AN ACTION/ADVENTURE NOVEL FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULT READERS
Higher Ground: A teen's quest for survival, truth and a girlfriend
- by Joshua Rodriguez
Things seem strange in Jackson quiet little town. The sky keeps getting darker, the rain is falling harder and the water level just keeps rising and rising. Can Jackson and his friends figure out what’s really going on and find a way to safely make it to higher ground before it’s too late?
What the book is about
High school student Jackson Marshall has his hands full of more than just your typical teenage drama. He’s questioning life, his purpose, and what he has to do to actually win over the girl he likes. Between jealous feelings, philosophy meetings, fights over video games, and awkward moments around the family table, he’s questioning a lot these days.
And yet, one question he can’t seem to answer is what his mysterious teacher Mr. Stand is all about. What’s his game? His quirky way of speaking and oddly shaped mustache certainly makes him a talked-about teacher at Middleton High but there seems to be something far more sinister going on there that Jackson has yet to discover.
Things seem strange in his quiet little town. The sky keeps getting darker, the rain is falling harder and the water level just keeps rising and rising. Can Jackson and his friends figure out what’s really going on and find a way to safely make it to higher ground before it’s too late?
Why I wrote this book
I started writing this book on November 1st, 2012 as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal was to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days and I absolutely crushed that part… but then sat on the book for 8 years. 
Eventually, I decided to read it over, work on the final edits, hire a proofreader and designer for the graphics, and brought this book to life!
Now that it’s out there for everyone to read and enjoy, I just want to say that this is a great novel for teens and young adult reader fans who want to jump into an exciting action-adventure story about the value of good friends, being open about your feelings and believing that everyone, no matter how young can truly make a difference in helping others.
Check out Josh's recommended reading list
Here are the books that have helped shaped me mentally, morally and culturally over the years!