family problems

In 1969 Houston, Texas, thirteen-year-old Scott learns to fly from his father, an Air Force flight instructor, but when NASA needs him for a secret space mission, Scott's elation is tempered by concern that his mother, who has moved to Florida, will find out.

Middle schooler Justin Riggs struggles to cope with major family problems, including a brother who might be heading for the Persian Gulf, but finds an escape in piano lessons and the dream of a romance with a popular girl.

Devastated when her beautiful, older sister dies from anorexia, twelve-year-old Jane recovers slowly from the tragedy, with help from unexpected sources.

At almost-thirteen, Junebug has never felt right except as stagehand at her father's summer theater, but after her parents separate and an irritating intern takes over her responsibilities, she discovers how hard life can be without a script to follow.

Having been stood up for the prom the previous year, high school junior Nicolette works on a top ten list of things to do with her unworn dress while also trying to help her divorced parents and take care of her relationships with her best friend and with potential boyfriends.

Julian Drew, attempting to cope with the recent death of his mother and an abusive step-mother, writes in a code in three notebooks in which he documents his changing life in code.

Carley struggles with being open to love after she suffers a betrayal that forces her to move in with a foster family.

A sad and silent nine-year-old boy finds his voice when he moves next to a family that rescues dogs.

A fictional journal in which fifteen-year-old Yancy Aparicio details his adventure in the wilderness after he decides to run away from home because he is tired of his older brother's behavior and ends up staying on a ranch in the desert where he reflects on his relationships with his sibling, parents, and a girl from school and decides he needs to be more self-confident.

Three Mexican American teenagers in a small-town in Texas struggle with difficulties at home and at school as they try to attain the elusive status of adulthood.