Posted on by Stories by Karen

Welcome to Day 10 of The HYPE Blog Tour @YvetteMCalleiro #Hype #NewRelease #BookPromo #YAFiction @KarensStories

GIVEAWAY:  3 e-book copies of HYPE! Leave a comment below for your chance to win! 

High school student, Cici, is at the center of Yvette Calleiro’s NEW RELEASE and it is a good one! Keep reading for an introduction to HYPE.

High School Life

How many of you can recall your high school years? Or perhaps you’re in high school right now. For me, that was many moons ago, but I remember it so clearly. Join me for a short trip down memory lane…

Everyone always told me that high school would be the best years of my life, but it didn’t turn out that way for me. For many, those years are the most difficult. Teens try to shed their childlike ways and grow into independent, young adults while still being treated like children. They both struggle to fit in and stand out. They attempt to have relationships while dealing with raging hormones and inexperience. As if that wasn’t enough, they strive to do well in their classes to set themselves up for a successful future. Honestly, I would never want to go back to those years! Lol!

When I started writing HYPE ten years ago, I was teaching ninth and tenth grade. I also sponsored the Key Club, which consisted of students in all high school grade levels. I was surrounded, day in and day out, with students. They spoke freely around me about their relationships, their insecurities, their hopes and dreams, and their frustrations. I admired their tenacity and their vulnerability. So, when I created my characters, I wanted them to be authentic and relatable.

Here is a scene from a moment when Cici’s emotions get the better of her:

I button my jeans and shove the front of my shirt into the waistband and inspect myself in the mirror. “Why can’t my life be normal?”

I lean against the counter as the tears flow down my cheeks. The hard sobs come so I lower the toilet seat and plop myself on it to allow my heart to have a strong cry. Every painful memory rams through me as the waterfall of tears cascades down my face. I pull my legs up and hug them close to me, lowering my head to my knees.

Eventually, the tears subside as the numbness coats me again. I lower my legs and rise. I splash water on my face to remove the salty traces of my breakdown. Facing the mirror again, I roll my puffy eyes. I open the drawer and pull out the hardcore concealer. I’ve got to cover this weakness as best as I can. I really hate hormones.

My phone bings the reminder I’ve set to make sure I’m not late for school, and I’m nowhere near ready. I quickly finish my make-up and throw my hair into a loose ponytail. It’ll have to do. I rush to the closet and grab the closest pair of tennis shoes and shove my feet into them. I grab my bag and run down the stairs to the kitchen to grab a banana. I’m out the door, praying I’m not late.

I hate all the symptoms that come with my period. I guess this meltdown is overdue, especially since I’ve used the whole PMS excuse one time too many with Dee. Mother Nature’s payback sucks.

I park in my usual spot and check my makeup one last time in the mirror. I take a deep breath, put on my emotionless mask, and exit the car, ready to take on the day. I avoid conversations with everyone as much as I can. I tell Dee I have my period, and she leaves me alone. I’m grateful for small gestures of kindness.

HYPE is a young adult contemporary story that takes place in Cici’s high school years. Teens will definitely connect with the story, but I believe adults will enjoy reliving their high school moments through Cici’s activities and classes. I must warn you: it isn’t all pep rallies and parties. Come for the fun but be prepared for the drama because Cici gets it all. 😉

Cici’s junior year in high school is going to be the best year ever. Popular co-captain of the varsity cheerleading team, she’s dating the starting quarterback. Even her jealous co-captain’s attempts to steal her boyfriend can’t curb her enthusiasm.
 
When her mom moves in with her fiancé, a handsome, wealthy man, only one small detail threatens Cici’s perfect life. The school’s social pariah is about to become her stepsister, and Cici wants nothing to do with her.
 
Everything changes when someone Cici cares about throws her life into a tailspin, and the one person Cici couldn’t stand becomes her only ally.
 
Warning: This story contains scenes of sexual assault.
 
Available on Amazon and Smashwords

Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.

Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

Amazon Links:

Hype – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7BFNXG

The One Discovered (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 1) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4L2Q40

The One Enlightened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 2) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R0QI51I

The One Betrayed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 3) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191O1892

The One Revealed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 4) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBKJHIO

The One Awakened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 5) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0781WT73J

The One Chosen – A Diasodz Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0986Q6P1D

Breathless – A Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLVDHQX

To follow along with the rest of this tour, please visit Yvette M Calleiro’s tour page.

11 Replies to “Welcome to Day 10 of The HYPE Blog Tour @YvetteMCalleiro #Hype #NewRelease #BookPromo #YAFiction @KarensStories”

  2. Teenage years are definitely confusing ones, especially if you are a round peg in a square hole and not particularly sporty. Sporty people used to sail through difficulties easier than the rest of us when I was at school. Thanks for hosting Yvette, Karen.

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    1. You bring up a good point, Robbie, but sometimes perceptions are deceiving. Athletes tend to have a support group surrounding them and they tend to always look in control and on top of the world, but many of them suffer in silence because they don’t want to appear to have problems. I knew several student athletes who turned to drugs and alcohol because they couldn’t handle the pressure. To the outside world, they had it all. Internally, they were falling apart. Thanks for sharing your thoughts today. 🙂

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  3. It’s easy to relate to Cici’s meltdown because you described it so well, Yvette. I experienced it a few times during those years. High school was such a dichotomy for me. On the one hand, I aced my classes and made the National Honor Society. On the other hand, I was a social misfit, and lived my fun life away from my peers. I like Robbie’s comment about a square peg in a round hole. That describes me, too! Your book, HYPE, is a wonderful read, and brings back memories long buried behind countless others.

    I love your blog, Karen! Thanks for hosting Yvette!

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  4. It’s easy to relate to Cici’s meltdown because you described it so well, Yvette. I experienced it a few times during those years. High school was such a dichotomy for me. On the one hand, I aced my classes and made the National Honor Society. On the other hand, I was a social misfit, and lived my fun life away from my peers. I like Robbie’s comment about a square peg in a round hole. That describes me, too! Your book, HYPE, is a wonderful read, and brings back memories long buried behind countless others.

    I love your blog, Karen! Thanks for hosting Yvette!

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  5. HI Yvette, Hi Karen,
    Yvette, I can so identify with you. My high school years were not easy. I think the most important thing for me was going to my classes. I loved learning, and I still do.
    Karen, thank you for hosting Yvette.
    Wishing you ladies a great week.
    Shaloma aleichem

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