Misty isn’t too pleased when her family moves to Palmdale, California, far from the big city. Good news: she quickly grows to love the desert’s natural beauty and wildlife. Bad news: her home life is nowhere near as beautiful, despite the facade of a happy...

In Gripped (Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy) by Stacy A. Padula, Taylor Dunkin’s life is in turmoil, and it’s hard to see a clear way out. He used to be a college football star with everything going for him, but a knee injury ended it...

In Dear Dairy by Steve Goldsmith, the story follows Justin Case, a twelve-year-old boy who writes about his life in a diary while dealing with school, family struggles, and the challenges of being dyslexic and mildly autistic. His entries, full of misspellings and made-up words,...

In Nell by L. K. Campbell, two siblings, Nell and Ben Howard, run away from home after a bad argument with their mother into the dense woods. There, they are transported into a world that shares similarities to ours, Drayward. In Drayward, Nell discovers that...

What We Found Last Summer by Javier De Lucia follows twelve-year-olds Calvin and Derek as they try to enjoy a carefree summer in their quiet Connecticut suburb. The summer has a distinctly 1980s feel as they build treehouses, ride their bikes, and hang out with...

Katy Farber's What If It Wasn’t My Fault follows Indie Watson, a teenager trying to navigate life after being sexually assaulted at a party. She wrestles with memories and a relentless sense of guilt. On top of that, she is burdened by her family's problems,...

In Channeling Marilyn by Mima Tipper, high school senior Alexandria “Lexa” Donovan is thrust into a world she hasn’t prepared for. She is randomly selected by lottery to play the lead role of Cherie in the school’s production of Bus Stop. She struggles with stage...

On her first day at South Iris High, twelve-year-old Nina Allbright was an awkward auburn-haired girl with braces and two left feet. However, she has her two left feet to thank for an encounter that was about to shape the rest of her high school...

Goon by Glenn Erick Miller is the story of a foster boy’s penance in an experimental detention center. Troubled and super-sized, Goon is in serious trouble. The theft of a car and joyriding led to his brother being injured, and we see Goon sent to...

Strength Hidden by Sara McQuarrie tells the story of twelve-year-old Andromeda Smith (Andy) as she tries to understand her life in foster care after her parents abandon her. Andy has moved through many homes and never felt truly cared for, leaving her wary of others....