Sandro Birch has a good chance of making the ski team and having a real family with his girlfriend, but first he must deal with his anger against his father, especially after the man returns after a seventeen-year absence.
In the three years since her father's death, Arizona eighteen-year-old Regina has loaned her mother thousands of dollars to cover her compulsive spending and gambling, and she copes with her own stress by overeating, but when her mother wins the lottery, Regina hopes their troubles are over.
"Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers knows better thant to trust a rich boy. But then she meets the richest guy of all, who proves money might not matter after all"--Provided by publisher.
Eighteen-year-old Indigo is looking forward to becoming a full-time waitress after high school graduation, but her life is turned upside down by a large check given to her by a customer who appreciates that she cares enough to scold him about smoking.
Fifteen-year-old Fitz kidnaps the father he has never known, taking him from his St. Paul apartment building at gunpoint, in an attempt to address his bewildering mix of resentment and yearning.
When Thomas Peaceful's older brother is forced to join the British Army, Thomas decides to sign up as well, although he is only fourteen years old, to prove himself to his country, his family, his childhood love, Molly, and himself.
Eighteen-year-old Barry competes in a non-sanctioned boxing match in hopes of helping his recently-widowed mother, unaware that his best friend and manager, Alby, has his own desperate need for a share of the purse that may put their friendship on the line.
To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription meds wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.
When Annie, her mother, and baby brother move to a new home, they have a lot of work to do, but Annie finds joy at the house of a neighbor who plays piano.
