Judy is the author of Bad Girls Club (Blooming Tree Press, Summer 2007) - ISBN: 1-933831-01-4
Links:
Biography:
Judy was born at the very end of Long Island on a very warm and sunny summer day. Everyone was happy she made it because the cord was wrapped around her neck and there were a few scary moments before she popped out.
The rest of her life went a little better. She grew up in a town that shut down at 5 p.m. and got out as soon as she found a college that would accept her. That was SUNY Oswego and she attended school with famous people like Bruce Coville, Al Roker, and Jerry Seinfeld. Ok, only Bruce was there at the time and she didn’t know him. But it makes for good copy.
After college, Judy worked as a newpaper copy editor, a marketing assistant at Viking/Penguin, in the advertising department of The New York Times, and then had various jobs at an ad agency, doing public relations, and the likes. Finally, she worked herself into an ulcer and moved to the west coast.
Her first book was published in 1980 by Doubleday (a memoir) and she was named in Who’s Who in America that year. It really didn’t help her any. In fact, no one seems to remember.
Judy now lives in the Seattle area with her two daughters, husband, dog, cat, frog, gerbil, and two mice. She is currently seen doing yard work and getting the mold off her windows.
Book: Bad Girls Club
Destiny has a secret. She’s been told not to tell anyone what happened to her, her little sister, and her mother at Crater Lake. Or that her mother is mentally ill and hits her little sister. If she does, it could ruin her family.
But the secret is killing her and every day she remembers the bad thing she did at Crater Lake. Every day, she pays for it. Her life is a nightmare and her boyfriend, Joshua, and best friend, Chloe, don’t understand. When she pulls away from them, and refuses to leave the house that summer, they don’t realize that she’s trying to fix the horrible mistake she made. They only know that she’s slipping away from them.
But trying to hold her family together doesn’t work. Destiny feels a darkness in the house and when Mom gets out of the psychiatric hospital, it takes over. First it attacks her little sister, and then it comes for her.
Destiny has to choose whether to expose the lies and the darkness or tell the truth about what happened at Crater Lake. The risks are high. She has so much to lose. It could ruin her mother and father and she might never see her little sister again. It could be the end of her life.
Can the truth really set her free?
Book Info:
- ISBN (Hardcover): 1-933831-01-4
- ISBN-13 (Hardcover): 978-1-933831-01-5
- Release date: June 1, 2007
- Pages: 317
Reviews:
“Disturbing and raw, Gregerson’s intimate look at how one teen deals with her mother’s mental illness will capture readers like a train wreck; then lift them up like news of courageous survivors. Powerful, powerful work.”
—Kelly Milner Halls, Freelance Reviewer
“Shocking. That is the only word I can say to describe this book. But Judy Gregerson also wrote this book very well, making it even better. I never wanted to stop reading this book, and stayed up until midnight to finish this book because it was so wonderful. Perfect for a summer read, and perfect for anyone to read. I think it will appeal to anyone. One of the best have ever read.” —Flamingnet Reviews 10 stars, Top Choice Award in YA Books
“BAD GIRLS CLUB by Judy Gregerson tells a heartbreaking story. Unfortunately, it is a story told much too often. Readers will feel the fear and frustration as Destiny tries to do her best to keep loving her mother and at the same time keep her younger sister safe. This book will help those who have suffered a similar situation and open the eyes of those who haven’t.” —Teensreadtoo.com, Five stars
“Bad Girls Club is as riveting as Dave Pelzer’s A Child Called It books, but is far better at exploring the psychological reasons why the abused remain so loyal to their abusers. This is definitely a novel all young adults should read!” —Terrilyn Fleming, Teacher, Colby, Kansas, Bookcrossings.com, 10 stars
“I can’t remember the last time I read a book where I was so concerned, disturbed, and moved by the characters.” —Janene Mascarella, Parenting & Family Life Columnist for the Long Island Exchange
“Gregerson writes a raw, heartfelt story of pain and redemption.” —Amanda Jenkins, PEN Award Winner, Delacorte Prize winner, author of young adult novels
“Judy Gregerson writes with searing honesty about a family torn apart by mental illness. A gut-wrenching trip into darkness that you’ll never forget.” —Marlene Perez, author of Unexpected Development
“I was impressed by the author’s ability to get into the mind of the teenage narrator and to communicate her thoughts and feelings to the reader. The characters come alive on the page, drawing the reader into the story. Destiny’s confusion, worry, and helplessness in the situation were palpable and emotionally touching. To say that I enjoyed the book is not quite accurate—rather, I was engrossed in it and unable to put it down. Bad Girls Club has the potential to help teens understand a problem that they might be too embarrassed to talk about.” —Recommended Read, Fallen Angels Reviews by Jean
“Anyone who has been trapped in an abusive situation will shudder with recognition at this story. For those readers who have not encountered this situation, here is the type of story to read as a “test” of sorts. How would they react under these circumstances. Books like A CHILD CALLED IT have long been popular with teens. This book will appeal for many of the same reasons. It is the story, ultimately, of triumph over incredible odds.” —Professornana
“Gregerson’s craft is flawless!” —Midwest Book Review, Reviewers Choice Review
“Teens in similar abuse situations will find much to emphasize with in (Destiny’s) story…it (Bad Girls Club) would find an audience with teens in need or those who enjoy dystopian literature.” —Voya