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Cedar River Daydreams #8
Fill My Empty Heart
Cedar River High has just taken on a new practice teacher who's envied and talked about by the entire school.
Mr. Cartwright, a weightlifter and a football player in college, is everybody's idol—perfect muscles, handsome, and he knows it.
But all those good looks don't make up for the damage he does around the school. Lexi Leighton watches as two of her friends make Mr. Cartwright their hero, then are manipulated into bad decisions.
Lexi knew there was trouble brewing, but she never thought it would get this serious.
Mr. Cartwright, a weightlifter and a football player in college, is everybody's idol—perfect muscles, handsome, and he knows it.
But all those good looks don't make up for the damage he does around the school. Lexi Leighton watches as two of her friends make Mr. Cartwright their hero, then are manipulated into bad decisions.
Lexi knew there was trouble brewing, but she never thought it would get this serious.
123 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1990
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Judy Baer
106 books127 followersaka Judy Kaye
Judy Baer was born and grew up on a farm on the prairies of North Dakota, USA. An only child, she spent most of her days with imaginary people-either those she read about or those she made up in her head. Her most ambitious conjuring did not succeed, however. She kept a clean stall with hay and oats for the horse she imagined would come but unfortunately, it never did. As an adult, however, she managed to make that dream come true and raised foundation quarter horses and buffalo for some years. A voracious reader, Judy learned to read with comic books, anything from Little Lulu and Superman to the Rawhide Kid. She sold her first story for $10.00 to a farm magazine. She still has the $10.00.
She graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota with a major in English and education and a minor in religion. At the time, she was simply studying what interested her, but now realizes that she was educating herself for her future career as an inspirational christian romance writer.
Judy wanted to write for Harlequin even in high school but it wasn't until her youngest child learned to say "No" that she realized that she'd better consider a second career to fall back on when mothering was done. Her first book was written with her little girl on her lap. Judy would type a few words, say "Now, Jennifer," at which time her daughter would hit the space bar before Judy continued typing. It wasn't the fastest way to work, but it offered a lot of mother-daughter time together. An over-achiever, she's written 71 books for various publishers. The mother of two and step-mother of three, she now has lots of family to enjoy.
In 2001, she went back to school and became a certified professional life coach. Currently she is working on her Master's in Human Development in the areas of writing, coaching and spirituality and writing inspirational Chick Lit which, she says, is the most fun she's ever had writing.
Judy Baer was born and grew up on a farm on the prairies of North Dakota, USA. An only child, she spent most of her days with imaginary people-either those she read about or those she made up in her head. Her most ambitious conjuring did not succeed, however. She kept a clean stall with hay and oats for the horse she imagined would come but unfortunately, it never did. As an adult, however, she managed to make that dream come true and raised foundation quarter horses and buffalo for some years. A voracious reader, Judy learned to read with comic books, anything from Little Lulu and Superman to the Rawhide Kid. She sold her first story for $10.00 to a farm magazine. She still has the $10.00.
She graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota with a major in English and education and a minor in religion. At the time, she was simply studying what interested her, but now realizes that she was educating herself for her future career as an inspirational christian romance writer.
Judy wanted to write for Harlequin even in high school but it wasn't until her youngest child learned to say "No" that she realized that she'd better consider a second career to fall back on when mothering was done. Her first book was written with her little girl on her lap. Judy would type a few words, say "Now, Jennifer," at which time her daughter would hit the space bar before Judy continued typing. It wasn't the fastest way to work, but it offered a lot of mother-daughter time together. An over-achiever, she's written 71 books for various publishers. The mother of two and step-mother of three, she now has lots of family to enjoy.
In 2001, she went back to school and became a certified professional life coach. Currently she is working on her Master's in Human Development in the areas of writing, coaching and spirituality and writing inspirational Chick Lit which, she says, is the most fun she's ever had writing.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 5, 2015
...in which we learn that steroids are bad. Bad. Did you hear me? Bad.* If they don't kill you, they will give you heart problems and kidney problems and acne and stunt your growth. (Unless you're being supervised by a doctor, in which case they're great.) Also, if a male teacher is attractive, all the girls (except the one who loves God) will swoon over him endlessly, even though he has a temper and belittles students and doesn't talk about anything but a) himself, b) bodybuilding, and c) his bodybuilding prowess (and awards).
Anyway. Typical 80s 'issue' fiction, although this one turned out to be Christian fiction as well, which I didn't expect. "Don't you see? Egg doesn't view his body as God's temple. Egg doesn't see that his body is worthy of his respect and care" (82).
What surprises me, though, is that none of the students -- who are justifiably concerned about the way this student teacher is acting -- think to, say, tell an adult. The student teacher insults/belittles students on Day 1 of his student teaching. He gives a kid steroids...and the kid's friends worry, and try to convince the kid not to take steroids, and agree that the teacher is No Good, and pray about it...and that's it. Oh, and meanwhile, another character has taken the student teacher's insults to heart and gone from overweight to anorexic in the span of...what? A week? Timeline isn't clear. (Reminds me a bit of Walking a Thin Line, actually...again with the 80s issue fiction.)
*Erm, not to suggest that they're good. Just, you know.
Anyway. Typical 80s 'issue' fiction, although this one turned out to be Christian fiction as well, which I didn't expect. "Don't you see? Egg doesn't view his body as God's temple. Egg doesn't see that his body is worthy of his respect and care" (82).
What surprises me, though, is that none of the students -- who are justifiably concerned about the way this student teacher is acting -- think to, say, tell an adult. The student teacher insults/belittles students on Day 1 of his student teaching. He gives a kid steroids...and the kid's friends worry, and try to convince the kid not to take steroids, and agree that the teacher is No Good, and pray about it...and that's it. Oh, and meanwhile, another character has taken the student teacher's insults to heart and gone from overweight to anorexic in the span of...what? A week? Timeline isn't clear. (Reminds me a bit of Walking a Thin Line, actually...again with the 80s issue fiction.)
*Erm, not to suggest that they're good. Just, you know.
August 15, 2021
Sometimes it was cheesy but I love how the issues were approached. I also love Lexie and how she isn’t this overbearing, fanatic, religious girl. I feel like christian are portrayed that way. It felt more like how high school was through my eyes. Which was super cool. I like the relationship in the book and how it doesn’t shy away from how an issue would actually feel and how it’s okay for friends to not know the answer.
February 24, 2019
It’s crazy how Mr. Cartwright looks and acts more like a high school student than a student teacher. Such a bully 😡 I really liked how anorexia and steroids were explained. I may be a Claudia Kishi when it comes to sweets, but I like stories that are honest about tough subjects.
October 25, 2024
This story dealt with body images and struggles teens have with them. It included steroid use and anorexia.
April 16, 2011
I can't believe the characters in this book (and presumably the readers) don't know about eating disorders or steroid use. Regardless, I think the book is a safe entry to learning about these topics. I am sure eating disorders will come up again in later books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews