My Easy Read Books

Discover The Way I See It Series - Engaging Books For Reluctant Readers

The The Way I See It series offers a unique blend of high-interest storytelling and low-readability text, specifically crafted to engage reluctant readers, multi-lingual learners, and literacy program participants. This Hi-Lo series provides compelling narratives that resonate with readers while ensuring accessibility for all reading levels.

Whether you’re an educator, literacy advocate, or parent, The Way I See It series is a transformative tool for unlocking the joy of reading in every learner. Explore the collection today and discover stories that leave a lasting impression.

Relatable Characters & Stories

The Way I See It series delves into authentic, real-life experiences, told from diverse perspectives. Readers will connect with characters facing challenges, making decisions, and growing through relatable, heartfelt journeys.

Engaging for Diverse Age Groups

The series addresses universal themes such as friendship, family, overcoming obstacles, and self-discovery, making it suitable for young adult and adult readers.

Accessible Language, Powerful Impact

Designed with simplified vocabulary and sentence structures, the series opens the door to meaningful reading experiences for individuals who may struggle with traditional texts.

Hi-Lo/Young Adult

  • Deals with mental health/suicidal thoughts
  • Confronts harassment
  • Touches on racism and stereotyping
  • Encourages self-reflection
  • Provides homelessness awareness
  • Broadens viewpoints while providing hope
Ozzie's Story

Ozzie - Book One

Ozzie believes if he ignores all the voices in his head then he’ll make it. He’ll be what everyone expects him to be: Hancock High’s football all-star. But when the chance comes for him to prove who he really is, he becomes numb and doesn’t care about who may be hurt, as long as the comments don’t attack him. But Ozzie’s silence begins to impact those around him. As Ozzie’s world begins to fall apart, the voices in his head remain strong. If he takes a stand for anything, will it even matter? Or worse, if he does speak, will he cause more harm than good?

  • Lexile Level: HL580L
  • Interest Level: Young Adult/Adult (written on a 3rd-grade reading level)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7352642-1-9

“In the interactions of these various characters, Tillit effectively addresses such issues as bigotry, homelessness, and mental health . . . Over the course of this novel, Tillit deftly weaves a story of hope into an account of typical high school challenges . . . Overall, the story is engaging without being preachy, which will appeal to many YA readers . . . A thoughtful tale of finding hope amid life’s trials.”

-Kirkus Reviews

Zonta - Book Two

Just deal with it! It’s part of growing up. It’s the way guys are! Zonta tries to blow off the unwanted attention that is thrown her way. But it’s not working. Zonta is tired of being nice! It doesn’t matter how polite she is, or how hard she tries, she still feels alone. And if that wasn’t enough, every time she tries to explain herself or her thoughts, she ends up feeling dumb. She tries to do what is right, what is expected, but it only makes things worse. Is there really no one who cares enough to help? Is there no one who gets her?

  • Lexile Level: HL570L
  • Interest Level: Young Adult/Adult (written on a 3rd-grade reading level)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7352642-2-6

“The author’s series aims to present a mosaic of teenage perspectives as students grapple with the gritty challenges of life at Hancock High, tackling weighty societal issues like poverty, prejudice, abuse, harassment, and racial tensions . . . The prose is basic but effectively captures Zonta’s struggles, and her frustration at being misunderstood is palpable . . .

-Kirkus Reviews

Hi-Lo/Young Adult

  • Empowers resistance to sexual harassment
  • Addresses impact of ADHD
  • Dives into the need to be heard/taken seriously
  • Introduces role of self-defense
  • Touches on bi-racial upbringing
  • Underscores the importance of healthy friendships
Zonta's Story

Hi-Lo/Young Adult

  • Dives into the neurodivergent mind of someone with Autism
  • Addresses the destructive force of bullying and peer pressure
  • Introduces low-income family dynamics, strengths, and challenges
  • Embraces uniqueness and celebrates differences
  • Focuses on building healthy friendships
Blake's Story

Blake - Book Three

Blake has a secret – a secret his mother has asked him not to share. If Blake can act normal, then no one will treat him differently. But Blake can’t shake the way others view him after the racist comments he made months earlier. To make things worse, fallout from a terrible attack on a student in his school turns his world upside down. Suddenly alone, Blake has only one hope left: wrestling. Can he win back his friends? Will people even believe his side of the story? Will his secret be safe, or should he defy his mother and let people know who he really is? As Blake faces his fears, he must also find a way to face his best friend who is suddenly his worst enemy.

  • Lexile Level: HL590L
  • Interest Level: Young Adult/Adult (written on a 3rd-grade reading level)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7352642-3-3

“Tillit manages to cover a surprising amount of ground in this slim tome, not only developing Blake as a character but also subtly including references to previous installments without losing new readers  . . . an issue-driven story that ably grapples with the harsh realities of adolescence.”

-Kirkus Reviews

Emma - Book Four

Emma is pissed at the world. She has to be perfect, like her brother. But she won’t! She can’t be! Emma finds a reason to dislike most people. Yet, she is drawn to Blake, someone she used to hate. Without thinking it through she finds herself at the wrestling championship, hoping Blake feels the same way. But his world is very different from hers and she begins to wonder what she is doing. Her best friend, Billy, pushes Emma to look at why she makes bad choices. Emma refuses to listen to Billy and wrestles with a dark family secret as her anger spirals out of control.

  • Lexile Level: HL570L
  • Interest Level: Young Adult/Adult (written on a 3rd-grade reading level)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7352642-4-0

Hi-Lo/Young Adult

  • Provides an Asian- American perspective
  • Deals with anger and judgment
  • Faces stereotyping and racism
  • Embraces differences between cultures
  • Addresses academic struggle
  • Provides homelessness awareness
  • Broadens viewpoints
Emma's Story

Hi-Lo/Young Adult

  • Provides a Mexican-American perspective
  • Touches on challenges immigrants face
  • Reveals struggles with fighting injustice
  • Faces stereotyping and racism
  • Addresses physical abuse
  • Focuses on building healthy friendships
  • Broadens viewpoints while embracing diversity
Mateo's Story

Mateo - Book Five

Don’t draw attention to yourself! Blend in and stay quiet. It is how Mateo has been raised. Being chill and a loner at Hancock High has become his identity. But he is tired of it! He knows he needs to protect his community, but does that mean he should remain silent when something is clearly wrong? He knows that if he speaks out then people could be hurt. But if he doesn’t do something, someone he really cares about may continue to suffer. He hates that he can’t help his friend, but he doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know who to turn to. Who can he trust? He holds onto the one thing that he does best, sing and shred his guitar. Mateo dives into his music, a safe place, a place where he can stand out and not worry. But when his rock band faces their first battle of the bands, Mateo has to face reality. He can no longer stay quiet.

  • Lexile Level: HL570L
  • Interest Level: Young Adult/Adult (written on a 3rd-grade reading level)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7352642-5-7

Lilly - Book Six

Survive! That is all that Lilly must do. Spring Break leaves Lilly with no place to sleep and no place to shower. She does not feel safe at home—never has. But telling her friends is not an option. She doesn’t want judgment or pity—she will not feel ashamed of her circumstances or her choices! Surviving hour by hour is nothing new to Lilly. When she finally thinks she has it figured out, her plans fall apart. Torn between relying only on herself or daring to trust others, Lilly begins to lean into those who offer her a lifeline. But how long will it last?

  • Lexile Level: HL670L
  • Interest Level: Young Adult/Adult (written on a 3rd-grade reading level)
  • ISBN: 978-1-7352642-6-4

Hi-Lo/Young Adult

  • Provides insight into teen homelessness and hunger
  • Navigates the complexity of building trust
  • Addresses the challenges of survival
  • Touches on the impact of adult substance abuse
  • Underscores the importance of healthy friendships
  • Dives into differing perspectives
  • Challenges stereotyping
Lilly's Story