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.

The contemporary family is being distracted, disturbed and distraught by societal pressures from every direction. The nuclear family concept, believed crucial to child rearing, is becoming passé according to census data. Or has the wave of disruption to families crested? It is hoped that this bibliography will serve as a useful tool to researchers seeking further information on families and the pressures being exerted upon them in the 21st century.

Show reluctant teens that reading is not only fundamental-it's also fun! In this companion book to Rip-Roaring Reads for Reluctant Teen Readers, Ammon and Sherman describe 40 exciting, contemporary titles (20 for middle school, 20 for high school) written by outstanding authors. These are books your students won't want to put down. Designed to make the matching process between student and books easy and successful, this volume also includes genre and theme indexes, curriculum activities, interest and readability levels, and reproducible bookmarks for each entry.

Compiles and annotates YALSA's "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults" and "Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers." Includes theme lists.

Set in the 1950s in Chicago, Robert Nifkin tells his highly unorthodox high school experiences in the form of a college application essay.