Drugs Make You Un-Smarter Wins Golden Quill Award

Drugs Make You Un-Smarter Wins Golden Quill Award from the League of Utah Writers. This is the second award for this book. The authors also won as finalists in the Indie Excellence awards, earlier this year.

The League of Utah Writers gave out publication awards at their annual Round-up on Friday, September 16^{th, 2011} in Logan, Utah. This group is nearly 400 members strong and offers workshops for writers of all levels from beginner to published authors. The competition is stiff for published authors. The categories include: Adult Fiction; Adult Nonfiction; Children’s/Young Adult books, and Religious books. Authors and Youth Speakers,  Jill Ammon Vanderwood and Savanna Peterson received first place certificates and a Gold Quill pin, during the ceremony.

Drugs Make You Un-Smarter is written by high school student, Savanna Peterson and her grandmother, Jill Ammon Vanderwood to promote drug awareness to teens.  Savanna tells her story about growing up with a father in prison for drug related crimes. Her brother had parties with drugs and alcohol, while her mother worked. This book gives facts about drugs along with stories of those who have abused them. The reader will learn about rehab, how drugs affect a family and hear from kids who, like Savanna, have made a commitment to remain drug-free. This book includes interviews with celebrities such as VH1’s Celebrity Rehab LCSW, Sherry Gaba; Actor Jason London; Actor and Author Tray Cheney; Author’s Jennifer Storm and Kristen Moller; Sheriff Tom Allmon of the Face2Face program, and Dr. Kishore from the National Library of Addictions.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood is the author of five books for children/young adults. Her book What’s It Like, Living Green? Kids Teaching Kids, by the Way They Live is the winner of three national book awards and won silver last year from the League of Utah Writers.

 Savanna Peterson is a high school student from Utah. She enjoys having as much fun as possible without drugs and alcohol. Savanna has taken a stand against drugs and wants to teach others that drugs are not the way to a happy life.

 Jill and Savanna have spoken at:

• Boys and Girls Clubs
• church groups
• drug rehabs
• school class rooms

They have been interviewed on:

• Fox 13  Good Day Utah
•  KSL News Radio
•  Conversations Live Radio, With Cyrus Webb
• Dresser After Dark
• "A Moment of Change" at CBS radio http://bit.ly/or8H4T
• The Deseret News
•  The Salt Lake Tribune
•  The Valley Journal
• Love to Know: Teen Issues—How a Teen Abstains from Drugs and Alcohol
•  Savanna was featured on the Granite School District Website
• Savanna was interviewed for the Teen Nick website for the ‘Above the Influence’ campaign

For an interview or to book the authors as youth speakers contact:

Jill Vanderwood

Jillpickle11@gmail.com

www.jillvanderwood.com

Goals and a Wonderful Future

Dear Jill,

    A friend told me yesterday about Savanna's interview on Fox News (which I didn't see) and about her life and book.  I just went to me computer and googled it to see the interview.  The reason I am so interested in her story and in Savanna, is because I was her second grade teacher.  At that time, I was terribly concerned about her, her older brother (whom I also taught in his second grade year), and other family members.  It was obvious that the life styIe I observed at that time was not so positive.

    Please tell Savanna how thrilled I am that she has been able to step out of that downward cycle and to turn into such a lovely young woman, with goals and a wonderful future.

    I have been retired for six years now, but I still think of each of my former students as "my kids", and often wonder where they are and what their lives are like.  Thanks to you for being so supportive of Savanna and helping make her life go in a positive direction.

 

My Love

Savanna's second grade

teacher

Goals and a Wonderful Future

Dear Jill,

    A friend told me yesterday about Savanna's interview on Fox News (which I didn't see) and about her life and book.  I just went to me computer and googled it to see the interview.  The reason I am so interested in her story and in Savanna, is because I was her second grade teacher.  At that time, I was terribly concerned about her, her older brother (I also taught in his second grade year), and other family members.  It was obvious that the lifestyle I observed at that time was not so positive.

    Please tell Savanna how thrilled I am that she has been able to step out of that downward cycle and to turn into such a lovely young woman, with goals and a wonderful future.

    I have been retired for six years now, but I still think of each of my former students as "my kids", and often wonder where they are and what their lives are like.  Thanks to you for being so supportive of Savanna and helping make her life go in a positive direction.

 

My Love

Savanna's 2nd Grade Teacher

TeachYALit.com - The YA Lit Review: Positive Peer Pressure (Review of DRUGS MAKE YOU UN-SMARTER | Savanna Peterson & Jill Vanderwood

TeachYALit.com - The YA Lit Review: Positive Peer Pressure (Review of DRUGS MAKE YOU UN-SMARTER Savanna Peterson & Jill Vanderwood

I Won't Let Drugs and Alcohol Steal My Dreams

Dear Savanna,
       I really liked your stories and think that you are really strong and motivated not to use any form of drugs and alcohol. It really inspires me to double up on my promise to myself not to use drugs or alcohol.

       But through those stories I also won't hang out with the wrong people because it sounds like they are total Jerks who will steal all your stuff and ask you to make wrong decisions.

       I kind of know what it is like. My mom used to smoke a ton and drink also the same with my father. I have seen how hard it is to quit. It is like torture and I never want to go through that. Drugs and alcohol is one of the reasons my mom and dad split up. I haven't seen my father since the age of 5 and I am 12 now.
 
     I have seen how drugs ruin people's lives. One of my mom's old boyfriends had a bunch of dreams but he started on drugs at an early age and it wrecked his life. He wanted to be a doctor and so does my mom.

       I am proud of my mom for quiting drugs and alcohol and she is going to college. She is doing really well and she might have a chance to turn her life around.

       I have a dream of being a doctor and I'm not going to let drugs and alcohol get in the way. I figure it's like this, you are a large cube of ice. Your bad friend is a sculptor and drugs are the chisel. Together they can control and "chisel" away at your life.

       I am really inspired by you and hope the best for you and your family.
                                                                          
                                                                                Sincerely,
                                                                                              Gage Kowallis--12

Before He Did Drugs

Dear Savanna,
       I've heard your story and I know how you feel or felt. My brother did drugs and was constantly trying to join gangs. Well he is only my half brother. He told me that he hates my/his family. I used to look up to him and thank him before he did drugs.  After seeing my brother do drugs, it taught me that I didn't want to do drugs. I don't want to be an idiot like he was.

       My brother, like your dad (which I'm sorry about) stole stuff. In fact when my parents went to court, there was another complaint that he had gotten high and stole things two days before court. I have seen my brother smoke drugs (in pictures) and my dad smokes and drinks.

      I wish things could be like when we were little. He would play Barbies with me and we would play all sort of fun games. My brother has stopped doing drugs for at least two months now.
      
       Hearing your story and watching how my brother was has inspired me to stay drug/alcohol free.

                                                                               Sincerely,
                                                                                      Taylor

     

Anyone Would Be Lucky To Be Your Friend

Dear Savanna,
          I think you're a smart young woman. You have a beautiful attitude and you have good ideas. Anyone would be lucky to be your friend. I feel bad about your brother and dad. Maybe you should talk to your dad about what you're doing and tell him and remind him no matter what that you will never ever do drugs or steal or anything to get you in prison or jail. But tell him nicely. Maybe tell your mom to harden up a little bit and say no once in awhile.

       You are a strong and confident girl and I can see that by your stories you wrote. You must be really proud not doing drugs and you make me want to be just like you. Because I want your looks and your attitude. Maybe if I could do the things that you do, my younger siblings (sister and brother) will want to be like me. Then, me, my sister and brother will be just like you.

       You are a really influential person and hopefully your sister will learn from you. Maybe you might  help your brother to learn from you too. You look really nice and a little tough too. It sounds like you were born wise. It's a good thing you say no to drugs. I would really like to be your friend because of how nice you are and how strong.

                                                                Sincerely,
                                                                Becky Wilkins--age 12