In the 9th grade, Emmy is an A student, a soccer star, and a lead soprano in the school choir. She won't let her alcoholic mother or her father, long gone, stand in her way. Emmy falls for Art, a junior who is also one of the choir's lead singers. Art is a dream of a boyfriend until Emmy finds that she's pregnant. Then he wants nothing to do with her. Her mother is furious and wants her to have an abortion. Her guidance counselor claims that Emmy's life will be ruined, and only one of her friends tries to stand by her. But what does Emmy want, and what about her dreams, if she chooses a new life as a single mother?

Melissa doesn't consider herself abused-Rudy only hits her occasionally when he's drinking-until she realizes the effect his abuse is having on their child. Finally Melissa leaves Rudy, and she and Cheyenne go to the shelter for battered women. As difficulties with group living arise, however, she misses the good times with Rudy. The clarity of Melissa's decision soon fades, and she finds herself again in a dangerous situation, more trapped than ever before.

The Nezel are refugee servants, toiling in a desert land where their culture is barely tolerated. Two friends, prowling through secret tunnels, uncover a villainous plot that places the Nezel in jeopardy. Almond and Quartz hatch a desperate plan to aid Finch, rightful heir to the throne. Even with the help of unexpected allies, their heroic efforts may not be enough-and the Time of Naming cannot be delayed. All adolescents must choose a gender and a new name for adulthood but Almond, intensely private, struggles to make this choice. Almond, Quartz, and Finch strive to claim their true selves and protect their people in perilous times.

A luminous novel about freedom, persistence, and the power of compassion.

In 1970, a girl's life is not her own. Katya Warshawsky runs away from home rather than settle for the narrow life her parents demand of her. She revels in Chicago's counterculture, plunging into anti-war protests, communal living, and new liberties. But even in this free-wheeling world, she confronts bewildering obstacles. Still, she won't relinquish her dream of becoming an artist or her belief in a better world, and turns to Robert Lewis, hoping the old doctor will have answers.

Robert finds her in his office, barefoot and creating an evocative portrait of his late wife. Eager to help this naive waif, he worries when she vanishes before he has the chance. His years of practice have shown him the dangers that await a girl like Katya and he ventures into unfamiliar streets in search of her. Katya's situation grows more perilous as she struggles to get her bearings and rescue herself, while Robert, aided by a cunning draft-dodger and a sympathetic waitress, confronts new moral dilemmas.

Fans of Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Berg will love this deeply felt and compelling story of redemption that echoes our own complex social times.

When their mother is called to Iraq with her National Guard unit, 17-year-old Mario Barajas and his 10-year-old brother, Eddie, move in with their Aunt Carmen. Eddie, hungry for the love of a father, happily soaks up the attention their aunt's boyfriend, Denton, freely gives. Mario is caught up with a girlfriend who is his first love, with high school soccer, and with work. He barely notices as his little brother becomes more and more withdrawn. Then, returning home earlier than expected one evening, he walks in on the terrible secret. Mario must take desperate measures to protect Eddie. This is a gripping tale of trust, betrayal, and secrets that should never be kept. Above all, this is the story of the bond of love between two brothers.

At the age of twelve, Cassie is old enough to babysit. But when the father of two children for whom she babysits fondles her, Cassie is too confused and embarrassed to know what to do. She becomes more and more frightened as he continues to aggressively molest her. At last, she tells her teenage cousin, Lisa, and together they try to find ways to cope. Lisa realizes the escalating situation is more than the two of them can handle on their own and she breaks her vow of silence. The story explores the conflicting emotions of a young adolescent and the concern of parents who must protect their daughter's privacy and her well-being. In spite of the horrors of molestation, this is ultimately a story of healing and hope.

Autumn's life is nearly perfect-she's a top volleyball player and student, has close friends, and a father and grandmother who are raising her with an abundance of love, laughter, and common sense. If only Autumn weren't pregnant. If only she'd skipped Jason's celebratory champagne on his 18th birthday. If only. . . Then tragedy strikes. Autumn goes numb for weeks. By the time she begins to emerge from her grief and face reality, she is five months into her pregnancy and her choices are few. She must somehow find the inner strength to get through times more difficult than anything she might have imagined.

This young adult novel accurately portrays the widespread effects of a young lesbian's decision to come out of the closet and live openly and honestly while still in high school. The story line revolves around Kit Dandridge-a young lesbian struggling to be herself in a repressive environment-her best friend Lynn, and their families and friends. Included are plot elements seen in recent headlines that include the often tragic consequences of high school intolerance and bullying as well as the development of support group networks for gay and lesbian students and their heterosexual allies. Ultimately Love Rules is a testament to the power of love--in family, in friendships, and in both gay and straight teen couples, and a testament to the power of gay/straight alliances in working toward the safety of all students.

Eddie Barajas just wants to enjoy senior year, but everyone -- even his girlfriend -- thinks he should aim for college. His decision to join his stepfather in the house painting business leaves him carefree--until he takes a stand against racism. When white supremacists target him, old fears from his childhood trauma emerge, challenging all his coping skills. What are the right choices to make, and can Eddie make them? In this stand-alone sequel to SHUT UP, where he was a victim of sexual abuse as a young boy, Eddie experiences his first love and learns what it means to be a true American.

Thirty-five poignant and sensual poems, in which the poet performs word ballet, pirouetting her way through regrets, childbirth and parenting, floods and heat waves. Deeply personal and sensual, the poems offer sympathetic looks at love, both certain and uncertain, plumbing the depths of memory and imagination.

A collection of thirty-six evocative poems, melancholic and whimsical, that explores the natural world and the collapse of ecosystems, mothers and daughters, aging, the inner life of words, and the secret lives of ordinary objects.

Erica has always been a serious student, but when her boyfriend's life starts spinning out of control, she does not anticipate the tragic consequences his behavior could have on her future. This story of young love gently interweaves several topics such as keeping parents aware of sexual relationships, the trauma of rape, the stress of college applications, and the threat of AIDS.

Six short stories about teens in crisis are presented with alternate male and female narrators. Story lines include such young adult concerns as teen pregnancy, abortion, abusive partners, racism, failing at school, a fatal auto accident after a party where alcohol was served, and coping with family obligations to care for an aging relative.

Jeff Browning is a talented high school debater who stands a solid chance of winning a scholarship to the college of his dreams. But Christy, his girlfriend, announces that she is pregnant and she will neither have an abortion nor give the baby up for adoption. Jeff is forced to deal with the consequences of his actions. Ready or not, Jeff is going to be a father, and the course of his life is changed forever. This story of a reluctant teenage father was unanimously selected by ALA for its Best Books for Young Adults list.

Widowed Deborah Huntworth is elated when her tyrannical great-aunt dies. At last Deborah can pursue her dream of becoming an artist. Her first act of freedom will be a return to the island of Martinique to reunite with her child. She has no way of knowing the tragedies that await her or the price she will pay for her single-minded determination. With her only plan in tatters and nothing to take its place, Deborah resolutely travels to New York City. There, in spite of disasters and her own mistakes, she clings to the lifeline of her art. Against a backdrop of early 20^th century historical events, Deborah resists every effort to hinder her as she seeks new, creative ways to express her gift.

What does it mean to live well in late life? Marilyn Reynolds showcases twenty-eight essays on how to survive a sudden health crisis, create your own form of spirituality, share a dog, and think about the past without becoming mired in it. Reynolds' voice is never sentimental, but wry and realistic with its take-no-prisoners love of life and other people. Over 80: Reflections on Aging will appeal to anyone looking to live a meaningful life, whether aged 20 or 90.

At 15, Lauren Riley promised herself that she would not mess up her life and would stay away from drugs and sex. But two years later, her boyfriend Tyler is pressuring her to forget that promise. Both her parents are lost to her through long-time drug addiction, but through her writing, Lauren tries to deal with her problems and discovers a deeper strength. Based on the reality of everyday high school life, and critiqued by high school students as it was written, this book accurately portrays and confronts the issues of drugs, race, sex, first love, and finding self-expression.

This collection of short stories focuses on moments in life when something turns, a choice is made, a promise kept or broken. With vivid and precise details, these quiet tales introduce you to characters whose inner lives are both troubled and eloquent. You smell the permeating odors in a rundown Chicago apartment building, touch the texture of a bear's thick fur, feel your feet scraping against the coils of a hairy rope ladder in the bathtub. These compressed observant tales provide a remedy to readers hungry for stories that will resonate long after the last page is turned.