Foster Teens

Mel Foster has always been told that he'd come to a bad end - he just never thought it would be as a meal for a giantess! But looking monstrous doesn't make you a monster. Eve Frankenstein has no interest in eating Mel. She wants to protect him. While Eve and Mel become firm friends in the Arctic, far away in London, Queen Victoria's strange new butler is hatching a plan...and only Mel has the power to stop him.

In 1881, 12-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski wishes she didn't have to board the orphan train in Chicago. But she has no home, no family, and no choice. Rodzina doesn't believe the orphans are on their way out West to be adopted by good families. She's sure they will become slaves to strangers. Anyway, who would ever adopt a large, tough, stubborn girl of Polish origin? As the train heads west, all Rodzina has is a small suitcase and her family memories from the past.

Fern and Howard are off to camp to learn the art of being Anybodies. But Camp Happy Sunshine Good Times is not what they expected: The bus driver is blind, the counselors have beaks, and a vicious mole is on the loose, attacking campers! Fern and Howard are coping as best they can — but why oh why is it that every time Fern shakes a book, a message in a bottle plops out? The messages are urgent: "Save us, Fern!" "We need you!" They are all signed by the Nobodies. But who are these mysterious Nobodies, and what do they want from Fern?

Growing up with a mother suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and a mostly absent father, Nikki Grimes found herself terrorized by babysitters, shunted from foster family to foster family, and preyed upon by those she trusted. At the age of six, she poured her pain onto a piece of paper late one night - and discovered the magic and impact of writing. For many years, Nikki's notebooks were her most enduing companions. In this accessible and inspiring memoir, Nikki shows how the power of those words helped her conquer the hazards - ordinary and extraordinary - of her life.

When D Foster walks into Neeka and her best friend's lives, their world opens up. D doesn't have a "real" mom constantly telling her what to do, and the girls envy her independence. But D wants nothing more than to feel connected, and the three girls form a tight bond - and a passion for the music of Tupac Shakur. D's the one who understands Tupac's songs best, and through her, his lyrics become more personal for all of them.

In an alternative 1987, a disease ravages human memories. There is no cure, only artificial recall. The lucky ones—the recollectors—need the treatment only once a day. Freya Izquierdo isn’t lucky. The high school senior is a “degen” who needs artificial recall several times a day. Plagued by blinding half-memories that take her to her knees, she’s desperate to remember everything that will help her investigate her father’s violent death.

There is no universal adoption experience, and no two adoptees have the same story. This anthology for teens edited by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung contains a wide range of powerful, poignant, and evocative stories in a variety of genres. These tales from fifteen bestselling, acclaimed, and emerging adoptee authors genuinely and authentically reflect the complexity, breadth, and depth of adoptee experiences.

Abandoned but not helpless, Destiny is a fighter. With her oversized hoodie and unwashed body, Destiny puts up walls to keep people out. Her teacher becomes alarmed when she discovers Destiny begging for food at a restaurant. Social Services steps in and takes Destiny to live with grandparents she didn’t know she had. But Destiny discovers that blood isn’t always thicker than water. Destiny moves to a caring foster home where she begins to feel accepted. Her world is ripped apart again when she is suddenly removed from the home and people who love her.

Positive Self-Parenting Solutions is made for teenagers struggling and dealing with depression. It begins by emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and healing the post-traumatic stress in one's life and the numerous benefits.

Carl knows he's playing with fire every time he fixes up a stolen car stereo to resell. But he needs the money; how else is he going to get away from his boozing mom and her endless parade of classy guys? Then one night his mother's drinking gets out of control and Carl's plan to get himself a decent life takes a nosedive. Sent to live with distant relatives far away from the life he has always known, Carl is faced with a decision: run away and stick with The Plan, or come up with a new one...fast.

Hoping to ditch two months of chicken coops, kale, and her parents’ antiscreen rules, Mac MacLeod sets out to win a citywide food cart scavenger hunt and the money she needs for the summer coding camp of her dreams. But Mac discovers more than just clues during her cross-city sprint - like how her weird parents might not be the worst thing compared to the circumstances of those around her.

When 12-year-old Casey's sole guardian - her stepmother Sylvia - doesn't come home one night, Casey believes she's run off with her boyfriend. The question is - will Sylvia come back? And even more urgent - how will Casey fend for herself in their New York City apartment?

In CinderGirl, Christina tells her piercing and poignant story of leaving behind homelessness to become Ms. California and the founder of a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy for foster-care children.

As the summer before college begins, Jonas is hiding a secret. He suffers with bulimia, but no one knows. Not even he knows how bad it really is. Until he meets Louis, a confident dreamer who believes in a better future for Jonas and together they enjoy a sun-kissed summer filled with music, memories and life-changing moments. But when tragedy strikes, Jonas must decide if he has the strength to face things alone...

This book serves as a guide for teens and provides ways to facilitate open dialogues about their struggles, fostering understanding and empathy. So, get ready to bid goodbye to self-doubt, seize control of your social anxieties, and unleash the confident person within you.

Jessie Grean gets out of her bad home in Boston and moved to Cambridge. At 16 years old, she's been bullied because of her looks, abused by her single mother, and never known love. Jessie's new school counselor, though, sees something in her.

A heartfelt tale that unfolds against the backdrop of Ireland's lush landscapes. In this enchanting story, an elderly man seeks solace on the serene shores of Inis Eala after the loss of his beloved wife. Alone except for his faithful dog, Seamus's days of solitude take an unexpected turn when he encounters a group of orphaned siblings. Despite the contrast in their worlds, a bond forms, and Seamus opens his heart and home to these young souls.

Alex has a set of Enchanted cards. When she flutters her fingers above them, something magical happens: The cards come alive and create moving pictures of what is now and what is yet to come. But Enchantment is illegal in the city of Luma, and those who practice it are imprisoned forever in the Vaults - dark dungeons deep below the city. When Alex is betrayed by her foster sister Zerra, she knows she is in great danger. With the help of her little foster brother, Louie, she makes a daring escape.

Eleven-year-old Sallie March is a whip-smart tomboy and voracious reader of Western adventure novels. When she and her sister, Maude, are orphaned for the second time, they decide to escape their new self-serving guardians for the wilds of the frontier and an adventure the likes of which Sallie has only read about. This time, however, the wanted woman isn't a villain out of a dime novel: it's Sallie's very own sister!

When Olivia Williams and her two younger brothers awake from a car crash, they're positive their world has changed. The talking horse is a big clue. And he has a lot to say. According to Thunder, fairies, magic, and good ol' St. Nick are all for real - on some level. Which would be incredibly awesome, but there's a problem: A rift has formed between the layers of existence, and evil Sliders are taking advantage of it - bringing violence, fear, and hatred with them.