single-parent families

After his mother's disappearance, Charlie became a bullied loner, obsessed with UFO sightings, so when new student Seth wants to be his friend, Charlie is suspicious.

Since his father's suicide, Will, sixteen, has mainly walked, worked at Dollar Only, and tried to replicate his father's cornbread recipe, but the rape of his childhood friend shakes things up.

After a traumatic accident, Kyle feels lost until he meets Marley, who seems like the girl of his dreams, but as they grow closer he fears he is headed for another crash.

"When Mackenzie Miller's aunt needs a foster home for one of the dogs at her shelter, Mackenzie jumps at the chance. Buster is so sweet and cuddly, and Mackenzie is sure he'll cheer up her stressed-out mom. And helping Buster find a forever home? Mackenzie loves a project! Buster is an older dog who acts like a puppy--which, it turns out, means he's a lot of work. Mackenzie wants to be the best foster mom ever, but she also has school; and her best friend, Sheera, needs help reconciling with her cousin, Yasmin; and her mom has just gone from overworked to unemployed. And Buster just keeps--well, busting up Mackenzie's plans! Can she make it work, like she always does? Or has Mackenzie bitten off more than she can chew?"--Provided by publisher.

Lazarus Weathers, a high school senior from the wrong side of the tracks, seeks to protect his half-brother while pitching his way out of poverty, one strike at a time.

From age three, McCutcheon Daniels, now sixteen, has been trained in Mixed Martial Arts and must keep winning to feed his five-year-old sister and father, but chance presents an opportunity to get out of the Detroit slums using his brain instead of his fighting skills.

Small, shy Matt Baker, who has been marginalized because of a speech disorder, and big, bold, and brash Ben Roberson become unlikely practice partners as their baseball team navigates the rapidly approaching end of their season.

"After her confrontation with Ikol, Emily finally understands the stone's power and what she must do to defend Alledia from the shadows. As she travels to Typhon to help her mom and Navin, Prince Trellis returns to the Kingdom of the Elves to save his countrymen--and confront the fraud who has seized power in the absence of a king. The threat of darkness follows all Stonekeepers closely, and it will take the strength of both new friends and old foes to conquer it... and survive"--Provided by publisher.

"Twelve-year-old Alex Carlisle loves football almost as much as she loves her father but when she joins the Orville Middle School football team, not all of the boys, or parents, are pleased"--Provided by publisher.

Eleven-year-old April must come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Zee.