The 86th Degree by Barbara Harken

Abuse, Rejection, and HealingBarbara Harken writes with passion in "The 86th Degree." This is the story of Amber Helm. The novel combines the elements of romance, conflict, rejection, self acceptance, and emotional healing.Amber is young and idealistic. She has intentionally chosen teaching as a profession to provide her with the opportunity to positively influence high school students. She is a teacher in Chicago's inner city. Amber has been involved in securing a grant for the school to fund a special short term course for young journalism students from her classes. Ethan Michaels, a former acquaintance, will be teaching the five week class.Amber is conflicted as she learns that it will be Ethan leading the class and that she has been assigned to welcome him to the school as a department host. Three years earlier Amber had walked out on Ethan after a brief summer romance and had not seen or heard from him since.As Amber relives some deep rooted childhood emotional experienc
es, her mother's illness, and the demands of her prosperous father she finds herself on an emotional roller coaster.Amber is faced with an emotional crisis one of her students, Jocelyn, is going through. She begins to cultivate a friendship with Jocelyn and soon discovers that there is an abusive relationship in the home. Amber's own deep seated anger and emotional scars cause her to make unwise decisions that have serious ramifications on her teaching career.Harken introduces information on basic issues of child abuse, verbal and physical, and of the paradigm shift in philosophical, psychological, and the legal ramifications being faced in our society today.Conflict, resolution, and more conflict engage the reader. I was glued to the pages of this important novel. Harken creates a social awareness and critique of the problem of abusive relationships and the importance of emotional caregivers, and necessary interventions.Barbara Harken writes persuasively. She has a stron
g plot, crisp dialog, and believable characters. Her own experience in the classroom adds credibility to this timely, engrossing, heartrending story of hurt and healing.Robert D. Reed Publisher, 978-1931741941As Reviewed for Midwest Book Review

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