Cody--
A Novel That Motivates Towards Success

David K. Draper

Review

Fresh out of college and filled with ambition, Cody drives into town. He plans to stay on his late uncle's farm only the three months required to collect his inheritance. Then he'll begin his computer programming job in the fall. But his summer-long stint as a high school teacher of seven local misfits proves to be a learning experience not only for the boys, but for the teacher, too! Cody teaches the required courses, but he also teaches them more powerful lessons about life, success, and the keys to lasting happiness.

Cody trains them as cross-country runners, and they gain strength as they run several miles daily and work on the farm. Their excitement is contagious and grows with each small victory. The boys find new confidence in themselves and their abilities as they set individual and group goals, and they begin to love learning for the first time in their lives.

Then beautiful K.C. Miller steps into his life, and Cody realizes that he must decide for himself if the lessons he's been teaching his boys are for real!

Cody is a highly motivational novel with believable characters and events. Concepts applicable to anyone trying to be successful make this not only a delightful story, but a powerful learning experience. The final chapter lists 120 intriguing challenges for teens.

Table of Contents

A New Job, 9

Goals and Games, 17

Taking Tests, 25

Job Skills, 29

Independence, 32

Money, 40

Taking Control, 46

Solving Problems, 50

Planning, 55

A Career, 60

Graduation and Gratitude, 62

Integrity, 72

Explore Life's Options, 81

Thanks, Coach, 88

Sample Page

As Cody cruised down the quiet streets of Lind, he asked himself for the hundredth time how he got into this mess. The lawyer handling the estate of his uncle Todd had told him to get the keys to the farm from the real estate office on Main Street. Lind was bigger than he thought it would be, but he still found the Peterson Real Estate office easily. It was a one-man operation in a small office between the Lind bakery and the Lind Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet.
Mr. Peterson sat in his office at an old, battered desk covered with papers and what appeared to be yesterday's lunch. It looked like business had been pretty quiet for him.
"So, you're Todd Adams' nephew?"
"Yes sir. I was told you had the keys to the house."
Mr. Peterson located the keys and a county plat map of the property.
"You're a pretty young fella to own this much property. I could help you sell it and you could be a rich young man.”
"I'm sorry, Mr. Peterson. The terms of the inheritance state I have to reside on the property three months before the farm and the money is mine,” Cody replied as he left.
He continued on down Main Street in his old Jeep Wagoneer. He drew a few stares as he drove to the outskirts of town. Chuckling to himself, he did admit his Jeep looked a little unusual with all his belongings packed in the back.
What didn't fit inside had been tied on top with his l0-speed bike. Five years at the University were represented fairly well by the junk he had collected.
He had been a good student and a "jock.” The Jeep was full of sports equipment, boxes of books, a computer, camping equipment, an expensive stereo system, his bike, clothes and all the other essentials of life for a college student. He just couldn't make up his mind on the question of what to do with his life.
Cody said to himself aloud, "I'll say one thing for Uncle Todd, he sure picked a pretty place to live." He nearly drove past the mailbox that simply read "Adams." Turning down the dirt road, he noticed the quiet seclusion of the place. Cody drove down the tree-lined dirt lane. As he came around a bend in the road, he stopped and stared. The farmhouse that was pictured in his mind was not what he saw now. The "old farm house" was a beautiful two-story log cabin with a covered porch running across the front. Comfortable-looking chairs sat invitingly along the porch. Well, maybe my three month's captivity won't be so rough after all, he mused.
It took the rest of the morning to unpack and settle in. He was done just in time for a late lunch and his stomach angrily reminded him. Cody jumped into his now-empty Jeep and headed back into town. While waiting for lunch at the local diner, he thought, I can't afford this too often. He decided that the next stop would be the grocery store. Cody was making a grocery list on his paper napkin when a man in a white shirt and tie approached the table. He introduced himself as James Bateman, the principal of the local high school.
Won't you join me?" asked Cody.
"Thank you. I won't keep you long,” Mr. Bateman replied as he sat down. "Your uncle told me all about you. In fact, I recognized you from the picture and clippings he showed me from time to time. I've been expecting you ever since your uncle passed away. You know, he always spoke of you as a son."
Cody admitted, "This whole thing has taken me by surprise. I hardly knew the guy. I only knew my uncle was a brilliant businessman who suddenly sold his company and moved out here."
"He was a great man, Cody. We admired and loved him here in Lind. You know, he told me that I should hire you when you came to town." After a moment's pause he continued, "I took the liberty of checking out your credentials and you're a very impressive young man. You've a wide background of scholastic interests, and you have a teaching certificate."
“Now don't think I'm not flattered by all this attention, Mr. Bateman, but I have changed my mind about teaching. I've got a job lined up in Chicago with a large insurance company."
"I know we can't compete with them financially. But let me tell you about the job before you say no. We can't keep teachers here in the summer. They all have jobs lined up across the county that pay them more than teaching. Our budget is stretched pretty tight so we don't usually offer summer school. But we have seven boys who won't graduate next year if they don't attend summer school. Normally we wouldn't push them, but one of them is the superintendent's grandson and the superintendent says he will graduate or I'll be looking for a new job."
"I'm looking for a job, Mr. Bateman, but I'm not too excited about teaching some juvenile delinquents something they don't want to learn."
"This is a special program, Cody. You can establish your own curriculum. Just show me the results and your lesson plan once a month. All they have to take is math and English. But there's one other requirement. It seems the superintendent wants his grandson to be an athlete like he was. Find something so that the kid can earn a varsity letter!"

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Title: Cody--A Novel That Motivates Towards Success Author: David K. Draper Retail Price: $8.98 Available: Now ISBN: 0-88290-409-4 Order Number (SKU): 1976 Pages: 88 Size: 6" X 9" Binding: Paperback