GREEN BAY, Wis. - s4story -- Making the right choices is difficult enough for adults, much less for middle school kids trying to find their way through life. Growing Pains: Courage Comes with Growing Pains (GAB Publishing), the second installment of the "Growing Up Alex" series for young readers, follows 11-year-old Alexandria "Alex" Kelly as she helps her friend through a family crisis.

Author Betts Arney writes in Alex's voice as she navigates the challenges of being a pre-teen girl in 1960 America. There are no social media platforms to cloud her world view, and learning to interact with other kids and adults on an interpersonal level is a major part of growing up. As Alex explains:

"A friend and his family were in serious trouble. Big trouble. I knew I had to help.

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"Common Sense wasn't so sure that I should get involved, but I was reluctant to listen because my friend needed me, no matter what it might cost. Like grounding for life! Or having my bicycle taken away forever!

"My heart pulled me in one way, but my head pulled the opposite direction.

"Growing up meant learning when to stand up – even if it meant standing alone.

"I wished growing up didn't always involve painful choices. As Grandpa Ron would tell me, "You're between a rock and a hard place."

"Growing Pains. I was between a rock and a hard place.

"I surely was. "

Alex (Alexandria McKenzie Kelley) Age 11½

Growing Pains: Courage Comes with Growing Pains is appropriate for boys and girls ages 7-13. It is available on Amazon in print and digital versions at https://amzn.to/49cZetE, as well as through IngramSpark for retailers.

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Book 1 in the series, Elusive Common Sense: Why is Common Sense So Hard to Find? earned the 2025 Children's Book International Award from The American Writing Awards along with praise from James A. Cox, editor in chief of The Midwest Book Review: "…unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, middle school, and community library social issues-themed fiction collections."

As a recipient of the American Writing Awards 2025 Children's International Book Award in Realistic Fiction, Elusive Common Sense has been recognized for its powerful impact on young readers. This engaging novel supports key literacy skills while helping kids navigate friendships, family, and growing up.

Perfect for classrooms and families alike, it's also a valuable resource for social-emotional learning, encouraging self-awareness, empathy, and responsible decision-making through an engaging story kids can truly connect with. Resources are available at bettsarney.com/resources.