Life Matters Series

Written by a national bestselling novelist, these short stories provide a realistic peek into the lives of young adults trying to make it in a world that doesn’t play fair. Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, the Life Matters Series offers relatable characters in realistic circumstances that matter in the lives of young adults. First and Last Wish - Daniel has only seen his father, Levi, twice in twenty years. That's because Levi has been in prison all of Daniel's life. But now, Levi is about to be released. Will Daniel open his stable life--and his apartment--to a father he barely knows? He Loves Me, He Loves Me, Too - The "new boy" has a crush on Bria Hopkins, which causes Bria's ex-boyfriend, Devon, to suddenly become re-interested in her. Bria is forced to choose between the two boys, but one of them doesn't take the news well. Unlucky - A disfiguring condition left Steven’s face in a horrible state. All he wants is to be left alone. But when a group of students makes fun of him, Steven strikes back and has no regrets about his decision. A Different World - Samayia's life changes drastically when her custodial grandmother dies and her shady Uncle Lavon takes over the house. When Uncle Lavon goes to jail, Samayia is left to fend for herself. What will her future hold? It Happened on a Friday - Jacob Caldon is a fun-loving, popular jock who discovers that one inappropriate touch in the hallway may cost him everything. Note: This collection was previously published as What You Don’t See.  

Written by a national bestselling novelist, these short stories provide a realistic peek into the lives of young adults trying to make it in a world that doesn’t play fair. Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, the Life Matters Series offers relatable characters in realistic circumstances that matter in the lives of young adults. Behind Closed Doors - Nicole isn’t trying to be disrespectful to her mother, but Nicole can’t continue to live beneath the burden of her mother’s severe hoarding. How can she overcome the ever-growing monster in her own home? The Delgados’ Last Supper - Marco Delgado's parents have always argued constantly, but he was accustomed to their bickering. So why are his parents trying to make a huge change this late in the game? A Family Problem I & II - John is trying his best to keep his sisters safe from a stranger. The biggest danger, however, is their father, whose drunken rages threaten to tear their family apart. The Price of Freedom - Nicholas never thought twice about saying the Pledge of Allegiance. His father's return from the war, however, changed everything. A Hard Lesson - When Donna can't live with her mother's strict new rules, she goes to live with her grandmother and becomes the hostess of the neighborhood skip parties. But the parties will come to a tragic end on Donna's 16th birthday. My Brother’s Debt - Most people think money will solve all their problems. For the second-year NBA player DeShawn Mobley, money only made things worse.

Written by a national bestselling novelist, these short stories provide a realistic peek into the lives of young adults trying to make it in a world that doesn’t play fair. Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, the Life Matters Series offers relatable characters in realistic circumstances that matter in the lives of young adults. Between Friends - After a night of drinking with friends, Mika, a senior, faces the consequences as she finds out that she is pregnant by Raphael. His reaction leads Mika to believe that the best thing to do is terminate the pregnancy. Later, Raphael apologizes, but is he too late? Broken Promises - Rachel’s boring social life gets a boost when she meets Isaac, but he soon leads her into a world that Rachel never dreamed she would enter. A Night to Remember - Kasey and Lydia have been friends since elementary school, but their friendship is tested when a handsome, dangerous guy turns them against each other. Ready for a Change - Kadarius Johnson can’t wait to turn 18 so he can drop out of school. His first obstacle, however, is to squash the beef with J.T. before someone gets hurt. The Brink of Day - Day doesn't want any trouble, but apparently Justin and his friends do. When the vice principal offers little help, Day wonders if his martial arts training will finally come in handy. This fiction/non-fiction-style hybrid release offers a chance to explore a short story plus think critically about media commentary. A Secret Between Sisters - Kim's mother's boyfriend, Joe, looked like trouble from the start. Can Kim protect herself and her little sister from Joe's advances?

Written by a national bestselling novelist, these short stories provide a realistic peek into the lives of young adults trying to make it in a world that doesn’t play fair. Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, the Life Matters Series offers relatable characters in realistic circumstances that matter in the lives of young adults. Breaking Up is Hard to Do - Jamal can't wait to break up with his possessive girlfriend, Jackie, so he can enjoy the rest of his senior year in peace. But Jackie has no intention of letting Jamal go. Crush - A boy who has had a crush on a girl for several years wonders if he can finally bring himself to express his feelings. What will happen when he finally gets the nerve? Yesterday’s Tomorrow Came Today - Cameron was looking forward to graduation, but after the ceremony, he realizes he had no plans for the rest of his life. When his friends leave town to start their dream careers, Cameron's drama begins. Dylan’s Fault - Everyone blames Dylan for his ex-girlfriend's suicide, but they don't know the whole truth about Megan. The Diary of Theresa White - Theresa thought she was the lucky one when she fell in love with Michael. Then she realized - she'd be lucky to get out of the relationship alive! Two Sides to Every Story - There are two sides to every story. Read both accounts of a crazy romance gone wrong. Zero - Angelica and David are off to a great start, but his involvement with a gang will end more than their budding relationship.

Written by a national bestselling novelist, these short stories provide a realistic peek into the lives of young adults trying to make it in a world that doesn’t play fair. Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, the Life Matters Series offers relatable characters in realistic circumstances that matter in the lives of young adults. Everything to Live For - Michelle is trying to hide her HIV-positive status from people in the small town of Murphy. But when a popular girl’s boyfriend befriends Michelle, trouble follows. Good Gangsters - The white kids at school are tired of being picked on by minority groups. They unite for "protection" but end up imitating their adversaries. The Lock-In - Justin and Monica did it two years ago, and everyone thought it was funny. But no one will be laughing after Taylor and Ashley enter this “harmless” competition at the JROTC lock-in. Testing Terrance - If Terrance does not pass the state’s standardized test, he will not graduate with his class. When his beautiful tutor snubs him, Terrance’s considers cheating on the high-stakes exam. A Second Opinion - Whoever heard of an Asian kid who couldn't pass the state high school achievement test? Well, Crystal La isn't exactly Asian, and she didn't exactly fail the exam. So why is she enrolled in Achievement Improvement class?