Books from Ashley Bohinc
Communicating to Middle Schoolers: A Guide to Developing and Delivering Messages That Stick
If you’ve ever stood on a stage while a middle schooler…
pulled a pickle out of their sock during your talk
pretended to be a snake, slithering through the rows of chairs as you spoke
would simply not stop talking to others around them
…then you know how difficult it can be to communicate both in a way this group understands AND keeps their attention.
But difficult doesn’t mean impossible.
After nearly 20 years teaching middle schoolers, Ashley shares the unique mix of art and science that has helped her keep the attention of thousands in this in-between stage of life.
THE ART OF GROUP TALK: HOW TO LEAD BETTER CONVERSATIONS WITH TEENAGE GIRLS
Leading a conversation with a small group of teenage girls isn’t always easy.
Sometimes they talk too much – way too much, sometimes they don’t talk enough, and sometimes you’re pretty sure your volunteer training didn’t quite prepare you for the sort of things they’d like to talk about.
Actually, if you’ve been a small group leader for at least five minutes, you probably already know what it’s like for a small group conversation to totally bomb.
So if you’ve ever looked at your small group of teenage girls and wished you knew . . .
what to say, what not to say, when to speak, when to listen, how to make them talk, how to make them stop talking . . . then this book is for you.
The Art of Group Talk helps small group leaders like you have better conversations with teenage girls. Because, as a small group leader, you lead a conversation with teenage girls every single week. Conversations about their lives, their dreams, their friends, their more-than-friends, and their definitely-not friends. And sometimes you even manage to lead conversations about faith.
This is a book to remind you that your small group conversations— even the ones that don’t go exactly as planned—really matter. But there are a few ways to make your conversations matter even more.
With personal insight and practical advice, Crystal Chiang & Ashley Bohinc will help you discover helpful tips and strategies for leading conversations with your small group of teenage girls.
What if the most important part of your service trip isn’t what you do—but how you understand it?
Building Bridges is designed to start the conversations that matter most—before, during, and long after your trip ends. Written from two deeply personal and practical perspectives—Ashley, who brings teams into new cultures, and Henok, who hosts them on the ground—this book is an honest, heartfelt invitation to rethink how we serve, connect, and grow together.
This isn’t a rulebook or a checklist. It’s a shared space for reflection and growth, rooted in real stories, honest mistakes, and hard-earned wisdom from both sides of the bridge.
Whether you're preparing for your first trip or leading your fifteenth team, Building Bridges offers four foundational conversations every group should have:
Understanding Poverty: Redefining what it really means—and what it doesn’t.
Prioritizing Relationships: Shifting from task-based service to people-first presence.
Choosing Empowerment: Learning to partner with, not just serve for.
Honoring Culture: Entering with humility, curiosity, and deep respect.
This book is meant to be read together—by teams, leaders, and anyone engaging in cross-cultural service. It’s a tool to spark dialogue, deepen understanding, and help you build something that lasts far beyond your return home.
Because when we trade performance for presence, charity for connection, and assumptions for listening, we don’t just serve better—we change. And in a world so often divided, we need more people willing to build bridges, not burn them.
Read it slowly. Talk about it often. Let it shape the way you see the world—and each other.