Between the Cracks Series

Justin had made a mistake. A big, life-changing mistake. He already failed June once. He wasn’t there when she needed him, and because of him, their lives will never be the same. June is everything to Justin, and he must be everything to her. He must protect June at all costs. Justin is prepared spend the rest of his life keeping her from getting hurt again. But it seems they are always falling behind, barely keeping one step ahead of the nightmares. There is always one more hazard, just around the corner. - A heartbreaking and intense story of the journey of two children to find themselves and happiness. - Is it possible to rise above your circumstances when you already have two strikes against you? That is the question facing June and Justin, children thrust into circumstances that would defeat many adults. Can they ever hope to live happy, normal lives?

A heart-breaking story. Fans of Jodi Picoult and S.E. Hinton will love Michelle, award-winning author P.D. Workman’s captivating account of Michelle's thought-provoking and eye-opening story of poverty, abuse and addiction. “Daddy... can’t we come with you when you leave this time?” When Michelle asked to be taken away from her abusive mother, she never expected to lose everyone she loved in the process. They said they would keep her and Kenny together. Her daddy said he would be back. And she never even got to say good-bye to Marcie. All too soon, they were trying to reunite her with her mother, and Michelle is forced to take to the streets, seeking safety in the gang life. Michelle is third in the Ruby, Between the Cracks series, a winner of the Top Ten Best Books for Teens 2015. Praise for Michelle: —Something about [P.D. Workman’s] writing just blows my mind... I hate when I get too tired to read anymore and I have to wait until the next day. —It's a heart-breaking story. Praise for Ruby, Between the Cracks: —The Between the Cracks books have been absolutely AMAZING... as soon as I started to read "Ruby", I just had to keep going. —I wish I could forget the book Ruby and read it all over again. —This book is utterly amazing, I find myself having more empathy for children in these types of situations than ever before. My heart seriously yearns for them. I can't put this book down. Praise for P.D. Workman: —Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I've read. —The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book.

Chloe had always been the perfect daughter. Diligent, obedient, good at caring for the other children when Mom wasn’t home. She always worked hard and did everything she was asked. But she couldn’t please her mother and the parade of stepfathers. It seemed like the harder she tried, the worse the abuse got. Chloe had known for a long time that she was two people. The Chloe who watched and the Chloe who experienced. She had been watching for so long, she wasn’t sure she could feel anything anymore. But if she can’t overcome her past and start living in the real world, she knows she will lose herself forever.

We all have secrets. But at a certain point, they become too big to keep. If you asked Ruby, she'd tell you she's happy with her life. She's tough and independent and doesn't depend on anyone else. The road that has led her here has not been easy, and she's blocked a lot of it from her memory. But things aren't as rosy as she would have everyone believe, and the road ahead of her is filled not only with gangs, drugs, and depression, but other challenges that Ruby hasn't even imagined. Winner of "In The Margins" Top Ten Best Books for Teens Award 2015. Awarded to relevant books for our communities that validate, illuminate and humanize those living in the margins. Praise for Ruby You know it's a great book when you have to keep reminding yourself that the characters are not real people. I really cared about Ruby, and she gave me some bad moments. I desperately hoped her story would have a happy ending. "Ruby" exposes the complex and brutal relationship between mental illness, poverty, and abuse ... a page turner I had to finish "Ruby" really put me through the wringer and I actually had to put it down a few times because I needed to return to reality ... There was no chance I was going to stop reading until I knew how the story ended! ... I seriously can't wait for book two! The Between the Cracks books have been absolutely AMAZING! As soon as I started to read "Ruby", I just had to keep going. I wish I could forget the book Ruby and read it all over again. This book is utterly amazing, I find myself having more empathy for children in these types of situations than ever before. My heart seriously yearns for them. I can't put this book down. Praise for P.D. Workman Every single one of [P.D. Workman's] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I've read. The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book.

Ronnie was the one child in the Simpson family to escape from the abuse and grow up in a normal home without being bounced from place to place or ending up on the street. That was what the others all thought. That was what Ronnie told herself. When Ronnie could remember.

Incarcerated after a failed attempt at armed robbery, June Simpson is forced to detox and to face the reality of the misery and abuse she has perpetrated on those closest to her, especially her children. Getting clean is just the first of her challenges, and as difficult as it is, may be the easiest part. Her path ahead is filled with obstacles, and facing Michelle and Kenny and convincing them that she has really changed and is capable of carrying on a relationship with them seems like an insurmountable task. The Between the Cracks series has won multiple literary awards from the In the Margins Committee of Library Services for Youth in Custody.