The witty book, Sorta Like a Rock Star begins with the main character Amber. She is a young girl who struggles with issues that unfortunately many girls face today. Amber grows up with an absent father and an alcoholic mother. To make matters worse she is forced to sleep in a school bus out of desperation of being homeless. Amber is ambitious and faces her struggles head on! Her companion is her "Catholic" dog, Bobby Big Boy, or "Triple B" for short. He is always there to listen to Amber's gossip and somehow give her advice to deal with her teenage drama.
Hampton started in 1970, dedicating his entire career to be a journalist, reporting the sad history in the Middle East. He wrote this nonfiction book entirely on facts that he experienced himself. He was there during two wars, including Black September, to write about the shooting, killing, bombing, peace treaties, and diplomatic maneuvering from a neutral stance.
Clifton is struggling to have a meaningful relationship with someone. After his father's murder, all Clifton has left is his drunken mother who is never there for him. As a biracial black and white child, Clifton struggles with his racial identity. He feels like an outcast. He looks for someone to connect with, someone to trust. Clifton gets an idea to put messages in his mother's beer bottles and float them down a river, hoping for someone to find them and communicate with him.
Keysha and Wesley had a lot in common; they both were in deep trouble. Keysha was the new girl trying to fit in and ended up in the wrong crowd. Wesley was the bad boy who turned his life around. When Keysha is framed with drugs in her locker, the school's reputation is damaged and people turn against her.
Boys are a lot like puppies; they drool, they make messes, they can be cute and annoying. Annabelle just started middle school and already she feels like she is in over her head. Elementary school is nothing compared to Birchwood Middle School. Her mom has a new boyfriend, she is living in a new house with new friends, her puppy is hard to handle and dont get her started on the boys at school! If only summer camp lasted forever! How is Annabelle ever going to survive?
