Ninth Grade Blues

Ninth Grade Blues follows four teens through the adventures and misadventures, ups and downs of life in the first year of high school. They contend with classes and tests, worry about going out on dates, struggle with not being able to drive, and dread being called on by teachers they do not like.

Interweaving first person stories are told by:

Luke: a shy, hard working, poorly dressed boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Luke is mediocre at basketball, mediocre at baseball, and mediocre at school. But he has hidden talents in science--he is a budding fisherman, hunter, and naturalist-- and he is even appealing to some girls, unbeknownst to himself.

Elly: sociable and friendly, Elly worries about getting a boy to like her. She has chubby legs, frizzy hair, and a few excess pounds gained over the summer. However, she is also a top notch student. Elly has her life mapped out, all the way through a big church wedding (groom to be determined later) and a nice house in the suburbs.

Marcus: a freshman superstar, Marcus plays football and basketball at the varsity level and has his sights set on a D-I college scholarship. He worries about having to choose between playing in the NBA and the NFL. Marcus regards himself as God's gift to women, and caroms through a series of irate girlfriends while he blows off his classes.

Mia: a smart, dedicated girl who gets straight A's and will definitely go to college. Her first-generation Mexican-American parents are hard working and intent on matching her up with a nice Hispanic boy. But Mia and Luke begin studying together, and very soon, Mia develops other opinions about where her heart lies.

Author: Bruce Ingram
Publisher: Secant Publishing LLC
Published: 09/15/2017
Pages: 236
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.54d
ISBN: 9781944962340
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 11/01/2017

About the Author
Ingram, Bruce: - Bruce Ingram has spent a lifetime exploring the woods and waterways of his native Southwest Virginia. He is a devoted fisherman, birder, hunter, and paddler, sharing his love of the outdoors in five books and more than 2,000 magazine articles. A high school English teacher by day, Ingram lives with his wife Elaine in Troutville, Virginia. They have two children and two grandchildren. The Outdoor Writers Association of America has honored Bruce six times for writing excellence. Follow Bruce's blog and keep up with his writing and speaking engagements at https: //sites.google.com/site/bruceingramoutdoors/home.