Gravel road

Gabby Herrera is not like her perfect sister, Celia-straight-A student, obedient, responsible. Her parents don't get it. They don't get her C-average report card. Her love for basketball. The three of them think anything is possible if you just try hard enough. Well, I have tried. It's not possible. She can't be who she is unless she's just like them. And if she's not like them, she's not a real person. She's a broken person. A broken Herrera. And that is unacceptable.

Varsity football player Ian Taylor is ashamed of his autistic younger brother Davey, but his attitude changes after Davey begins attending his high school.

Often helping her mother pay the bills and taking care of her younger brother, Dani Garcia is no stranger to adversity, but after she is raped she is forced to face her most challenging personal struggle yet.

When Neema Powell's mother's boyfriend throws her out and her mother sides with him, Neema takes shelter with her boyfriend, Nate, for only two days before moving in with her Aunt Amina, but those two days will be enough to change her life forever.

Sometimes we find ourselves on a gravel road, not sure of how we got there or where the road leads. Sharp stones pellet the unprotected, and the everyday wear and tear sears more deeply. Gabby Herrera is not like her perfect sister, Celia--straight-A student, obedient, responsible. Her parents don't get it. They don't get er C-average report card. Her love for basketball. "The three of them think anything is possible if you just try hard enough. Well, I've tried. It's not possible." She can't be who she is unless she is just like them. And if she's not like them, she's not a real person. She's a broken person. A broken Herrera. And that is unacceptable.

Eric lives by his dojo's creed. MMA is his life. When his old girlfriend moves back to town, he feels old stirrings for her, but she shatters everything she believes in.

Logan's grandparents own a store in the middle of nowhere. He's devoted to them, even to the point of giving up his own dreams. Until one hitchhiker changes it all. Brooke. She's young. Too young to be alone. As Logan watches, she shoplifts. After chasing her down, he realizes hitchhiking is the least of Brooke's issues. Not knowing why, Logan is drawn to her. He insists on driving the young teen to her grandmother's in Oklahoma.

"Brett Miller is one of the kings of Elkhead High. Everyone know the kings rule the school. Football stars. Pretty girls. The in-crowd. Brett and his buddies are the tormentors; nobody messes with them. His life seems perfect, normal. His girlfriend Jillia is hot. He loves her. He imagines marrying her someday. Then Brett meets Zach..."--Back cover.

Inspired by the author's own experiences teaching youth in a correctional facility, this book, written in a first person point of view, tells the story of Darlene who ends up in a juvenile detention center after stealing a car.

Two very different girls unite when bullying escalates at their high school.