Author Takes Advice from Educators - Rewrites "The Prize: A Novel About Bullies and Victims" for Younger Readers

The Middle School Edition of "The Prize: A Novel About Bullies and Victims" (by M. LaCourt) has been approved by educators. The new version is appropriate for younger readers without sacrificing the integrity of the original.

(PRWEB) February 8, 2005 -- Overwhelming educator interest in the The Prize inspired M. LaCourt to make this insightful and thought provoking novel more reader friendly for young students. American Book Publishing is pleased to announce the release of the Middle School Edition. The first has been widely commended as appropriate for grades nine through twelve, and with changes in language and sexual references, educators for grades six through eight have applauded the new publication.

"Mission accomplished! The Middle School Edition of THE PRIZE is appropriate for younger readers without sacrificing the integrity of the original." (Dianne D. Austin-Gram, teacher at Koscuiszko Middle School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.)

Koscuiszko hosted the pilot study created by Lacourt and colleagues for the Live and Let Live Bully Prevention Program upon which the novel is based.
         
The Book: Sydney Schuster was an easy target growing up and the bullies beat him daily. Now, hes a millionaire with bullies for sons. He is willing to accept fate (albeit with bitterness,) but an opportunity arises. Syds former tormentor, now a priest, hits him up for money to save his school. Syd hits back with an offer the priest cannot refuse.

With Syds financial backing, Father John will run a new boarding school for ten inner-city teenagers. But the kids arent just there to study. Theyre the guinea pigs in a social experiment. The mission is to break the bully/victim cycle, without breaking a few simple rules. If they succeed, they win five million dollars, half a million per student. But if even one rule is broken, no one gets a cent. By the end of the school year, few rules remain intact. The question is, how much will the judges find out? And how much will they tolerate?

The Author: After the publishing the first edition of The Prize, Ms. LaCourt gave up her twenty-five year practice as a marriage and family therapist to write full time. She has written a number of articles and training manuals as a mental health professional and now writes a biweekly column, Through My Eyes, for a community newspaper serving twenty-three Milwaukee area suburbs. Her second novel, The Almost Brother, will be released soon.

The Prize: A Novel about Bullies and Victims *Middle School Edition*
By M. LaCourt - American Book Publishing - January 2005 --
http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/MarilynLaCourt3.shtml
Trade book/pp290/5"x8"/$12.95 Distributed by Baker and Taylor ISBN: 1-58982-256-0

For autographed copies http://www.lacourt-m.com Author is available by phone: 262-797-9857 or snail mail -- PO Box 597, Elm Grove, WI 53122-0598

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