Alone
Overview
There is no refuge for fourteen-year-old Michael Tatem. A childhood injury has made him a target at Bluford High. And deeper wounds at home have left him shy, isolated, and friendless. But an unexpected connection at school gives Michael a glimpse at a new life. Can he embrace it and forge a new path for himself? Or will his attempt backfire, leaving him more vulnerable and alone than ever?
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The Bluford Series is a Proven Gateway to Reading
Millions of teens have discovered or rediscovered the joy of reading with this collection of young adult novels set at Bluford High School. Here’s why:
- Engaging topics: Characters in the Bluford Series face situations that middle- and high-schoolers care about, making them want to read.
- Emotional depth: Bluford books tell gripping stories and carry an emotional punch. Each can be read alone but is also connected to events in other books. Readers join a complex world they want to explore.
- Uplifting stories: Each book celebrates teens who make positive choices, especially when such actions are difficult or unpopular.
- Accessible writing: This groundbreaking hi-lo series has content sophisticated enough for high-school students, while reading level is between 5th and 6th grade Lexile range: 570–760.
- Short length: Each novel in the Bluford Series contains fewer than 200 pages, motivating readers to finish their books—a pivotal step toward becoming regular readers!
- Broad appeal: Action, suspense, mystery, and romance fill the pages of the Bluford Series, offering something for all readers—boys and girls alike.
- Proven success: Students, teachers, parents, librarians, researchers, and policymakers agree: The Bluford Series can transform nonreaders into avid readers.
- Great Price: Priced at $4 individually or $3 when purchased as part of a set, Bluford novels offer an unbeatable value.
John Langan
John Langan, president of Townsend Press, is a former reading and writing skills teacher at Atlantic Cape Community College near Atlantic City, New Jersey. In addition to writing Search for Safety, John is also the author of a popular series of college textbooks on writing and reading skills published by McGraw-Hill Book Company. Before becoming a teacher and author, John earned advanced degrees in writing at Rutgers University and in reading at Rowan University. He also spent a year writing fiction that, he says, “is now at the back of a drawer waiting to be discovered and acclaimed posthumously.” While in school, he supported himself by working as a truck driver, machinist, battery assembler, hospital attendant, and apple packer. John now lives with his wife, Judith Nadell, near Philadelphia. In addition to his wife and Philly sports teams, his passions include reading and turning on non-readers to the pleasure and power of books. Through Townsend Press, he has developed the non-profit "Townsend Library"—a collection of new and classic stories that appeal to readers of any age.
Tanya Savory
Tanya Savory was born in Schenectady, NY in 1961, but spent the first 10 years of her life in Michigan (Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor). From there, her family moved to Columbia, SC, in 1971 when her father accepted a position teaching English at Columbia College, a small liberal arts school for women. Tanya attended the University of South Carolina and received a B.A. in English in 1983. After heading to San Francisco in 1986 to attend graduate school at San Francisco State University, Tanya became more and more involved in music and songwriting (and, to her parents' dismay, less involved in graduate school!).Taking what would turn out to be a 15-year break from graduate studies, Tanya moved to Nashville, TN, in 1991 to pursue her songwriting. In 1993, she recorded a self-produced CD of original music. This CD brought her songs to the attention of Rounder Records, who signed Tanya in 1997 and released two more CDs of Tanya's music in '99 and 2001. After touring and playing venues nationally for almost 10 years, Tanya returned to graduate school to finish her M.A. in English and writing. In 2007, she began writing full time for Townsend Press. In addition to writing and music, Tanya enjoys traveling and blogging and running. To date, she has run 14 marathons in 8 different states.