Random Book About the Power of Anyone

Eager to help Hurricane Katrina survivors, Iowa teen Leman harnessed the power of children and turned a Halloween-themed fund-raiser into one of the country’s most successful relief campaigns, netting over $10 million. But she didn’t stop there, as she demonstrates with this autobiography and how-to guide, turning her philanthropic efforts into the worldwide charitable organization RandomKid. Buoyed by her younger brother, Zander—who, unfazed by a developmental disorder, can turn theoretical ideas into funny sound bytes—Leman encourages kids to focus on their own strengths and understand that a project’s success isn’t measured in dollars and cents but in the concrete impact you have on people’s lives. She also debunks the myth that charity must be selfless: “the best charity comes when the person doing it finds their own personal win on some level.” To Leman, “success only happens when you can flip the newspaper headline,” so that “Kids Raise Money for Katrina Survivors” becomes “Katrina Survivors Give Kids a Lesson in Big Business.” Though the language may appeal more to Leman’s peers, the optimistic message is genuine and at age 16, Leman is certainly an important voice of her generation. Agent: Michelle Lemmons Posente, ISB Global. (Oct.)