Alice Zoe-Chocolate says her latest book – Rise & Reach: Stories of Youth Who Didn’t Give Up – uses her experiences growing up in Behchokǫ̀ as a “road map” for youth.
“Rise & Reach is for youth and young people that have struggles and are looking for change,” said Zoe-Chocolate.
Zoe-Chocolate said her book uses 10 fictitious characters to represent real-life experiences she witnessed while growing up in Behchokǫ̀.
Those include the story of a girl who becomes a mother at 17 and finishes high school, a boy who drops out of school to work in the trades and gets his red seal, someone in foster care who feels alone but creates the supports he lacked, and a youth who lost her brother and is dealing with the grief.
“I wrote this book because youth need encouragement before they give up on themselves. Sometimes one story, one message, and one reminder can help someone keep going,” she said.
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“These young people, they made it. Our youth can make it too.”
Rise & Reach: Stories of Youth Who Didn’t Give Up – and her first book, Who Do You Think You Are? I am Everything – are available on Zoe-Chocolate’s website and Amazon.
