Kirjahaku

In her debut novel, Traci L. Jones presents a girl with grit she never knew she had, and a boy so inspired by her that he begins to take pride in his own abilities. Patrice dreams of a first-class education, but right now she's just got to survive the walk to school.Patrice Williams was happy living in Georgia with her grandmother...then her mother lured her to Chicago and ended up in jail. Living in the projects, Patrice is an easy target for everyone. Not only won't she stand up for herself, she cares about her grades--unlike her classmates. But that draws the attention of Monty Freeman, another eighth grader who asks Patrice to tutor his little brother. When Monty becomes her guardian angel, Patrice begins to think something stronger than friendship might be growing between them. Still, nothing will stop her from applying for a scholarship at prestigious Dogwood Academy--except her mother. Winner of the 2007 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award A 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year

After the death of her mother, seventh-grader Serena finds herself facing the day-to-day challenges of caring for herself and her younger brother, Henry, all while attempting to lead a normal pre-teen life. Seventh-grader Serena Shaw is trying to keep up at school while rehearsing for the lead role in the spring musical and dealing with a father so "blue" he is nearly catatonic. With the aid of a not-so-secret admirer, as well as a growing sense of self-confidence, she faces the challenges of caring for herself and her ball-of-charm younger brother--all while attempting to lead the life of a normal pre-teen. Readers will be drawn into this convincing portrait of a vivacious young person who is on a path to discovering that taking on responsibility sometimes means finding the best way to ask for help.

Jazz Sanders has killed her best friend, Landi. Not on purpose, but accidentally while driving home from a party. While most people, including Landi's parents, offer her sympathy and forgiveness, Jazz feels unworthy of either because Jazz has a secret about what she was doing before her best friend sailed through the windshield and died on the road.Each day Jazz struggles to present a normal face to her family and everyone at school to avoid sympathy and therapy. And each day she thinks about how she no longer deserves love, human kindness, or forgiveness from anyone. Jazz finds herself seeking help at a nearby Catholic church, looking for some guidance in fighting her panic attacks and moments of soul-crushing self-blame.There Jazz learns about absolution and embarks on a journey of self-forgiveness. She finally settles on trying to emulate the best of Landi by volunteering at the children's hospital where Landi spent every Friday after school. Can Jazz find a way to forgive herself or will she spend the rest of her life punishing herself for Landi's death?