The Greenlee Project: the story of a bully and an innocent girl

The Greenlee Project by Amanda M. Thrasher is an important book.

It is important because it doesn't lecture about bullying. Instead, it tells a story that grabs the attention of the most reluctant teen or tween reader. The tale unfolds carefully and in a way that leads to thoughtful insight. The study questions found at the end of the story provide teachers, parents, counselors, and community groups with a tool to broaden the insights offered. 

The Greenlee Project was a monstrous act that turned into something more horrendous than I could have imagined are the words of Clay, the football player who lost his way in the school-world of peer pressure and social stratification.

Learning about the victim of Clay's Project, and how her life was changed, is discovered as each chapter unfolds. Her ability to find strength in the depth of despair gives hope, and an alternative view of life, to those who have been victimized.The  reviews for The Greenlee Project are outstanding. The heart-wrenching content is a must read for teens and tweens using the internet, parents, grandparents, teachers, and counselors. 

The "Story Behind the Story" by Amanda M. Thrasher

Why I wrote The Greenlee Project

What  inspired the story, The Greenlee Project? I was asked that recently, authors are asked that question frequently about their work. Since this book is important to me, personally and the topic, I thought I’d share in detail my inspiration for the book.

Writing this piece took me to a dark place, as a writer, and at times as a person. I became more of a recluse than I appear to be. Typical for writers; but I’m not a recluse. As an author and a publisher, I truly am busy. Why was this piece so hard to write? Moreover, what inspired it?

I was haunted for years by the Amanda Todd Case, as a parent, who would not be? However, as the years passed and kids had access to social media tools, bullying started reeling out of control. Suicides started popping up in the news. Unfortunately for a long time, as a society, we became desensitized to the harmful damage that words could cause until kids started killing themselves over texts. It happened to be affecting mainly tweens and teens. I have girls the age (or at the time) of the kids in The Greenlee Project. I started paying attention to what my kids were doing and how their friends were acting and those around them. When they would have arguments with their so-called friends, which got nastier over texts causing parents to get involved, I realized two major things. 1) Kids were hiding behind their phones, Ipads, and social media, and 2) they were stronger and crueler when hiding behind those devices. Both things disgusted me.

The final straw, the one that broke the camels back per se, was when I realized with 100% certainty that the kids themselves honestly didn’t understand the damage they were causing. That the wrong carelessly used or hateful word, just might be the one that put a fragile child over the edge. Why? 1) They had no idea how deeply the wounds were that they causing (I didn’t mean it became their standard response), and most importantly 2) They were still kids. Often, good kids. This disturbed me as much as the bullying at times. When great kids get pulled into stupid activities over social media and within minutes their lives are forever tainted. Social media devices in the hands of kids that don’t know how to use them can be dangerous. Kids desensitized over several years it would seem, TV, media, and music to name a few things. Saying things such as “Drink bleach and die,” as a way to be funny or hateful depending on whom they said it too and why. So what on earth was going on and what could we do?

I set about to write a piece that I hoped would hit home and deliver a message that could impact teens and make them think. One that would showcase the damage that social media could inflict upon not just the victim, which is horrific, but the family, friends, community, the person who is the bully and their family if not used correctly. The lives ruined if used to harm, and the consequences of such.

During my research, I visited schools, football games, spoke with teens, tweens, and paid attention to what our kids are doing with their phones, tablets, Ipad, etc. I cannot even begin to claim to understand the tools they know how to use because they change daily. Apps. that do not show up on your data plans. As parents, we likely wouldn’t know how to use them anyway. The things I found out during research, would send chills down your spine. I cannot stress enough the damage tweens, and teens instill upon each other with their words, snap-chat, videos, etc. It is awful, and that is sometimes when they like each other. Our kids believe they are invincible, and that is a terrifying thought.   

Greenlee could be any kid in any town, anywhere in America. A normal teen, until one day she wasn’t.

I sincerely hope you enjoy my work. Thank you! ~ Amanda M. Thrasher

Author bio

Multiple award-winning Author Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England, moved to Texas and resides there still. Author of several children’s books including picture books, middle-grade chapter books, YA and a reader’s theater titled What If… A Story of Shattered Lives written for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center as part of the Driving on the Right Side of the Road program (DRSR). She’s a multiple Gold recipient of the Mom’s Choice Awards for The Greenlee Project, YA and General Fiction, and for an early reader chapter book, Spider Web Scramble. The Greenlee Project also won first place for YA and General Fiction at the NTBF. Amanda conducts workshops, speaks with kids and teens of all ages, writes a blog, and contributes to an on-line magazine. Amanda is also the Chief Executive Officer at Progressive Rising Phoenix Press.

Where to buy the book or links:

Website:Amanda M. Thrasher

Amazon (this is the direct link)

Barnes & Noble  (this is the direct link) 

Study guide availalble for educators -  Sample: The Greenlee Project Study Guide

Also sold, Apple iBooks 

Nook 

And just about where ever books are sold.