Showing titles in Sexual Abuse

Both harrowing and life-affirming, the final novel from Carnegie Medal-winning author Mal Peet is the sweeping coming-of-age adventure of a mixed race boy transported to North America. Born from a street liaison between a poor young woman and an African soldier in the 1900s, Beck is soon orphaned and sent to the Catholic Brothers in Canada. Shipped to work on a farm, his escape takes him across the continent in a search for belonging.

Running away from home hasn’t solved Iphigenia Murphy’s problems. In fact, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll catch up with her. Iffy is desperate to find her long-lost mother, and, so far, in spite of the need to forage for food and shelter and fend off an unending number of creeps, living in Queens’ Forest Park has felt safer than living at home. But as the summer days get shorter, it all threatens to fall apart.

Gilmore Girls meets vibrant New Delhi in this thoughtful and hilarious new novel about a teen facing family expectations, relationship complications, and hidden secrets in a new country - sprinkled with Sheba Karim’s signature wit and steamy romance, and perfect for listeners who loved Mary H. K. Choi’s Emergency Contact and Adib Khorram’s Darius the Great Is Not Okay.

In a single night, Ani's life was torn to shreds - and Ben struggles with the weight of trying to fix the unfixable in this heartbreaking and edgy debut novel. Ben could date anyone he wants, but he has eyes only for the new girl - sarcastic, free-spirited Ani. Luckily for Ben, Ani wants him, too. She's everything Ben could ever imagine. Everything he could ever want. But that all changes after the party. The one Ben misses. The one Ani goes to alone. Now Ani isn't the girl she used to be, and Ben can't sort out the truth from the lies.

Janie and Micah, Micah and Janie. That's how it's been ever since elementary school, when Janie Vivien moved next door. Janie says Micah is everything she is not. Where Micah is shy, Janie is outgoing. Where Micah loves music, Janie loves art. It's the perfect friendship - as long as no one finds out about it. But then Janie goes missing, and everything Micah thought he knew about his best friend is colored with doubt.

As sixteen-year-old Aidan Donovan’s fractured family disintegrates around him, he searches for solace in a few bumps of Adderall, his father’s wet bar, and the attentions of his local priest, Father Greg—the only adult who actually listens to him. When Christmas hits, Aidan’s world collapses in a crisis of trust when he recognizes the darkness of Father Greg’s affections. Brendan Kiely’s unflinching and courageous debut novel exposes the damage from the secrets we keep and proves that in truth, there is power. And real love.

Olivia Peters is over the moon when her literary idol, the celebrated novelist and much-adored local priest Mark D. Brendan, offers to become her personal writing mentor. But when Father Mark’s enthusiasm for Olivia’s prose develops into something more, Olivia’s emotions quickly shift from wonder to confusion to despair. Exactly what game is Father Mark playing, and how on earth can she get out of it?

At Jonesville High, casual misogyny runs rampant, slut-shaming is a given, and school athletes are glorified above all else. Best friends Suze, Nikki, Ani, and Lydia swear they'll always have each other's backs against predatory guys - so when Suze suddenly starts dating wrestling star and toxic douchebag Tarkin Shaw, it's a big betrayal. Turns out, it's not a relationship - it's blackmail. At first, Suze feels like she has no choice but to go along with it, but when Tarkin starts demanding more, she enlists the help of intelligent misfits DeShawn and Marcus....

For as long as she can remember, Kylie Briscoe's been searching for the moon even though she has no idea why it soothes her. Placed in an impossible situation by her mother, Kylie cries for help. It brings rescuers and a new life, but it feels more like a death sentence when she is separated from her three-year-old sister Aliza, the only person Kylie's ever really loved.

Lovely Lies follows the life of Beth as she is unknowingly pulled into a sex trafficking ring by a kindly appearing gentleman bursting with gifts and compliments. Lies and more lies plus doctored brownies keep her in a confused state for days. Lies about her family, lies about Samael and his "sister", lies about her illness, all keep Beth in a state of confusion.

Seventeen-year-old Seelie Stanton never wanted to kill anyone. She never wanted to be invisible in her own family; she never wanted to crush on her best friend, Alyssa, and she definitely never wanted to know how effectively a mallet could destroy a human head. But the universe doesn't care what she wants and neither does Shane Mayfield. When the former high school basketball star attacks her, she has no choice but to defend herself. She saves her own life, but she can't bring herself to talk about what happened that night.

For Mary Sofia, the Penultimate writing competition is more than a chance at a free college education; she wants to show her younger siblings that they can all rise above their violent family history. For Raiden, the pressure to succeed comes from within, although he knows that family traditions play a part in his determination. For Camara, writing fiction is almost compulsive, but her own dark secret may be the best story she can ever tell. For Michael, swimming and writing fit his introverted personality perfectly.

Sixteen-year-old Jenna Kemp is a typical high school girl, complete with a loyal group of friends and a seemingly understanding boyfriend. But when the demons from Jenna's childhood resurface, she's suddenly spinning out of control - drinking, partying, and doing anything to numb the pain of the past. After distancing herself from her friends and befriending an outcast, her friends and family start questioning and judging her choices.

Cassie is the best singer in Southside High's Glee Club and dreams of being famous. She skips school to try out for a national talent competition. But her hopes sink when she sees the line. Then a talent agent shows up out of nowhere. Cassie is flattered to hear she has "the look" he wants. Soon she is lying and missing rehearsal to meet with him. And he's asking her for more each time. How far will Cassie go for her shot at fame?

"Kaylee's Grand Slam", a story of determination and defiance in the world of professional baseball. Kaylee's lifelong dream of playing baseball becomes reality when she joins the MLB as the first female player. However, her path is fraught with challenges as she confronts misogyny from teammates like Botha and the team owner, Mr. Mock. Facing threats to her career, Kaylee must navigate a dangerous game off the field, including a sinister plot to disrupt her beloved team, the Red Hawkes. With the help of sports reporter Ed Oakley, Kaylee fights back against injustice and fights to reclaim ...

Benito's father, Xavier, has been in Iraq for more than a year. When he returns, Benito's family life is not the same. Xavier suffers from PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder - and yells constantly. He causes such a scene at a school function that Benny is embarrassed to go to back to Southside High. Benny can't handle seeing his dad so crazy, so he decides to run away. Will Benny find a new life? Or will he learn how to deal with his dad - through good times and bad?

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Kollman's become so wrapped up in proving to herself that she's not like her mom that she's lost sight of who she really is. Her shy, sweet persona involves being the vice-president of Students Against Destructive Decisions and hanging out with friends who she thinks share her wholesome values. And it definitely does not include dating Brad Ashton, the class clown and ex-stoner that she secretly crushes on. But after she gives in to her more free-spirited friend, Sierra, and goes with her to a college party, Hannah's innocence is shattered.

When an insecure teen starts impersonating someone else, her life spirals dangerously out of control in a realistic, relatable novel about finding yourself - and discovering your true friends.

Es gab eine Zeit, die dunkelste aller Zeiten, in der Eden dachte, die einzige Person, die sie retten könnte, sei Josh. Er war alles Gute auf der Welt – ein vertrauensvolles Herz, eine liebevolle Berührung, ein freundliches Lächeln. Aber er sollte nie ihr Retter sein. Eden musste sich alleine retten. Nachdem Eden mit dem College begonnen und sich ihrem Vergewaltiger gestellt hat, scheint es, als wären sie endlich zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort, um eine funktionierende Beziehung aufzubauen.

For as long as she can remember, Sarah's family life has revolved around her twin sister, Annie - the pretty one, the social one, the girl who can do anything. She's the person everyone seems to wish Sarah - with her crippling shyness - could simply become. When Annie suddenly chops off her hair, quits beauty pageants, and gains weight, the focus changes - Annie is still the star of the family, but for all the wrong reasons.