Books for Ages 12 and up

 

From author N. J. Lindquist

Once Upon a Time...

"Boys don't read," the publishers told me. "Too small a market." And then they told me I was a great writer and asked for a 'different ' proposal. But I didn't want to write anything else. I wanted to write books for boys aged 11 and up.

After all, I'd taught high school and been a camp counselor. I knew lots of boys who read. And, uh, did I mention I had four sons?

Another point in my favour was that girls read books about boys. The opposite isn't often true. So would it not make more sense to have fewer books with girls as the main characters and more books with boys as the main characters? At least those boys who did read would have something to read!

I had heard how Ken Taylor started a publishing company because no one woudl publish the Living Bible, so I went ahead and wrote the books and formed a publishing company to publish them. And do you know what I discovered? Boys will read books if you give them something they want to read.

I've heard lots of stories like this one from readers:

"I have a 14-year-old son who never reads. I gave your book, Best of Friends, to my son and he absolutely loved it. I read the first couple of chapters to him to get him interested. He finished within a week. He thinks he is a lot like the main character. He can't wait for me to get the other books. This is music to my ears. Thank you for writing for boys of this age group." Alison Piercey, United Church Book Store, Newfoundland and Labrador Conference

And this one...

"Author N. J. Lindquist roped me in because Shane Donahue could live in my own home! Fired from a job, pulled into conflict with his twin, and tied up in complicated relationships, Shane stays in hot water. When the heat turns up, he comes out fighting with the wrong weapons. Slowly some light seeps into the picture when his friend Ernie looks to God for answers and invites Shane to do the same. The story flowed so well for me, I couldn't put it down. Meet Shane and his friends; any teen can relate." Diane H. Pitts, mother

And...

"5 Stars is not enough for this Circle of Friends series! I bought the first book in this series for my 14 year old daughter. She read it and loved it so much she (politely) demanded that I get the other three books in the series. I did, and she loved them all. My daughter could not put them down. She was always at the good part, and whenever she was not reading the books she was talking about them!
The books handle real-life teen issues in an insightful way - a way that offers hope to real-life teens. I only wish NJ Lindquist would write more of them!" Posted on Amazon by Darilyn A. Sephton

You get the picture...

See the books

Shane Donahue and Glen Sauten are the two point-of-view characters

Shane's story is told in In Time of Trouble; Glen's is told in the four-book Circle of Friends series, beginning with Best of Friends.

 

Where Can You Get These Books?

Any bookstore in your city or town can get them in for you. Or you can order them online from the online companies. Or you can order authograhed copies right here.

Yes, we do give discounts for bulk orders.

 

But are the books actually good?

“Circle of Friends is a fantastic series! I meet with a lot of teens and speak to a lot of youth groups. I see the things they go through in N.J.’s novels. The authenticity of Glen’s (main character) journey is impressive. I kept thinking how is she going to be able to top this book, but she did, each book got better and better.” Herbie Kuhn, In-house Voice of the Toronto Raptors

In March, 2006, N. J. was the keynote speaker at the Read For Life event with the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. N. J. was featured along with Chris Bosh, Mike James, and other. In Time of Trouble was chosen as the first book to be featured by Read for Life, and close to one thousand copies of In Time of Trouble, were given out.

During the event, N. J. was given a plaque and a certificate from "Deeds Speak" certificate presented by the York Regional Police Chief Armand P. La Barge in 2006 for her "contribution to facilitating positive change within the community" and "assisting youth in dealing with issues like anger, fear, and peer pressure" through her book, In Time of Trouble.

In June, 2005, More Than Friends won two 2004 The Word Guild Awards. Best Teen Book and Best Independently Published Fiction.

 

N. J.'s nonfiction books

N. J. also has three discipleship manuals that are being used for junior high through college ages. They, too, have received great reviews. Because they are published by a small youth ministry in the United States, we have an arrangement to make them available in Canada. These books are only available here or from a couple of places in the US. Check them out here.