Read — the first rung
When you love someone who's struggling, understanding comes first.
Maybe the doors have started closing. Maybe the conversations have turned into conflict — or silence. Ladders to Peace helps you understand what may be happening beneath the behavior, and how to approach the relationship with greater intention.
Both formats included — download immediately after checkout
Prefer paper? Also available in paperback at Barnes & Noble.
Two formats, one price
Read it on screen, or print it
PDF Edition
Read on any phone, tablet, or computer — and print it if you'd rather hold the pages and write in the margins.
Digital Edition (EPUB)
For Kindle, Apple Books, and most e-readers, with text that reflows to your screen.
The story behind it
Written from nineteen years beside Jesse
Chris Martin mentored Jesse for nearly two decades — through behavioral struggles, substance use, hopelessness, and hard-won moments of connection. Jesse, whom Chris loved as a son, ultimately died by suicide. This book carries what that journey taught him, so it can serve your family now.
You'll begin to discover
- What may be happening beneath the surface of difficult behavior
- How to examine your own responses honestly — without shame
- Why connection must come before correction
- How small, steady steps rebuild trust over time
- What intentional presence looks like in ordinary moments
Who this book is for
- A parent watching a child struggle and unsure how to reach them
- A guardian or family member carrying worry you can't put down
- A mentor who wants to show up more intentionally
What this book cannot promise
No book can guarantee an outcome in someone else's life. This one won't diagnose, treat, or fix — and it isn't a substitute for licensed professional care. What it offers is understanding, honesty, and a steadier way to show up.
Want the tools too?
The Parent & Mentor Pack
Everything in the eBook, plus the Start Here roadmap, Companion Workbook, Warning Signs Checklist, Connection Map, 7-Day Connection Reset, 7 Questions Conversation Starter, and Next Rung Action Plan — every one printable — for $19.95.