Polak, Monique

Anneke Van Raalte and her family are taken by the Nazis to a concentration camp in 1942, and Anneke's father, who is a cartoonist, is coerced into helping a propaganda campaign falsely depicting the camp as an idyllic place for Jews; as time passes, Anneke struggles with her loyalty to her family and her sense of right and wrong.

When her divorced mother--seeking to gain sole custody--asks her to compile a list of bad things her father does while she and her little sister, Bea, are staying with him, twelve-year-old Justine goes along with it, writing in her secret notebook. However, when the court case draws near, Justine finds herself writing a complete lie just to help her mother's case. Now Justine has to wonder about her mother's behavior, and her own, and must find the courage to tell the truth.

"What do you want to be when you grow up? I bet you've been asked that question before. But have you ever thought about why humans work? There are almost 3.5 billion people working in the world today, and that number is growing. In 'Why Do We Work?' author Monique Polak investigates the past, present and future of jobs, including how work has also been shaped by discrimination, privilege and child labor. Meet a variety of working professionals and explore why we have careers, vocations and professions. How is the way we work changing, and what will it look like in the future?"--Back cover.

Franklin, having found comfort in starting fires since he was young and dealing with his mother's decision to leave the family to be with her boyfriend, is forced to reconsider his obsession after a rash of local fires starts negatively affecting his father's job as the mayor.

Becky, a former skating star who practices self-mutilation to relieve pressure, coaches a young girl who is showing signs of being a cutter and must come to terms with her own problems while trying to help her student.

"This novel . . . takes place in a Japanese internment camp in China in WWII, where thirteen-year-old Gwen follows the Girl Guide code in order to survive"--Provided by publisher.

Todd enters the high-stakes world of gambling in the hopes of winning enough cash to impress Claire, but he soon finds himself in over his head.

Justin likes his after-school job at a guard-dog business, especially the old dog Smokey, but he soon learns that the owner is involved in illegal activity.

". . . young teens gather for a grief retreat, where they confront their feelings and try to understand how grief affects everyone differently"--Publisher provided.

"Examines the history of feminism and then addresses the issues girls and women continue to face today. The book also looks at the ways in which people, especially young people, are working together to create a world where gender equality is a reality, not a dream. The author shares stories about the courageous individuals who have made a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. Encourages teens to stand up for equality and peak out against injustice"--Provided by publisher.