Facing Demons

by Ashley Sanders

New Novel Offers Insight Into Teenage Self-Harm and Recovery Ashley Sanders' new novel explores four teenagers' self-destructive behaviors and their recovery. Despite issues of child prostitution, gangs, homelessness, racism, and suicide, "Facing Demons" inspires by revealing that a second chance is possible. When life is difficult, too often teenagers see no other way out than suicide, or fearing suicide, they indulge in self-harming behaviors. Author Ashley Sanders knows another choice exists, and it is never too late to make that choice. Sanders portrays four self-destructive teenagers who are given a second chance in his moving new novel "Facing Demons" (ISBN 9781426951701, Trafford Publishing 2011). Dedicated to "those who deserve a second chance," "Facing Demons" is the often frightening, but also inspirational tale of how four teenagers tackle their self-destructive lives when they meet in a rehabilitation program. The four teenagers Rebecca, thrust into child-prostitution, and seeking escape from it through suicide; Jason, a racist gang-member determined to avenge his family's cold-blooded murder; Felicity, a manic-depressive grieving for her deceased brother and coping with her pain through drugs, alcohol, and self-harming behaviors; and Matthew, a homeless teenager, separated from his family after escaping his war-torn homeland only to end up burning himself severely. Each character in "Facing Demons" tells his or her story in first-person, which provides an emotional experience for readers and a deeper insight into the individual characters' minds. When Rebecca, Jason, Felicity, and Matthew come together for rehabilitation, it allows them to find camaraderie and strength in knowing others have experienced troubles like them, and their fellowship provides them support in their recovery. Together, their journeys will lead them to conflict and adventure, danger and romance, but ultimately, hope for a second chance. Written for young adult readers, "Facing Demons" is an important look into the issues many teenagers face. For those on similarly self-harming paths, the story will resonate and provide hope for a better future. More fortunate readers will find the book educational and it will provide them with gratitude for their own lives as well as an understanding of others' journeys. The book may also prevent other readers from entering the glamour of the underworld or a self-destructive life of drugs and alcohol. Seventeen-year old reviewer, Avni Gupta, of Reader Views, said, "When I received 'Facing Demons, ' I was quite excited to read it. I have always been pretty interested in reading about people who have had to go to rehab and the stories behind them. Normally, you just hear about them as a statistic, but behind every number and every statistic, there is a real person and a real story....This book was absolutely amazing. I definitely read it twice before I started writing this review! With every page I read, and every detail into someone's story, I became more and more hooked on this book." Avni's response is sure to be that of numerous readers in her, and all, age groups. "Facing Demons" (ISBN 9781426951701, Trafford Publishing 2011) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.ashleysanders.com.au. Publicity www.ReaderViews.com. Review copies available upon request. ###

Genres: Young Adult, Abuse, Inspirational

200 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2011

About the author

Ashley Sanders is author of the young adult fiction,Facing Demons, and creator of Ōrphic Flux.

Ōrphic Flux is a collection of tales inspired by the fascinating lives of strangers.

Every soul has a story to tell; a complex, kaleidoscopic mix of emotions and experiences forming life and consciousness.

Our individualism and deep universal connectedness, our strength and our fragility, and the way in which we all carry out the human experience  should be celebrated.

Amidst the organised chaos of society and the wonderment of the universe we all seek a purpose.

This collection of tales shines a light on the beauty and mystery of human existence, and the wondrous world around us.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRILLIANT! This is one of those books you'll either love or hate and I LOVED IT! I actually couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting (wasn't hard as it's just shy of 200 pages). I loved the characters and think they're really beautiful. It could've gone into a bit more detail with the nasty pasts of some of the characters so I'm looking forward to this in the prequels. I liked the way it showed each of the characters first person views, even though it was hard to follow at times it showed how similar they are as people even though they don't believe it at first and clash quite a bit. I liked knowing what the characters were each thinking and feeling. Definitely pulls at your heart-strings. My only disappointment was it was too short and left me wanting more!

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in 2012 and have finished reading it again for the third time.

"Facing Demons" by Ashley Sanders is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that delves into the lives of four young individuals grappling with profound personal challenges. Set in the Anchor Beach Rehabilitation Clinic, the story follows Blake Solomon, a cancer survivor who dedicates his life to helping others overcome their struggles.

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of Felicity, Jason, Matthew, and Rebecca, each battling issues such as substance abuse, self-harm, and homelessness. Sanders' portrayal of these characters is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, as they navigate their darkest moments and find ways to confront their inner demons.

What stands out in "Facing Demons" is the authenticity and rawness of the characters' experiences. Sanders, drawing from his own background as a paramedic, brings a unique depth and realism to the narrative, making the characters' journeys resonate deeply with readers.

The novel is a poignant exploration of pain, resilience, and the power of human connection. It is a must-read for those interested in stories of personal redemption and the strength of the human spirit.

This book is highly recommended for readers who appreciate character-driven stories that tackle difficult yet essential topics with sensitivity and insight.

[LK Griffie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere during the tumultuous years we call being a teenager, I read a book called Voices that impacted me strongly at the time and stuck with me for many years. The concept of the book was the background and letters of teens who committed suicide, and was based on non-fiction cases. Each time I connected with the kid in the current “story” and each time my mind cried out for them to choose life — things would get better. When I ran across Ashley Sanders’ Facing Demons the write up reminded me of the book which had made such a huge impression on me. So I read the preview and decided to give it a try.

I was not disappointed.

Sanders has penned a powerful story weaving five troubled lives together in a beautiful setting. Blake Solomon rescues four teens from the hospital, transports them to his rehabilitation center, and helps them learn to take control of their own destiny and break their patterns from the past. And you may note that I mentioned five troubled lives, and not four. Blake has some troubles which are revealed through the course of the story as well, which help give him a realness he would not otherwise have had.

Each of the kids in the story come to life on the page, and you will feel like you could meet them somewhere in your own home town. Yet, each of them has a reason to want to die, as well as a reason to live — though they may not know it. While each of their stories has some similarities, they are unique to the character and the voices are well-developed. My only complaint, which probably comes from being a writer myself and therefore used to subjecting my own work to extreme critical analysis, is that despite the use of first person present tense (or in the case of Blake third person present tense), I felt distanced from the characters — like they were at arms length. I wanted to feel their pain, yet felt told about it instead. I am not a huge fan of present tense narrative, but the purpose behind it is to bring the reader into the mind of the character, reducing any distance. Toward the end of the book, the distance diminished, which made me wish the intimacy would have been there from the start.

However, despite my pickiness, Facing Demons is a worthwhile read, and one that teens will definitely connect to. The issues that the teens face have an incredible ring of truth about them. And in delving into Sanders’ background, I discovered that he works as a paramedic, so has seen this sort of thing first hand. What a wonderful way to take personal experience and convert it to an amazingly insightful tale. Facing Demons is about some of the poor choices we can make with our lives, or dealing with the circumstances dealt to us from the deck of life. It has a tremendous message of hope and will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails with its exciting conclusion. A definite “must read” for troubled teens, but good for all teens and those of us who still remember the emotional upheaval of those times.

Bravo, Mr. Sanders

What’s even better is that Sanders is currently working on the prequel stories of Jason, Rebecca, Matthew, and Felicity, and I for one can’t wait for them to be out.

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was something missing from this book and I can't really place my thoughts on it. The raw emotions where that, you can't deny that. I found myself tearing up a bit, mostly with Rebecca's and Matthews stories (Not that Jason's and Felicities weren't bad, just more common) when it was being described. I enjoyed that aspect. Now the fact that it constantly changed points of views was a bit bugging. Especially since to show the change it was nothing spectacular rather than a bold face of the persons name and their thoughts afterwards. I think a bigger fan-fare showing the change would give it better reception, since that sometimes in the middle of a persons inner monologue it changes to third-person and talks about Blake and the others out of their minds. It could get really confusing. Though it wasn't hard to tell who was who since everyone had their own unique voices. The voices weren't all that bad, I could see Felicity's and Rebecca's voices being the most real. Jason's I'm a little on the fence about since it only took him a day or two to actually change. He goes one day trying to kill Matthew then suddenly saving Rebecca, I don't really buy it. Matthew's voice really needs to be changed, for someone who had been through so munch with fleeing his country to living on the streets to seeing his sister raped and murdered he's WAY too happy-go-lucky. And his 'phrases' were a bit out-dated and cheesy. The plot itself had potential but it went by too fast and it was hard to keep track of the liner timeline of the entire story. Days would crawl by-but then suddenly by page 150 it's been months and the program is ending. WHAT?! I think the book would've worked out much better if the format was different and there was more third-person point of view than switching back and forth. Especially with the fighting and the running that would've worked out much better.

[Sharon Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking novel which will touch every human emotion possible. You will laugh, cry, feel humility and despair as you read each of the characters individual stories.


When we are faced in our everyday life by people who are high on drugs, very angry or to the other extreme withdrawn, reading this book could change your perception of that person.


The book teaches us that behind every heartache lies a reason and if we took the time to listen and learn the persons story, this could fulfil our lives by being gentle, kind as well as understanding.


As you go through the book each of their stories are revealed in stages, making you think of how you would react to listening to those harrowing stories. The author is very clever with this and brings each feeling to light and as the four main characters listen they realise that through releasing their worries they can really gain strength, especially telling their story to someone who understands.


Our characters - Matthew - The refugee who ends up on the street reveals his harrowing story, will the others understand? - Jason - A gang member or hard boy who cannot take a backward step or this will show weakness, can the tasks set for him change him? - Felicity - Who just wants to be loved but her story is a tragic one, can the others help her to overcome her tragedy? - Rebecca - She has been passed from foster home to foster home, used and abused, can she change her ways? All four characters experience near death experiences which bring them to the retreat.


Four lost souls all want one thing, a family, a sense of belonging. I haven't discussed the characters stories as not wanting to give the reader any pre-conceived ideas. This book has to be read for the reader to make up their own minds.

[Kim Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic job Ashley Sanders did on this book! Facing Demons, although a quick read, is definitely a book that will make you think more about the struggles that young people face these days – and the decisions they ultimately make.


This book outlines four different characters and their stories – which are sometimes beyond troubling to read. All of them meet while in intensive therapy because of their behaviors and you watch as their lives are transformed with help from their doctor and each other. Rebecca has bounced from one foster home to another and along the way, has been abused in ways that most of us can only imagine; Matthew has been chronically homeless for years and is running out of options; Jason’s family was murdered by a street gang and his life has been about finding the murderers and killing them; and Felicity who by all accounts is your regular high school girl, until her path of self destruction starts.


I love the way their stories are told in stages because you see how each of their lives have unfolded, find out the motivations behind their behavior, and learn about the near death experiences that brought them together.


How many times have you seen that kid walking down a street and thought, “that looks like trouble” ? We encounter people every day that we know are troubled in one way or the other – whether from drug use or crime. How often do we sit back and ponder what is really happening in their lives? This book will make you think about that.


Please read it and pass it on to your teen – it is so worth it!


Win a FREE copy! Visit me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/couponer.101

[Katie Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Facing Demons by Ashley Sanders takes an in depth look at a lot of really BIG issues in today's society. Drugs, Gang Violence, Prostitution and Homelessness. This fictional book takes you into the mind of 4 very different teenagers and how they are dealing with their lives.

Jason who lost his family in a brutal act of violence, Rebecca who was shuffled through foster care right into the vicious world of drugs and child prostitution, Felicity who seems to have it all but is wallowing in her own depression and hatred of self, and Matthew who is far from his home, without a home and who has struggled to simply survive each day. Together they are led by Blake down a road toward love, acceptance and being able to move forward in their individual lives and their lives together as friends and a team.

Although the story and ideas are commonplace things that need to be addressed, admittedly I struggled a bit reading this book. I loved the characters themselves. I loved their stories and how their lived developed and they were able to overcome so many things. What I had a tough time with was the self reflection written within this book for each character that seemed well, unrealistic. Yes, I know that many people overcome ALL of the things listed above - through therapy, religion, prayer and will power. But at times I found the dialogue and the self reflection to be unnatural. This takes the book down a at least a star for me. Otherwise, I loved the thought behind it, the characters themselves and the overall theme of this book. I do think that Ashley Sanders has a talent for writing, just perhaps is a little too adult for a young adult themed book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facing Demons is a young adult novel about different teens facing desperate, traumatic situations. This novel discusses many problems facing young teens and young adults today.  As suggested by the title, each character must face their demons before being able to overpower them. Despite the initial bleak outlooks there is an underlying feeling of hope and renewal  throughout the book.

Ashley Saunders breaks down the book by each character’s story. It begins with the story of Blake Solomon. The man, the rest will come to know at the Anchor Beach Rehabilitation Clinic, faced his own demons. Blake survived an almost deadly battle with an aggressive form of cancer. This gave him the inspiration to help others who are struggling through life. Although he is counseling these kids, he also continues to face his own demons throughout the story.

The rest of the characters Rebecca, Jason, Felicity, and Matthew are introduced in the first chapter, aptly titled “Their Stories.” The way in which the author penned their stories makes them come alive for the reader. You can truly envision their poor desperate faces searching for a better way to live. By the end of the first couple of chapters, you can not help but sympathize with these characters, wanting to reach out ad help them if you could. Like I said, these stories are common to what we see in our society today. Any one of these characters could be your neighbor, your schoolmate, or someone you see on the street.

Once I started this book I could not put it down. Facing Demons is a page turning, thought provoking, heart wrenching novel. I would recommend this to readers of all ages who have faced issues in their lives.

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories of redemption and of salvation. Finding your inner demons is hard. And to see an author create such intensity in the characters he has come up with, it felt like I was right there, helping them fight their battles with them.

What I love most about this book are the characters. These character carried lots of weight on their shoulders. I loved reading about each character back round and how they come to be who they are. All of these characters play such an important role in each others lives they don't even know it till the very end.

The plot of the book is simple yet so complex. With each point of view switch, the reader learns more about the characters and the future that they are facing. I like how in every characters there is a moment of aweness when each character reveals their past. Now, not all past are the same, but to same, no matter what, they all had a struggle to face. And to face your inner demon and conquered it, is more that I can ever say.

Facing Demons, finds the exquisite tension between each character longing for a connection. Facing Demons is a beautiful story with the right amount of light at the end of the tunnel. With a breathtaking execution, Facing Demons keeps the reader entrance till the end.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the few fiction books I read where I really felt like I was invested in the health and overall trials of the characters. I liked that these were real people dealing with real things head on, and that their recovery is what we were dealing about. So many novels allude to the painful things people face in life, but end with a mention that they are working at it or show us who they are after the work is done. Not so in, Facing Demons. We get to see right into the minds of each of the four teens that are living at the rehab center and it was definitely an insight that I have not had before.

I thought the characters were all very well though out and I liked that the book and storyline were not at all stale. I read the whole book in one sitting, over night even though I was tired I could not sleep until I knew how it ended. The one complaint that I did have though, was the ending. I didn't think it was really believable how it all tied up, and would have liked a little more from the author there, but who am I to say how someone's story ends.

Really recommend this book!

[Tracy Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I received for free through Goodreads First Reads. It is a short book with only about 200 pages....but it took me awhile to get into it. Once I did start really reading it, I found it to be interesting and the character stories were almost unbearably sad. The one thing that really bugged me was the way the author would actually make the teenagers speak....I kept thinking to myself that "kids that age don't REALLY talk like that or do they even THINK of things like that." I felt like Ashley was trying too hard to talk the talk. That was the issue that made the book so much less realistic to read because I was always fighting the urge to just scribble out what was said on the page and re-write it.

I don't know if I would recommend it to others to read or not. I'm in the middle about it. For a fast read with a bit of frustration.....I say go for it....otherwise, you would be okay if you didn't pick up this book...there are better things out there to read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facing Demons by Ashley Sanders is a book about four young adults all facing hard issues in their life? Brought together in one facility to try and make sense of their life they are forced to work together and face their demons in order to live life as they were meant to be. This book was really inspirational though heart wrenching at times when the author told the characters stories. I found the book to be well written as it went from one characters point of view to another as you learned about each one. I came away from reading this book with a sense of yes life is tough and everyone has a story to be told but with strength of character and hard work we can all survive and be better for it. It was definitely a great book one of the best I’ve read in awhile and I really recommend you add it to your summer reading list.

[Amanda Croley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Facing Demons was the story of four young people's very different struggles. All of them brought together by one man and his orginization for another chance at life. While the idea was good, it was also extremely unrealistic. It seemed obvious to me, and I may be completely wrong, that the author hasn't spent any time with some of these types of people. Some of the situations in the book would never happen in real life.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads win.
I really could not get into this book at all. I'm not sure if it was the length of the book or how it was written. I did not really care for the flip flopping between all 4 characters within each of the chapters. It just did not seem like your typical fiction book to me.

[Kimberley Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! I can't wait for him to finish the Prequels so that I can learn more about the characters stories. This was a great first novel can't wait to see more!

[Beverley Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A narrative about a group of teenagers needing a second chance in life. An excellent read!