Susan's Books & Gifts

As Beth Pears began to write this book in 2010, she had no idea that two years later she would be living her own story. In this semi-autobiographical novel that mirrors the life of literature teacher Beth Pears, Laney Willow is a well-loved, much-admired high school English teacher in rural Pennsylvania. In spite of personal setbacks, Laney remains steadfast, drawing from classic literature and her own trials to teach her students important life lessons. But when the worst setback of all cancer invades Laney’s life, she will be forced to choose: continue to inspire others or give in to the horrible disease? As her students, co-workers, and family look on, Laney uses one of her favorite pieces of literature, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, to come to her own decision of whether to be or not to be. This book is Beth Pears final thesis. She worked tirelessly until the end while undergoing treatment for a rare, aggressive cancer. Her final draft of this book was completed just a few short weeks befo