about it.

They’re also giving props. Here are a few reactions to Purple Heart. “McCormick gets down and dirty.”  “Extravagantly details the reality of war.” “McCormick is the shizzle.”

Actually, they’re  the shizzle. As is Loudoun County’s super star librarian Linda Holstlander, who selected the book for the county’s One Book read, and really rolled out the red carpet for me. She arranged for thousands of kids and adults to receive free copies of the book and instigated some very spirited and moving discussion by hosting Eyes Wide Open, an exhibit that documents the human cost of war.

If I learned anything in my visit to Loudoun County – it’s a reaffirmation of the power of reading. Hundreds of kids and parents turned out to discuss the way books change our view of the world, of each other. And the kids at Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center? They told me that they have a whole new bag of tricks for keeping out of trouble when the return home. At the top of the list: reading.

That’s the shizzle.

My first blog post and an interview with Emma Andrews Walton

I’m stepping my little toes into the blogging world with a little post about my recent interview with the lovely Emma Andrews Walton and her mother, Julie Andrews.

Have a listen and let me know what you think!

Interview with Emma Andrews Walton and Julie Andrews

If this link doesn’t work for you, please Click Here.