Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love

Growing up, they didn’t believe they had a future. Together, they are building forever.

Alexis Black persevered through her mother’s death and her father’s imprisonment. And after escaping a long and abusive relationship, the college junior promised her foster parents not to date for at least a year. But when she meets an incoming freshman on the first day of their scholarship program, she feels the world melt away, as though it were only the two of them in the room.

Justin Black lived in the poorest section of Detroit before his parents surrendered him to the foster care system at the age of nine. But when he grabs the chance for better opportunities by pursuing higher education, he can’t help but be drawn to a beautiful third-year student. At first, their past traumas--and their age difference--conspired to complicate their attraction. But the joy each took in the other and eventually conquered those obstacles, and these two survivors journeyed together toward healing.

In a stark and wholehearted true story that shares how two individuals on separate paths found each other, Alexis and Justin merge their course into one full of hope and purpose. And hand-in-hand, with a desire to help others, they learned to reject the abusive patterns of their past, thereby intentionally breaking the cycle of generational violence and unhealthy behaviors.

Written in an engaging novelistic style, the authors put forward a thoughtful exchange of ideas and personal experiences illustrating how anybody, no matter their backgrounds, can have a life of self-empowerment and joy. Broken down into four sections that cover crucial topics such as “Worthiness” and “Mental Health,” this compelling narrative will help any who are learning to love themselves and want to end the line of toxic relationships.

Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat The Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love is a page-turning memoir that will open your eyes to possibilities and dreams. If you like honest tales of triumph, refreshing transparency, and resilient faith in God, then you’ll adore Justin and Alexis’ inspirational story.

This story contains mentions of domestic violence, trauma, sexual assault, and other difficult issues faced on the road to healing.

Buy Redefining Normal to claim victory over harmful pasts today!

Alexis Black a recent graduate of Western Michigan University where she earned a BBA in Entrepreneurship, a BA in Global & International Studies, a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, and a minor in Political Science. In 2016, she founded The Scholarship Expert business that consists of The Scholarship Blueprint book and workbooks along with an online course to assist students in graduating from college debt-free. Born in Flint, Michigan, Alexis is a foster care advocate as she's completed an internship at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, and as a National Youth and Transition Database Reviewer and helps fundraise for programs supporting foster youth such as Hope Pkgs. She loves to travel and sleep on her downtime. She's studied abroad eight times during her undergraduate career in countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and South Africa. Alexis aspires to be a positive example for foster youth.

Justin Black started Rising Over Societal Expectations (ROSE) Empowerment Group with a vision to close the information gap for today's generation of Black and Brown youth after his experiences as a Black male in the foster care system. He has also developed policy recommendations while working with the National Black Child Development Institute resulting in a publication titled The State of the Black Child Report Card: Washington State. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Justin studied urban and community development as well as political and economic philosophy in countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, and South Korea. In his spare time, Justin loves watching sports and enjoys hot wings. He aspires to challenge and expand the ideologies of how to build prosperous communities through interdependence and entrepreneurship.