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Stand Your Ground
Sometimes the longest journey is back to where you belong…Life was pretty exciting for Jonathan when he lived with his con-artist father. But now he has to stay with his grandparents while his dad hides from some angry customers, and life is tough. It’s hard to make friends when you’re scamming them. Hard to gain the trust of wary grandparents. And hard to decide whether to leave when the coast is clear – or stand for a new and better life.
- GenresYoung AdultCanadaFiction
232 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
8 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
156 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 13, 2019
I loved the plot line and all that, but his writing is pretty crappy. The characters are great and I love the concept. It would be a really good book if it didn't move too fast and have characters that should be more important speaking only around once or twice, maybe a third mention if they're lucky. It's unfortunate.
February 19, 2018
Walters has pretty much any reader trapped into the well told story of this young boy and how he discovers the meaning of “home.” Lovely book for middle school readers and older ones as well.
July 26, 2020
good read
May 15, 2013
This is a good story, well told. I read it because the cover is really dated and I was wondering if I should pitch it from my library. I checked to see if it was still in print and learned that it's being re-released in a 20th anniversary edition. New cover (no kid appeal at all, but not off-putting like the current cover). AND it's been revised!
Wow! I was feeling sad about this book because it's an easy and worthy read, but it's also dated, so I figured it was not long for these shelves. I got to wondering what dates a book, apart from obvious references to long-gone technology. I've got a few ideas on that point, too. But now I'll get to see what Eric Walters thinks dates a book! The book is available for pre-order!
Imagine that, a nice little novel -- not a masterpiece, not a classic -- just a nice little book that's ready to be retired gets revised after twenty years and a chance at new life. I can't think of an instance where a novel has been revised. What a neat little money-maker that could become for publishers and authors. Take a servicable novel that's not going to see a new generation of readers and spruce it up for a second run.
This is going to be interesting to watch!
Wow! I was feeling sad about this book because it's an easy and worthy read, but it's also dated, so I figured it was not long for these shelves. I got to wondering what dates a book, apart from obvious references to long-gone technology. I've got a few ideas on that point, too. But now I'll get to see what Eric Walters thinks dates a book! The book is available for pre-order!
Imagine that, a nice little novel -- not a masterpiece, not a classic -- just a nice little book that's ready to be retired gets revised after twenty years and a chance at new life. I can't think of an instance where a novel has been revised. What a neat little money-maker that could become for publishers and authors. Take a servicable novel that's not going to see a new generation of readers and spruce it up for a second run.
This is going to be interesting to watch!
October 17, 2011
This was one of my most re-read books as a child, and if you ever see how beat up my copy is, you'll know that's true. I just read it again for the first time in at least 10 years, if not more, and while it didn't quite hold up to the gold standard I placed it at as a kid, it was still enjoyable and I'm sure it would still be very enjoyable to kids today, particularly young boys. Eric Walters knows how to craft a good story that will go straight to your heart, yet without being overtly emotional.
September 1, 2012
Short and cute read.
June 15, 2013
a really good book which make u think... :)
September 22, 2013
the book was very good and fun to read.
February 28, 2014
overall below my reading level. solid and good pace. good ending considering its teen literature.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews