Ashley Clark's Blog: Helping young readers

Here are the first two chapters of a new set of stories I'm working on. There are a ton of characters and each get their own story. This is actually story 3.

there are some typos and spelling i need to change so don't judge it to badly!




Chapter one – Lex


All I wanted was to soak in my bath at home with a glass of wine. Instead I was roaming the aisles of the grocery store at one in the morning. The newest Adele song was playing overhead and the whole store was empty except me, maybe one other shopper and the stockers. I let out a sigh as I grabbed milk then made my way to the frozen foods. I did promise my son Finn, a pizza for dinner since he got one hundred percent’s on both his math and spelling tests. This year had been a struggle for him, he needed something to celebrate.

When I turned down the aisle with pizza, I saw a guy stocking them. From a distance I could tell he was attractive. He was tall with a slender built. Dark hair stuck out under one of those newsboy caps. While I got further down the aisle and watched him. He had ear buds in and would tap his fingers on a pizza box here and there in beat with whatever he listened to. I notices tattoos covered both of his arms when he reached into the freezer to stack several boxes of pizzas. Then I noticed he was stocking the pizzas I needed to get.

“Excuse me.” I said and kind of waved to get his attention. Which it did and he looked over at me. He took an ear bud out and smiled at me.

“Do you need in here?” He kept smiling.

“Yeah, just real quick.” I could feel myself blush.

“No problem.” He moved to the side and held the door open for me.

“Thanks” I said after grabbing a cheese pizza.


With that being the last thing I need, I made my way to the registers. While paying I looked down at my scrubs remembering that I was still in them. Batman scrubs may be awesome for a scared kid in the hospital, but attractive to an adult? Probably not. I mentally sighed to myself and walked out to my car. When I shut my trunk I looked back at the store. I saw him outside with a few other employees, having a smoke break. He was really attractive, maybe for once this crazy schedule might be nice.


Chapter two – Lex two weeks later.


When you’re a single mom, time never stands still. Two weeks had flown past me and I was back on my late night shift at the hospital. Finally one that was slow and with my best friend Tegan.

“Oh Tea. I forgot to tell you about late night grocery shopping.” I slid my chair over to her.

“Oh? Please say it’s good.” Tegan grinned at me.

“I saw this gorgeous guy working there. I’m going to the store once I’m off just so I can see him again.”

“What does he look like? Please give me lots of detail.”

“Tall, dark hair, tattoos. Great smile.” I smile remembering him holding open the door for me.

“Sounds good so far. Now what will Miss Lex do? Be creepy or are you actually going to talk to him?”

“I don’t know Tea. Probably be creepy for a while, I’ve never seen him anywhere else around town so it’s not like I can say oh I saw you at blah blah blah. You know?”

“Maybe he’s new to town, but if he’s working when you get off here. He’s probably sleeping when you are out with Finn. Just try and start a conversation with him.”

“Maybe.” I made a face at her. She knew darn well me being social wasn’t a strong point of mine. Not since I had my son seven years ago.

Once I finished that train of thought the alarm went off for an incoming of an emergency. So much for a slow night, we were running around after items needed for each new patient that came in. There had been a really bad pile up on the freeway. Person after person came in, each suffering in different ways. One man was losing his fight right there on the stretcher. I looked at my brother Grant who was wheeling him in and he just nodded at me. He stopped long enough for me to jump up and straddle him to start performing CPR as they wheeled him fast down the hallway. By the time we got into a room and tried shocking his heart there wasn’t anything more we could do. The doctor called time of death and covered him up. I tired not to shed a tear, this job is difficult to swallow at times. I wasn’t given much time to say I’m sorry to this patient as another was wheeled in and my name was being yelled to help out. My brother patted my shoulder as he went by and said “love you Lex.” He made his way out the doors to his ambulance.

We lost four more people during my shift, the hardest was the child we lost. I texted my cousin Ellie and asked her to send me a picture of Finn even if he was sleeping. I just need to see him and on these nights I work late, he stays with her.

Soon my shift was over and I could change out of my dirty scrubs into the clean set I had in my locker. When I had parked at the grocery store she had sent me a photo of him. He was sleeping all tucked into his sleeping bag, I could see his mess of black hair sticking out from the top. I smiled at the photo and laid my phone on my chest for a moment. Trying not to cry right there in my car.

Inside the store I grabbed a basket and started walking the aisles. I felt like a zombie just walking around. I couldn’t even remember what I planned on getting. Absentmindedly I grabbed bread, eggs and cheese. I stopped by the aisle with toys and found a star wars action figure I knew Finn didn’t have. Then made my way to the wine aisle. This night called for a big bottle of my favorite. I was looking over my choices when I heard a voice to my side.

“That kind of night?” He asked softly and I looked up at him. His smile faded.

“I’m an ER nurse, almost every night is one of these kind of nights.” I tried to joke but it came out flat.

“I’m sorry, that’s a hard job.” He replied sympathetically.

“It’s worse when we lose a kid.” I stop short of saying anything more, I could feel the tear run down my face. I started to walk down the aisle away from him when I feel a hand on my shoulder stopping me. I turned around to face him.



“Hey. Are you going to be ok? I’m Dean by the way.”

“I’ll be ok, after a glass or so to relax from this night. I’m Lex.” He looked at me like he didn’t believe anything I just said.

“Are you sure? My older sister was a nurse for a while. I know it’s hard and occasionally she would need someone. I know we don’t know each other but I can always listen if you need someone. I’m off in an hour we can go to that twenty four hour resturant, get some food and chat?” He looked sincere.

“That sounds great actually. I’m going to take this stuff home and I’ll meet you there?”

“I’ll be there.” He smiled and watched as I turned to head to the cash registers.

School of fear
By Gitty Daneshvari

AR: 6.2 AR points: 8.0

I give it 5 stars
Jade gives it 5stars

I found this book to be hysterical! This group of kids with major phobias go to a school to get "cured" but then weird things start happening. We read this two years ago and my oldest still clearly remembers this book.

Jades thoughts: I loved how every chapter had a different phobia title. The book was very funny! Even had a bulldog named macaroni! I would recommend this book to everyone!


It's at a 6.2 level for reading, it does have a lot of words that she struggled with. Those phobia names aren't easy! We read it out loud together so we could work through words. I would recommend for stronger readers or if they want a challenge!

There is a second book to this but we have not read it yet!

Hush hush by becca Fitzpatrick (book one)

AR 4.5 AR points 12

I give it 5 out of 5
Daughter gives it 5 out of 5

This is a story about fallen Angels! There first few chapters I read out loud to my daughter so I could change some words. Nora's bio class was talking about "attraction ". It's only in the first few chapters if you want to read through it first. After that my daughter took over reading it herself in 3rd grade. She giggled through it and could hardly put it down. She loved all of the characters and story line. We both recommend it!!

It is the first in a series of 4 books. We will review those as well.

Shiver by Maggie stiefvater

AR: 4.9 and AR points: 14

I give this story 5 out of 5.


I've read this story a couple times and my daughter plans to read it soon.

The story is about a girl who sees these wolves around her house during the winter time. During the spring and summer she runs into a boy who's eyes match one of the wolfs. One chapter will be from her point of view and the next chapter will be from his point of view. I really liked that about this book, felt like I got more of the story. It is a clean relationship between these two. They may share a bed but its in a innocent way. I've been told by one girl who read this story she loved it! Couldn't stop reading it!

This is the first book in a series of three!


I'll update after my daughter reads this as well!

Frost fire by Amanda hocking

AR: 5.6 and AR points : 12

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars !


I read this book a couple months ago, I love all her stories. Only series I've read so far that is about trolls.

It's a clean story about a girl trying to find the guy who almost kills her father, along with making the highest level of the guard. There is a love interest! But parents don't worry it doesn't go far at all.

I know several kids between 4th and 5th grade who have this on their list to read this year!

I'll update after my daughter reads.

Currently I'm reading two books before suggest them to my daughter or any other young readers.

Right now I'm 100 pages in on Cinder by Marissa Meyer. It's a retelling of Cinderella but with a twist! So far it's a good clean story for young readers. I'll update on this book when finished.


I'm just starting starstruck by Brenda Hiatt. This is the first book in a series of four. I'm excited to start reading this, it sounds like a book my daughter will love. I'll update on this book when I'm finished.

I've noticed that alot of kids today need help with reading or getting into reading. I feel we worry more about kids testing and making AR goals then really helping them build a relationship with reading. I've talked with kids who tell me they don't like to read, but kinda want to get better at it. To me that says they haven't found the right stories.

I'm hoping with my blog I might be able to reach some students and help them find books they love. Maybe even a series! I plan to review a book - give some parental heads up if needed, give AR level and points. Along with a possible review from my own daughter, who is currently a 4th grader and avid reader.

And for any young ones out there reading this, keep reading and don't give up on it.

I'm currently working on the second book in my sirens series.

There will be more characters coming into this story, a lot more crazy Miley.

There will be more secrets and surprises as well.

Hopefully soon I can update everyone with a date I will publish it.

Now to go chase kids around a cafeteria!