Maryjo Paradis Smith Gives Young People Living with Addicted Parents A Voice In Her Book “July in August”

Maryjo Paradis Smith’s “July in August: One Girl’s Struggle with Opioid Addicted Mother” is a young adult mystery novel that centers around twelve-year-old July Krativitiz and her struggles inside their home. She lives with her opioid-addicted mother and two-year-old brother, Abe.

July is caring and protective towards her little brother as she stays at home to protect him from their mother who is often too stoned to care or pray for the safety of her baby brother when she’s at school. Their elderly neighbor, Mary White, offers to help them out of the situation. When Mrs. White discovers that their mother is an addict, she takes the children to a faraway lake house to keep them safe.

A mysterious death occurs when Roger, Abe’s father, tries to pick him up for the weekend visit and discovers the body of their mother with no signs of the children around. Roger then goes on to find Abe, July, and the killer.

“July in August” is a young adult and children’s education book that depicts the reality of children living with addicted parents. It also explores the before and after effects of drug abuse on people and how it could affect their children.

“July in August” is the winner of the New Hampshire People’s Choice Award in 2021. It garnered a lot of praise from readers, saying that the book reflects what’s happening in the real world where real children live with addicted parents.

Maryjo Paradis Smith’s “July in August: One Girl’s Struggle with Opioid Addicted Mother” is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Check out Maryjo Paradis-Smith and her other works by visiting her website at https://maryjoparadissmith.com/.

Author

Maryjo Paradis Smith (1960 - ) was born and raised in Arlington, Massachusetts. When she was a child, Maryjo lived in a two-family house. Her nine cousins lived upstairs and she and her five siblings lived downstairs. Her family became known as the ’Downstairs" When her mother became pregnant with her sixth siblings it was time to move to a bigger house. Her early years shaped much of her storytelling.

As an adult, Maryjo taught public school in Dover, New Hampshire for thirty-four years. It was during this time her passion for writing caught fire. As a middle school language arts and social studies teacher, Maryjo dedicated herself to her students. Respect and trust were established in her classroom. Students shared true stories of their struggles, everything from homelessness to not making the baseball team.

As an author, Maryjo hopes to bring these stories to life. Her first published book, “July in August: One Girl’s Struggle with Opioid Addicted Mother” tells the story of July Krativitiz who lives in the small New Hampshire town of Maplewood. Because July’s mother is addicted to opioids, July’s life is complicated. She has a two-year-old brother she feels responsible for, but she must leave him at home with her mother each day as she must go to school. As the story unfolds July relies on an elderly neighbor to help, only to find herself and her brother kidnapped and, on an adventure, she never wished for.

Maryjo currently lives in Barrington, New Hampshire with her husband, Tom, and her two cats. She has two grown daughters and one stepdaughter who have blessed her with six grandchildren

July in August: One Girl’s Struggle with an Opioid Addicted Mother
Author| Maryjo Paradis-Smith
Genre| Young Adult Fiction
Publisher| Ingram Spark
Published Date| September 23, 2020

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