southern california

When an environmental and economic crisis leads to social chaos and violence in California, fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina, who feels others' pain as her own, loses her family and home, and flees into the unprotected American landscape. What begins as a flight for survival soon leads to something more.

"In the year 2024, the country is marred by unattended environmental and economic crises that lead to social chaos. Lauren Olamina, a preacher's daughter living in Los Angeles, is protected from danger by the walls of her gated community. However, in a night of fire and death, what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: a startling vision of human destiny--and the birth of a new faith"--OCLC.

"Dismayed when his neighbors cut down a beloved old walnut tree that has always been a source of comfort, Alder forges an unexpected friendship with the new girl next door over a series of mysterious connections"--Provided by publisher.

"After years of hard work, Mia Tang finally gets to go on vacation with her family--to China! A total dream come true. Mia can't wait to see all her cousins and grandparents again, especially her cousin Shen. As she roams around Beijing, witnessing some of the big changes China's going through, Mia thinks about the changes in her own life, like . . . 1. Lupe's taking classes at the high school! And Mia's own plans to be a big writer are . . . stuck. 2. Something happened with Jason and Mia has no idea what to do about it. 3. New buildings are popping up all around the motel, and small businesses are disappearing. Can the Calivista survive? Buckle up! Mia is more determined than ever to get through the turbulence, now that she finally has . . . room to dream!"--Provided by publisher.

When Fancy Pink is offered a record deal their parents say no, so they decide to make an album on their own, if they can raise enough money without raising their parents' suspicions.

"After years of hard work, Mia Tang finally gets to go on vacation with her family--to China! A total dream come true. Mia can't wait to see all her cousins and grandparents again, especially her cousin Shen. As she roams around Beijing, witnessing some of the big changes China's going through, Mia thinks about the changes in her own life, like . . . 1. Lupe's taking classes at the high school! And Mia's own plans to be a big writer are . . . stuck. 2. Something happened with Jason and Mia has no idea what to do about it. 3. New buildings are popping up all around the motel, and small businesses are disappearing. Can the Calivista survive? Buckle up! Mia is more determined than ever to get through the turbulence, now that she finally has . . . room to dream!"--Provided by publisher.

"Alder has always lived in his cozy little house in Southern California. And for as long as he can remember, the old, reliable, comforting walnut tree has stood between his house and the one next door. That is, until a new family--with a particularly annoying girl his age--moves into the neighboring house and, without warning, cuts it down. Oak doesn't understand why her family had to move to Southern California. She has to attend a new school, find new friends, and live in a new house that isn't even ready--her mother had to cut down a tree on their property line in order to make room for a second floor. And now a strange boy next door won't stop staring at her, like she did something wrong moving here in the first place. As Oak and Alder start school together, they can't imagine ever becoming friends. But the two of them soon discover a series of connections between them--mysterious, possibly even magical puzzles they can't put together. At least not without each other's help"--From the publisher's web site.

Thirteen-year-old, Southern California surfer Yumi Ruiz-Hirsch is a unique mix of Jewish, Japanese, and Cuban heritage; and when her grandfather, Saul, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she asks him to tell her his life story in order to better understand her own history.

As often as possible high school senior Reiko Smith-Mori drives to the nearby California desert to escape from the increasingly claustrophobic life at home and her parents expectations, and there she meets Seth Rogers, a boy from school who shares her love of the desert but also wants a closer relationship with Reiko, which is just adding to her problems--because Reiko has a secret: in her mind her older sister, Mika, who died years ago, is always with her, at home and school, and she has never allowed herself to say good-bye.

Single mother Christine Scavello turns to private detective Charlie Harrison for help when her young son Joey becomes the target of a fanatical religious group that believes the child to be the Antichrist.