Kennedy, newly 15, has a lot of questions. Is her annoying little sister really her sister, or only her half-sister? Did her family move across the country for her father’s job or because her free-spirited mother had something, or someone, she needed to get away from? Kennedy is reluctant to join the ranks of burdened adults, yet is frustrated by the timid passions of boys her own age, particularly her boyfriend Jordan. She resorts to Jane Austen novels, Colin Firth movies, and singing her heart out in her bedroom. An average summer turns not-so-typical when her best friend Sarina becomes self-destructive and a creepy cyber-stalker appears on their chat line. Things truly heat up when she meets 18-year-old Colin. As Kennedy and Sarina make plans to trap the cyber-stalker, Kennedy finds Colin’s good looks and predatory charms hard to resist. Can she find the courage to ask the right questions and to see truth for what it is? This poignant novel deals fearlessly and humorously with the concerns of modern teens: relationships and sex, family, alcohol, racism, cyber-stalkers, and wild cougars.

Nearly 14, Pauline has discovered that her life is far more interesting if she records it as a great work of fiction — featuring, of course, herself as the tragic heroine. Pauline’s hand-wringing accounts of misbehaving boyfriends, backstabbing friends, and general angst are intermingled with more serious issues like her parents’ divorce and her beloved teacher’s loss of a best friend to AIDS. Laced with the pop-culture references young readers love, Pauline’s “novel” reveals the realities of today’s teenage life.

When 16-year-old Natalie Kaplan meets a new person, she knows right away what kind of dog they'd be. Natalie herself resembles an Ibizan hound—quiet, playful, loyal, smart, and above all, obedient. Actually, Natalie has been trained so well that sometimes she thinks her mother is secretly controlling her with a dog whistle. (Her mom is a respected veterinarian with a successful clinic, so it's not that much of a stretch.)Just like the Ibizan, Natalie is very mindful of her master's rules, but at the first sign of freedom, she is prone to stray. And who can blame her when the gorgeous and mysterious Carver Reed comes to live with the Kaplan family for the summer? Little by little, Natalie is drawn to Carver's spontaneity and free spirit, and before long, she turns into another breed of girl, who surprisingly bites the hand that feeds her."Stray is a winning novel that provides us with an important reminder: it's okay to make mistakes and break the rules, especially when it comes to love."—Maureen Johnson, author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes

X in Flight centers on the lives of three intriguing teens. X — short for Xenos — is 17, tough but shy. He’s a decent golfer, but his mother thinks he’s the next Tiger Woods. One night, X is shocked to discover that he can fly. Is he a superhero? An angel? Or just really screwed up? X’s girlfriend, Cat, is pierced, mean, angry — and afraid. Ruby watches them both in silence. X admires her, but Ruby thinks she’s going crazy. Their lives intersect one terrifying night at a school dance, when X’s powers are the only way to save Ruby’s life. Does he believe in himself enough to do it? Dark, deep, and dramatic, X in Flight is a bold departure from the humorous Haley Andromeda series, but it shows Karen Rivers at the height of her powers. Here, she proves her matchless ability to create and understand today's teens and their complicated lives, and to tell intense stories with honesty, humor, and intelligence.