There was something different about Jessie. She struggled to fit in at school, surrounded by a web of lies and deceit...until she met Ethan.
Based on a true story, the novel Sway is about a hearing impaired teenager named Jessie who tries her best to blend in at school. Every day proves to be a test of her resolve when she is constantly plagued by the ruthless pranks of her classmates who are determined to make her life miserable. When a handsome stranger arrives in the nick of time, Jessie wonders if he is too good to be true. Is Ethan’s attention genuine, or will he betray her trust, too?
Testimonials:
"Sway is the empowering story of a young-adult who rises above her circumstances and does so with a charm and finesse that is both touching and inspiring. Jessie's encounter with a young man named Ethan is a significant component of this story as she finds true friendship with a sweet romantic element that makes Sway all the more appealing. Jennifer Gibson's depiction of Jessie's story is insightful and moving." - Literary Classics Book Reviews
"Jennifer Gibson sensitively portrays what it is like to live with a hearing loss, while trying to navigate adolescence. The real focus is Jessie and her eventual triumph as she makes new friends, new confidence and a new calling, one where her hearing loss doesnʼt matter." - Victoria Z. Burg - reviewer, InD’Tale Magazine
"Sway is a beautifully written story that has a moral lesson. I recommend the book to all. Teachers should use Sway to help students understand disabilities and bullying. Parents should read it with their children to help them understand as well. I see this book as a great teaching tool."
- Dawn, Reviewer, Open Book Society
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“Being a teenager is hard enough. To be hard of hearing on top of that is like being stuck in the middle of a never ending soap opera.”
In Compass, the sequel to Sway, Jessie’s life begins to change its course, sending her towards a new reality. When her world is ripped apart by an angry rival, the one person she trusted to stand by her side, simply walks away. With her composure shattered, Jessie questions everything she believed about herself, and as her life takes her on a new path, it becomes a perilous journey, full of surprising twists and turns.
Testimonials:
"This book is an amazing depiction of how difficult life can be for people who are hard of hearing. Teens, parents and teachers can all benefit from learning how it feels to be excluded, bullied and ridiculed because one wears hearing aids. It takes kindness and respect to overcome the stigma and Gibson shows it beautifully." - Gail Perry
"Compass is the second book of a series. It's both well-written and intriguing. As if being a female teenager isn't enough, Jessie has to struggle as being hearing impaired. You get to walk with her on a very personal journey, of school and relationships, of discovering her strength and herself. I found myself glued to my kindle, as I read page after page of this truly amazing account of her life. The story is inspirational and would be very eye-opening for any teenager.........for that matter, any adult! I will definitely recommend this book to others. I'll also be looking into the other two books of this trilogy." - M. Smith
"Compass is book two in Jennifer Gibson's heartening trilogy about Jessie, a young girl who is hearing impaired. Compass is solid as a stand-alone book, but is a wonderful read when followed by Sway, the first novel in her series which is based upon a true story.
Jessie is a very genuine and likable character struggling with some pretty powerful emotions, some of which she succumbs to, and some which she rises above. But all the while she carries herself with dignity and grace as she searches herself for the truths that will help her sort out who she can really trust.
Compass is delightful, insightful and a joy to read. - This book comes highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval." - Literary Classics Book Reviews (5 Stars!)
"Compass continues right along with the story of Jessie and her life as a hard of hearing teenager. I love the way she interacts and helps everyone that needs and will accept it. The way she can get to the heart of a person to help them is a great way to show how she can shine.
This story has a little bit of everyday life with a dash of martial arts and summer camp. You will enjoy the adoring characters and the challenges that they face. It makes you think about the unkind ways people can be treated and why. But most of all, it’s about overcoming and moving forward." - The Color of Ink, reviewer
"Gibson has a knack for helping the reader really feel how it must be to be hearing impaired. The sounds that are taken for granted in every day life are not only explained, painted and expanded upon. The author is uniquely adept at creating a sympathetic character that has depth to her personality, then showing that characterʼs growth and tenacity to live life to the fullest." - Rose Mary Espinoza - reviewer, InD’Tale Magazine
"Having read Sway, a novel based on a true story by Jennifer Gibson, I was ready to dig right into the sequel, Compass, as soon as I received it. The novel started where Sway left off telling the story of Jessie, a hearing impaired teenager, whose life if anything but ordinary. Imagine all of the hardships many teenagers face amplified due to a handicap that some choose to use as a reason to poke fun and behave with malice and hate. Jessie's journey is made easier by a supportive boyfriend, loving parents, and two pet cats that seem to understand her better than anyone she knows. She focuses her energy on sports, academics and helping children like her who have found themselves facing hardships. The author's descriptions of how one would experience the world as Jessie does pulls the reader right in and puts us in the middle of the story. I found myself clenching my fists with anger one moment and crying the next as I read of the treatment Jessie received from students and staff in school. Jessie is an amazing young woman who handles everything she is faced with maturity that rivals most adults and never lets her handicap bring her down. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this trilogy to see how Jessie continues to handle what she has been dealt with in life."- Charissa Nelson for Platinum Book Reviews
Jessie’s journey began in Sway and Compass. As we continue to follow her in Destiny, she stumbles across a revelation that could change everything and finds herself standing on the precipice of life.
Jessie is determined not to let her hearing loss hold her back. She aims her sights even higher as she ventures in a new direction. With a Black Belt on the horizon, and so close to achieving it, she is unaware of the danger closing in on her. Will she be strong enough to hold on or will she succumb to the darkness that surrounds her?
Testimonials:
"Destiny is book #3 in a series about Jessie, a high school student who is hearing impaired. Jessie wants to fit in, she wants to be treated like the other students in her school. But the truth is, she needs to struggle harder than her classmates in order to succeed at most things. It's not an easy road for Jessie. But through it all, as she matures, she gains confidence and becomes a stronger person as she works beyond her disability to achieve her goals.
Author Jennifer Gibson continues to engage and inspire readers as they follow the life of Jessie, a young girl who has learned compassion for others through her own personal struggles. Destiny is a book that will appeal to readers young and old. Destiny comes highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval." - Literary Classics Book Reviews (5 Stars!)
Jennifer Gibson's ability to create artistic, mystical book covers is evident with the cover on Destiny, the third book in the award-winning trilogy featuring Jessie McIntyre. Previous books included Sway and Compass. As a noted photographer and illustrator, Gibson's penchant for writing coming of age stories and young adult fiction is captured through the use of diverse characters, an interesting plot and duality of reality with the supernatural. This story is based on real life and its authenticity allows it to address real-life issues. The sexual electricity between her and Ethan was well written and an important aspect of people dealing with disabilities. Destiny is a must-read for all young adults."
- Reviewed By Danita Dyess for Readers' Favorite
"Amazing book will read the others to this series- jessie a young girl who is fighting being bullied in school and struggling to fit in faces to torment of not hearing well due to meningitis when she was 5. She excelled in karate getting her black belt. she faced the struggles in school trying to fit in. Her hearing as she got older starting declining and she decided not to go through a procedure to correct the loss. She was friends with Ethan who stood by her side through out her life, always being there for her and telling her to go for what she believed in." - Pamela Frost
"The story focuses on real life issues and I applaud the author tremendously for tackling issues such as bullying and how a teenager can persevere instead of giving up. Jessie deals with being deaf and the novel lets the reader travel along her journey. Destiny reminded me of what a struggle it is for teenagers and then to throw in a curve ball and have the main character be deaf...it was very real for me and enticed me to genuinely applaud and cheer for Jessie, wanting desperately for Jessie to not let her hearing loss stand in the way of her dreams. Destiny was an inspiring read that kept me engaged all the way through." - Reviewed by Sasha Hibbs for BTS Magazine.
Jessie managed to defy the odds, overcoming a severe hearing loss and achieving a Black Belt. She seemed to have it all, a handsome and devoted boyfriend, success as a karate instructor…until now.
On the cusp of graduating from high school, a shocking injury changes her life. With her heart shattered and her faith destroyed, she finds herself headed in a new direction all alone. As she leaves for college, she needs to find the courage to conquer her self doubt and rediscover hope before it’s too late.
BRONZE Medal winner in 2018 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards
Testimonials:
"Jennifer Gibson’s young adult coming of age/social issues novel, Hope, is the fourth book in the series that features Jessie McIntyre, a young, hearing disabled woman. I had not read any of the previous books in the series, but found myself smoothly integrated into, and involved in, the story of this engaging character. Gibson’s story gives the reader a sobering look into the challenges faced on an everyday basis by people who are seen by the rest of the world as disabled. I was stunned by the children’s comments that their parents didn’t think she should be teaching them as well as by the fencers who resented her presence in their class. Jessie’s world is a complex one as she navigates the reactions of teachers, fellow students, and the rest of the world while juggling the difficulties of living in a mostly silent world. Like most people, I suspect, I thought hearing aids could restore full hearing -- just one of the things I learned from being a part of Jessie’s world while reading this book. And yes, I finished the book thinking that the world needs a few more heroes like Jessie McIntyre and her new school friend, Jackson, to look up to. Hope is most highly recommended." - Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favourite, 5 stars
“Jennifer Gibson’s new book, HOPE is the kind of story that is good for all ages. Jessie, the main character, shows us how life with a hearing loss can make everything you do a real challenge. Jessie has a lot ahead of her as she enters college and is out on her own for the first time. All of these new obstacles make Jessie stronger and fight harder. Loved this book, well done, Jennifer!” ~ Reviewer, M. Blanchard
“I can picture Jessie and the other characters interacting as I am reading. You are terrific in writing relationships. Great writing and interesting to an “much older” reader as well. Wonderful accomplishment, Jenn! Congratulations!” ~ Reviewer, S. Nelson
"Once again, the talented Jennifer Gibson has done it again! I've read all of her books in this series and really enjoyed them. Each one takes Jessie on a new path in her life. Like the other books in this series, this one gives the reader a sense of what it's like to deal with a disability, particularly having a hearing loss. I never thought about how isolating that can be and these books have given me an appreciation for what those afflicted with a hearing loss go through." ~Reviewer, Tonya Royston
“This book, like the other three in the series, is a heartbreaking, heartwarming tale of courage and determination in the face of obstacles that would defeat most of us. Another star in the crown of this talented author.” ~ Taylor Jones, The Review Team of Taylor Jones & Regan Murphy
“Gibson excels in her character development, making Jessie both realistic and endearing. You just can’t help but root for her and feel her pain. It’s a book that I think every hearing person should read, as it can open your eyes to the obstacles facing those with disabilities.” ~ Regan Murphy, The Review Team of Taylor Jones & Regan Murphy
"Very sweet story about strength of character and perseverance. I love the perspective of the young ladies personal battle. I wish more books like this were available to help people understand more clearly. It would make a great difference in society." - Reviewer, S.D. Black
"This book is a roller coaster ride of emotion and I felt each one that impacted on Jessie. This book is full of love, joy, anger, fear, sadness, loss and, most especially, hope. I found myself in tears on more than one occasion, so I suggest you keep a tissue handy just in case. Jessie finds herself facing many challenging situations and trying new things. There is also a spiritual feel to the story that I enjoyed. I reached the end of the story with mixed feelings; sad that it ended but happy at the way it concluded.
Jennifer Gibson has written an intriguing and interesting YA story based in truth. I found the story a quick read. I love the way the story flows from scene to scene; it's extremely fluid and the descriptions were described in such a way that I could picture them with ease. This is an author I have added to my favourite authors list. I highly recommend this book to young readers aged 12 to 16, and to adults who love reading younger YA romance or coming of age novels". - Lynn Worton
Synopsis:
It was a beautiful day in the country with freshly fallen snow and a fragrant hot cup of coffee warming my hands, what could possibly go wrong?
