About the book
Parents, teens, and survivors are lucky that Elin Stebbins Waldal has the courage to share her own harrowing experience with teen dating violence. At 17 she unwittingly fell in love with an abusive man. Tornado Warning is the true, honest portrait of how he whittled her down–with words, hands, and weapons–from a confident teen to the shadow of a woman.
But Stebbins Waldal offers more. Interwoven with her real-life journal, she reflects on how this relationship has affected her since, and how she is working to protect her teenagers from succumbing to a similar experience. Provocative and healing, Tornado Warning is a must-read for parents, women, and anyone who has suffered at the hands of a loved one.
Buy the book directly from the author
Would you like a personalized and autographed copy of Tornado Warning? Elin is now accepting payments via PayPal or Venmo. For more information email info@elinstebbinswaldal.com the cost of the book including shipping is $15.00
Elin also offers special pricing for book clubs with groups greater than 10
Zoom bookclubs
Elin is available to join bookclubs on Zoom. Email info@elinstebbinswaldal.com for more information
Praise for Tornado Warning, A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect on a Woman’s Life
“I have used Tornado Warning in my undergraduate Domestic Violence class for three semesters in a row now. I have found it tremendously helpful as a pedagogical tool. Elin’s story resonates with my students. Tornado Warning brings to life and makes real the complexities of living through and breaking free of an abusive relationship. In my course evaluations, Tornado Warning is consistently mentioned as one of the highlights of the course. I recommend it highly to other educators.”
—Meghan S. Stroshine, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Criminology and Law Studies, Marquette University
“To say that I admire the courage Elin exhibits in unlocking the pages of her journal and sharing them openly with the world would be an understatement. She has taken a tattered part of her personal history and sewn it back together with unflinching and loving honesty that it will no doubt awaken all parents out there to the insidious nature of abuse in teen relationships.”
— Jess Weiner, Self-Esteem Expert and Author of Life Doesn’t Begin 5 Pounds from Now and A Very Hungry Girl
“This book gripped me from the first page. Read it now for the inside story on Teen Dating Violence and what to look out for. Elin’s honesty, compelling experience, and simply beautiful writing deliver a message every parent and grandparent needs to get. Don’t wait.” —Nancy Gruver, Author of How to Say It to Girls
“A beautifully written must-read for young women on discovering their immense inner power and unshakable fortitude.” —Kate Whitfield, Author of The Empowered Gal’s 9 Lessons
“Elin Stebbins Waldal’s amazing courage in not just surviving domestic abuse but also sharing her story serves as both an incredible inspiration and a testament to the strength of a woman.” —Loren Slocum, Author of Life Tuneups and The Greatest Love
“Tornado Warning upends readers’ preconceptions about teen dating violence and reinforces the need to understand the nuance behind ‘regular’ teen drama versus unhealthy, controlling toxicity so often mistaken for ‘caring’ and positioned as normative in media messaging today.” —Amy Jussel, Founder of Shaping Youth
