A heartfelt memoir exploring the transformative power of mentorship and the journey toward personal healing. When Aaron Kirk Douglas volunteers as a Big Brother to Rico, a 12-year-old navigating life without a father, he anticipates making a positive impact. What he doesn't expect is how this relationship will compel him to confront his own past as a boy growing up gay in a small Oregon town. Their evolving bond becomes a mirror, reflecting the challenges and triumphs of both their lives. This coming-of-age story delves into the complexities of male role models and the profound effects of personal transformation. As Douglas guides Rico through adolescence, he simultaneously embarks on a journey of self-discovery, healing old wounds, and redefining his understanding of family and love. Growing Up Twice is the first installment in a compelling trilogy that examines the enduring impact of mentorship and the possibilities of redemption. Available in Kindle, Paperback, and Audible formats, with the audiobook narrated by the author for an intimate listening experience. Download it today. Read it tonight. Remember it forever. "Douglas' book does a beautiful job of connecting the past to the present, particularly in the sections that depict his blossoming relationship with his parents as they aged. His memories of being a gay teenager in the '70s are also full of engaging personalities, sometimes monstrous and sometimes beautiful, which make the story hard to walk away from. . . Douglas' compelling story moves toward a conclusion that's a genuine testament to his tireless dedication to his Little Brother. A moving memoir about struggling to form personal relationships in turbulent environments." - Kirkus Reviews "This is a raw, honest, and inspirational memoir. . . a story that is powerful and heartfelt, and certain to appeal to a wide variety of audiences." - Clarion Reviews Four years in the making, and with the help of my Little Brother who is the subject of the book, I sincerely hope that my experience details what millions of mentors of at-risk children already know: it can be one of the richest, most rewarding experiences of your life. Growing Up Twice: Shaping a Future by Reliving My Past © 2015 Newsworthy Books First edition published in 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. I have tried to recreate events, locales and conversations from my memories of them. In order to maintain their privacy in some instances I have changed the names of individuals and places, I may have changed some identifying characteristics and details such as physical properties, occupations and places of residence. All reasonable, good-faith efforts were made to secure copyright permissions for images and text reproduced in this book.Names have been changed Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Douglas, Aaron Kirk, 1961- Growing Up Twice: Shaping a Future by Reliving My Past I ISBN: 978-0-9970501-0-3 (Paperback) ISBN: 978-0-9970501-8-9 (Electronic) Cover design by Nehara Rathnamali Development Editors: Jordan Crawford, Arthur Manzi Edited by: Frank M. Young, Michael Munkvold Photos © Aaron Kirk Douglas except as noted herein. Graphic design by Rob Ottley, Ottley Design Group Newsworthy Books Printed in the United States "This story made me want to call everyone I love and somehow make them understand what this book made me understand: that our relationships of love transcend everything else." --Jennifer Brandlon, former AP Newswoman and Correspondent, The Oregonian "Growing Up Twice is surprisingly funny, melancholy and hopeful. Aaron Douglas has a novelist's eye for small but telling details, and his insight into the messy task of being a human being is impressive. More than a memoir, it's a guided tour of two Americas barely covered by the so-called mainstream." --Frank M. Young, Award-winning author, artist and musician Aaron Kirk Douglas is an award-winning social activist and mentor in the Big Brother/Big Sister program who has twice been nominated for national mentoring awards.