Natural Awakenings writer Wendy Nadherny Fachon has released a personal memoir of parenting in a free eBook form. Knowing one’s child becomes more challenging during the years of adolescence, that awkward stage between childhood and adulthood. Teenagers spend more time away from home, pursuing after-school activities, playing sports, hanging out with friends and exercising their growing independence.

After Fachon’s son Neil died of brain cancer at age 20, she began sorting through the memorabilia he had accumulated in the boxes, drawers and bookshelves of his bedroom—artwork, notepads, notebooks, journals, personal letters and magic notes. What emerged from this process is a “coming of age” collection of stories unlike any other. Halfway through high school, Neil began to dream of inspiring other young people to move from hopelessness to helpfulness and to find the path that leads from loneliness to friendship and difference making. He continues to inspire others through these stories. The completion of this new narrative is timely, as both parents and teens will appreciate the messages of resilience, faith and love that are sprinkled throughout.