coming of age fiction

Life's not easy for Nicky. His mother is gone, his dad's out on bail, and his older brother, Kenny, needs looking after like a little kid. When Kenny drags Nicky out of bed one dark morning, Nicky has no idea that he is about to witness a terrible act of destruction, and the senseless killing of an innocent animal. But Nicky manages to save something precious from the disaster, and his and Kenny's lives are changed forever.

When Kenny and Nicky spot a glint of gold in the murky waters of Bacon Pond, they can't leave it alone. It means money, and money helps patch things up when you haven't got any. But sometimes it's better not to look too deep. Not when there are local gangsters involved, and tough questions about your own family's past. But Nicky can't help looking back. He knows it's a bad idea, and it could ruin everything. Can he save himself and his family, or will the secrets of the lake take them all down?.

Accompanying her mother on a gap-year visit to New Delhi after a beloved aunt's death, Noreen rediscovers her cultural heritage alongside a handsome youth before their growing feelings trigger a family scandal.

Things are getting tense at home for Nicky and Kenny as they wait for a visit from their estranged mother. To escape, they go for a walk on the moors, taking their little Jack Russell terrier with them. But what should have been a laugh, a lark, turns deadly when the weather changes and they are caught in a blizzard. Nothing will ever be quite the same again.

When college freshman Grace Mendes reluctantly attends her first pillow fight match, she falls in love with the surprisingly gritty sport. Despite her usually shy, introverted, and reserved nature, Grace decides to try out for the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF), a locally famous league of fighters with larger-than-life personas like Pain Eyre, Miss Fortune, and champion Kat Atonic. They may battle with pillows, but there is nothing soft about these fighters. The first and only rule to pillow fighting is that the pillow needs to be the first point of contact; after that, everything else goes. Grace struggles with deep-seated body image issues, so she is especially shocked when she makes the competitive league and is welcomed into the fold of close knit, confident fighters. As her first official fight performing as newly crafted alter-ego/ring persona Cinderhella looms on the horizon, the real battle taking place is between Grace and her growing insecurities. What if people laugh or make fun of her? Why did she think she could pillow fight in the first place when she doesn't look like your "typical" athlete? Turns out, no one is laughing when Cinderhella dominates her first match in the ring. And as her alter-ego rises through the ranks of the PFF, gaining traction and online fame (and online trolls), can Grace use the spotlight to become an icon for not just others, but most importantly, for herself?.

When Kenny and Nicky rescue a rook left for dead, Kenny is determined to keep it alive. Nicky doubts the scruffy bird will make it, but then Nicky has plenty else to worry about. This time, it's not his dad or Kenny who needs help--his dad's sorting his life out and Kenny's busy making plans with his new best friend. Now it's Nicky's turn to struggle--with a school bully, his first love, and the fact that everything is about to go very, very wrong.

A new year of school is starting, and Brit finds herself struggling with feelings for a seemingly rude boy from class who might have a soft side. Meanwhile, Christine can't deny that she likes her best friend Abby...as more than just a friend. The only question is, does Abby have feelings for Christine, too? And will their feelings for each other mess things up in their friend group? Misunderstandings, betrayal, and jealousy are bound to get in the way. But hey! Look on the bright side: They're in this together. Always. Heartful, romantic, and sizzling with the excitement of navigating first love, Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann's brilliant follow up to Go With the Flow is a bright spot you will not want to miss.

After a family tragedy and a startling discovery, Elle will be forced to face down her greatest enemy: herself. Elle, the high school student with as many personalities as she has hair colors, finds herself trapped in her subconscious mind following a double psychological shock. That leaves her to navigate the hidden worlds of her various personalities in search of an escape route, while Blue?a sociable version of herself with a tendency to lie, cheat, and steal?takes full control over Elle's life in the real world. Her friends start to suspect something isn't right... but can they find a way to free Elle from Blue's bonds?.

The revelation of the mystery of her origins has allowed Elle to regain control of her life. But all is not well... On the surface, the high school student tries to resolve her contradictions. Inside, her multiple personalities attempt to unravel the mystery of the voice that speaks to them all. And in both cases, it would seem that Blue Elle has the answers, or at least the leads. Is it therefore time for reconciliation? Finally...it's "All for one"...but which one?!.

An exciting debut novel that gives voice to the diverse residents of a Palestinian American community in Baltimore?from young activists in conflict with their traditional parents to the poor who clean for the rich?lives which intersect across divides of class, generation, and religion.