The Amity Gang – a Series of Easy to Read Stories that Touch the Heart and Mind

The Amity Gang is a series of illustrated booklets for young people and adults with learning difficulties, based on a Norwegian series consisting of 40 booklets (32 pages each), of which the first five now have been translated to English. Each story includes worksheets (to be downloaded). This combination of easy to read text, lots of illustrations to support reading and worksheets taking the themes down to a personal level has made series a great success in Norway, particularly in schools.

The Gang

The main characters in the series are six young adult friends. They all need some assistance in daily life and sometimes fall short when life gets complicated. But there is no mention of any diagnoses in text or illustration. The stories explore themes of friendships, family, community, love and relationships, quarrels, work, digital and social medias and every day challenges.

Learning something without knowing

In these stories the author wants for her readers to discover something about themselves, their feelings, strengths and independence. To stimulate their brains and widen their field of interest. And to see that as a whole they are like most young adults – not so different after all. But above all the author wants to entertain – because you won’t get anywhere without touching hearts and minds.

Feedback

There is far too little customized literature for adults with learning difficulties. This autumn, we purchased the entire series, and it has brought us great joy! The stories are relatable, humorous, and address many current issues. Fantastic! Senior School Teacher

The books are incredible in terms of subject matter. They are highly relevant to the students, allowing them to recognize, reflect on, and relate to their own lives. Five stars! Senior School Teacher

Books like these have been in short supply, so it’s wonderful to finally have them! The students were eager to hear more about the gang – they didn’t want the stories to end! Senior School Teacher

Whenever we read on the website that new books are in print, the students can hardly wait to get them. Senior School Teacher

I hoped my son (21) would enjoy the booklets. Once he started reading, he couldn’t stop – he LOVES the stories about these friends! Mother

The students love the series, as do those at the day center, where they read the stories aloud at lunch for everyone. Senior School Teacher

The students are drawn to the series because the stories are about young people like themselves. They can relate to many of the situations. Librarian

My daughter enjoys other books, too, but none compare to The Amity Gang series. She identifies with these characters the most. Mother

I use the books with individual students, and they provide a great foundation for meaningful conversations and discussions about relevant topics. Senior School Teacher

I think the series is excellent for the level of students I teach. There is very little reading material available for them, and the characters in these stories are people they can truly relate to. Senior School Teacher

Once they see on your website that new booklets are on their way, they can hardly wait. Teacher

The Series Offers a Rich Variety of Topics

MOVING TO AMITY LANE
In the first story, the five friends leave home to move into the assisted living residence. This is a major life change for all, and they each handle it differently. Tommy is worried. Despite what his parents say, he’s not sure he’s ready to live on his own. On top of that, he dislikes change.

OLIVER’S NEW FREEDOM
Oliver enjoys his newfound freedom in the assisted living residence. Now he can go to bed at odd hours, eat whatever he wants, and shop without his mom watching over him. However, this last part has some consequences.

LOOKING FOR LOVE
Mary wants a boyfriend, and Tommy wants to meet a nice girl. But how do you find a partner when you don’t know where to start? Then, something happens… on a bus.

JENNY AND GRANDMA
Jenny visits her grandma every Monday, but one day, Grandma doesn’t answer the door. She has had a stroke, and in the weeks that follow, her condition worsens. Jenny struggles to accept that her grandmother is aging and will eventually pass away.

FLYING PANCAKES
Kim invites his friends over for pancakes. The only problem is he doesn’t know how to cook them. It’s frustrating to struggle with something that seems easy for others. But together, the three friends find a solution.

THE SECRET BOX

What is a refugee? Kim’s mother knows. She experienced war and lost her parents as a child. Now, she has something she wants to show them.

A COUPLE IN TROUBLE
Tommy and Mary have fallen in love, but being in a relationship is new to both of them, and it takes time to make it work.

THE PARTY
The friends plan a party but have different ideas about everything, from the guest list to the menu. Working together isn’t always easy.

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS
Christmas is just a few days away, and mysterious things keep happening. A man lurks around at night, a grandmother is hospitalized, and a dog suddenly goes missing.

OLIVER MEETS A GIRL
While skiing at his family’s cabin, Oliver feels left out, his sister’s noisy toddlers get all the attention. But then, he spots a girl on the slopes…

OLIVER, LISA, AND A CAT
Oliver now has a girlfriend. It’s Lisa, the girl from the slopes. When he visits her, he discovers she has a cat. The problem? Oliver hates cats.

HOLIDAY BY THE SEA
An invitation to an island in northern Norway brings adventures filled with fishing, boating, and the midnight sun. But the sea can also be dangerous.

I HATE MONEY!
Kim hates money, banks, numbers and counting. And above all, he hates coins. For years, he has been tossing coins into a glass jar.

JENNY IS THE BOSS
Jenny is outspoken and sometimes even bossy. Will Kim, the more reserved one, be able to stand up to her?

JEALOUSY
Being in love makes you vulnerable. When Tommy sees Mary in town with another guy, jealousy strikes – and it hurts.

THE TEXT MESSAGE
Texting can be fun and useful. But what if you send a message you later regret – one that hurts someone? In this story, Mary learns the hard way.

A CHRISTMAS PLAY
A week before Christmas, Jenny feels lost. Her parents are divorced, and she doesn’t know where she belongs. But when Tommy’s grandmother suggests putting on a Christmas play, Jenny finds a new focus.

THE EX-BOYFRIEND
Lisa’s ex suddenly reappears, and Oliver finds out about it through a Facebook post. Is his relationship in trouble?

JONNY’S MAKEOVER
Tommy’s workmate Jonny dislikes showering and changing clothes – he stinks! Tommy wants to help, but how? With a little help from his friends he has an idea.

THE DEAD WHALE
A whale washes up on a beach, its stomach filled with plastic. Is the ocean really this polluted? The gang sets out to learn more.

THE WINTER STORM
A winter holiday in a mountain cabin sounds like a great idea, but that was until they realize there’s no internet in the mountains. Then, an unexpected storm hits.

LISA LOSES HER JOB
Lisa is devastated after losing her job. But instead of giving up, she sets out to find a new one.

A BROTHER WITH A SECRET
Jenny misses her brother. When he finally visits with a friend, she’s thrilled – until she realizes the “friend” is more than just a friend.

A LOVED PERSON IS LEAVING
Emily, who works in the assisted living residence, is pregnant and will soon leave. Her announcement fills the group with sadness.

OLIVER IS FED UP WITH NAGGING
Oliver is in a bad mood. He’s tired of nagging. His parents lecture him about healthy food and exercise, and his caregivers push him to clean and do the dishes.

SAVING THE BEES
Tommy’s workmate Jonny learns that bees are dying worldwide. Determined to help, he transforms his shabby veranda into a blooming garden.

MEETING CHRISTINE, WHO IS BLIND
When The Amity Gang meets Christine, who is blind, and her visually impaired boyfriend, Roy, they must challenge their own assumptions.

KIM COMFORTS A YOUNG BOY
Big life changes – leaving school, starting a job, moving out – can be overwhelming. Kim meets a young boy struggling with it all and offers comfort, knowing exactly how it feels.

HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
While in Spain, the gang meets a young refugee living on the beach. Despite their differences, they discover they have a lot in common.

ROBERT
Oliver and Tommy plan to play a prank on the girls. But Mary and Jenny are not so easily scared.

LOVERS BREAKING UP
Tommy and Mary are no longer as happy as they once were. Have they grown apart? Jenny, ever the problem-solver, steps in to help.

WHAT IS A FRIEND?
Not everyone wants a romantic relationship. Some people prefer deep friendships. Jenny and Mary interview others about the meaning of friendship.

KIM IS BEING BULLIED
At the swimming pool, something awful happens – Kim is pushed into the water by a boy from his swimming club. Luckily, his friends are there.

FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS
Jenny and a friend plan to watch an important football match on TV, but instead, they sneak into a hospital.

ALINA IS MOVING IN
A new girl, Alina, moves into the assisted living residence, and her parents are eager to check that everything is okay in the apartment.

THE RECYCLING PLANT
Tommy’s workmate Jonny applies for a job at a recycling plant, and Tommy tags along. They learn a lot about recycling, but, as usual with Jonny, things don’t go as planned.

TOO MUCH LOVE
Some people, both girls and boys, cling to their partners too much. But everyone needs personal space and time with friends and family.

LISA’S ACCIDENT
Kim and Lisa haven’t been together long when a serious accident puts their relationship to the test. Kim stays by her side through it all.

THE BIG PARTY
In the final story, a big party brings together friends and family from all the previous tales in The Amity Gang series.