Showing titles in Loners & Outcasts

Fourteen-year-old Jamie, aka “Punkzilla,” is on a mission: to see his older brother, Peter (“P”), before P dies of cancer. Hopping a bus while still buzzing from his last hit of meth, Jamie embarks on a days-long bus trip from Portland, Oregon, to Memphis, Tennessee, writing letters to his family and friends - letters so honest he may never send them.

If Indie had it her way, she would never choose to river raft with three other high school seniors, mostly strangers to each other, from her journalism class. A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one by one, each teen reveals a deep secret. One is harboring immense grief, unwilling to forgive after the death of a loved one. One is dealing with a new disability and an uncertain future. One is fearful of the repercussions of coming out....

In a series of interwoven fictionalized stories, Deborah Noyes gives voice to the marginalized women in P. T. Barnum’s family - and the talented entertainers he built his entertainment empire on. Barnum was a legendary showman, entrepreneur, marketing genius, and one of the most famous nineteenth-century personalities. For those who lived in Barnum’s shadow, however, life was complex.

Fallon Bane ist verflucht. Bei jeder Berührung erleidet sie unerträgliche Schmerzen, und selbst ihren Vater wird sie niemals umarmen können. Doch als dieser erkrankt, will Fallon alles dafür tun, um ihn zu retten. Sie reist in die goldene Stadt und trifft auf Heiler Ariyon Madden, der einwilligt, ihr zu helfen. Doch als er sie versehentlich berührt, ändert sich für Fallon alles: Der erwartete Schmerz bleibt aus.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection From Schneider Family Award-winning author Shannon Stocker comes The Roach King of Raleigh, an unflinching YA novel about a high school sophomore who’s determined to rise above his circumstances—even if it means starting a secret roach breeding...

“It’s rare that a book can be as funny and absolutely delightful as it is moving and thought provoking, and Anatomy of a Misfit is both.” —Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall Anika Dragomir is the third-most-popular girl at Pound High School. But inside, she knows she’s a freak; she...

Mary Beth Johnson has never felt at home—not in the settlement, not with the guards, and not even in her own skin. Since the bombs fell and left strange mutations behind, she's been marked—literally. The turquoise bumps that appeared after puberty set her apart, making her an outcast and a target.

At a circus where no one is as they seem, seventeen-year-old Cash must decide who he can trust, and how much he is willing to risk for friends, family, and his own freedom. ENTER THE DREAMER is a kaleidoscope of hope, determination, and everything wondrous about young adulthood meshed with the harsh reality of life. This whirlwind adventure follows Cash as he finds his place in the circus, overcomes danger, and learns about his mysterious, supernatural gift. Ready…

Matt’s parents argue more often than not. His best friend Sammy has his own family circus of crazy. Together they create a safe space for their oddball group of friends. Navigating the woes of teenage life, they’re targeted by school jerk and lead jock Brandon. Maybe getting involved with Brandon’s girlfriend wasn’t Sammy’s brightest idea, but revenge fell on someone innocent. Guilt weighs heavy, and these powerless teens are looking for someone to make things right. When others’ troubles take center stage, Matt’s issues pale in comparison.

Always the black sheep, not caring what anyone thinks, and not a very good dancer, Raine is forced to attend the high school dance with her best friend, Shania. The last thing she expected was to meet Tristan, the gorgeous new kid in school, or experience her first kiss. Envious she wasn't the one that caught Tristan's eye, Shania watches Raine leave to spend more time with him, but both girls have no idea that there is much more to him than beautiful green eyes and electrifying kisses.

Are you lost? Are you hopeless? Trying to find a reason to breathe? This is a story about a girl named Krystal, who struggles with suicide, depression, and finding hope in life. If you are looking for hope then keep reading, you might find something amazing inside...

What if a magical gift could help you discover who you truly are? Thirteen-year-old Leo Hernandez's life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a mysterious guitar from his Uncle Javier. This isn't just any instrument—it connects him with legendary musicians who offer wisdom and guidance. With their help, Leo confronts school bullies, navigates a budding friendship, and copes with missing his dad. As the school talent show approaches, Leo realizes that the real magic isn't in the guitar—it's been within him all along. Can he find the courage to step into the spotlight?

When a series of seemingly unrelated murders occur in his community, Sheriff Hyde Stinson grapples with how to protect the citizens of Telluride, Colorado. The killers take responsibility, but their motives are a mystery, and they remain on the loose. Hyde must now face the roughest group of outlaws in the area, The McCaffery Gang. Can he stop them alone, or will he need to rely on three brothers with bad reputations and questionable pasts?

Eighteen year-old Star Wars-obsessed aspiring comic book artist Josh McCreary has a problem: despite being accepted to the prestigious Indianapolis Art Institute, he needs almost twenty thousand dollars to pay for his tuition, and he needs it quick. But then his friend Dustin finds something that could change his fortune: at an estate sale a thousand miles away is the rarest of all Star Wars collectibles: a one-of-a-kind action figure that they could resell for six figures. All they have to do is drive to Texas to buy it before the greedy local comic shop owner Jeff Reynolds gets to it first.

Charlie endured non-stop bullying all the way through the school year. It was probably the worst time in his life. But it was summer now, and he was optimistic that next year would be better. He had a whole summer to recover, and he was sure he would be ready once school started again. He would make new friends and put the bad times behind him. But then...On the first day of summer vacation, Mark—the worst of Charlie’s bullies—knocks on his door to apologize and offer friendship.

There are Rules! Andrea Cox heads into her Senior Year of High School at Evergreen High, just outside of Seattle, on top of the world. Her initiation into the Empresses is a foregone conclusion. The Empresses are at the top of the food chain of the eight different cliques. Andrea’s ambition may get the better of her as she tries to outshine the clique's president, Charlotte Davis.

At sixteen, Gwen knows exactly one thing about her dad: he must have existed. Though her mom confirms this rather obvious conclusion, she refuses to add anything else about him. Annoying certainly, but honestly, Gwen is fine with it. Really, what would be the point of digging up a past that’s never been part of her present?

Some days it's just easier not to go to school at all. Adam has been slacking off lately, but today he stuck around to see his girlfriend. When Josh, who has been bullied mercilessly, brings a gun to school, the building is locked down and Adam is forced to risk everything to save himself and to find Zoe before Josh does. Calling on reserves he didn't know he had, Adam could end up a hero—or a victim.

Sixteen-year-old Winnie Bray is a liar. As the resident psychic at an oddities shop, Winnie truly can see the future. But her customers only want reassurance, and Winnie only wants their money. Favorable fortunes are a fast track to funding her way out of Buffalo, New York for good, after all. But all of that changes when a vision sends her stalking in the remains of her family home that burned down in a fire 10 years ago. Among the ash and rubble, Winnie finds a box made of bone, untouched by flames and…whispering.