Kern Carter

A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens. For fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. Coi is just eighteen years old, but has already survived years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother. After being kicked out of her mother's house at age fourteen, Coi has lived with her father, and together they've created a peaceful life. That peace ends suddenly when her mother dies. While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who only hurt her, she starts having lucid dreams, forcing her to relive moments of abuse and emotional trauma that eventually led to Coi's abandonment. Her mother's passing also reopens the door to her mother's side of the family, including her beloved younger half-sister, Kayla, her stepfather and her grandmother. Each of them challenge Coi's long-held views about her mother, especially Kayla, who, Coi realizes, is taking their mother's loss hard. As she reconnects with her family, Coi learns to see parts of her mother she never experienced, and for the first time since she was abandoned, opens her heart to forgiveness.

When Ever’s father passes away suddenly, she is devastated. Not long after that, her mom has a stroke and Ever’s anguish becomes almost too much for her to handle. That’s when she gets the idea to form a group she calls Boys and Girls Screaming. Along with her brother, Jericho, and her best friend, Candace, Ever wants to bring together kids from their school who have suffered trauma so they can share their stories and begin to heal. Although the other teens find solace in the group, Ever tumbles further into depression until she reaches a breaking point. As the group learns the true source of Ever’s pain, they jump into action to help her find a way out. Boys and Girls Screaming tells the story of a generation of teens finding the support they need to process their trauma in their own ways.

Treasure and Justin only see each other through their dreams. When fate finally brings them together in real life, their love flourishes, but not without discoveries that threaten to tear them apart. Treasure is ready to leave her home to begin school in the big city. But before she leaves, she learns a secret from her parents that threatens her life. Justin's life has already been changed when he loses both of his parents. While he's forced to become independent as a teenager, Justin struggles to find himself amongst the chaos and allure of the city's night life. Once together, Justin and Treasure are inseparable. Lust quickly turns to love and their passion creates a bond that seemingly can't be broken. But when Treasure gets sick, they both make decisions that threaten to end their relationship. Feeling like the world is trying to tear them apart, Treasure and Justin must make one final decision. Are they ready to risk it all?