Difficult Situations

Jenna Chen has spent her life in the shadow of her flawless cousin. Jessica Chen is so smart she gets the top score on every test. Jessica Chen is so beautiful people stop in the hallway to stare at her. Jessica Chen is so perfect she got into Harvard. And Jenna Chen will only ever be a disappointment. So when Jenna makes a desperate wish to become her cousin, the last thing she expects is for it to come true—literally. All of a sudden she gets to live the life she’s always dreamed of . . . but being the model student at cutthroat Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she’d imagined.

Twelve short stories in verse by bestselling and award-winning authors explore the highs and lows of love–romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love. Love can be many things–all-consuming, fleeting, vengeful, selfless, toxic, uplifting, and always, a core part of the teen experience that leaves an indelible mark. This enchanting, genre-crossing anthology delivers something for every listener with unique characters, global settings, and a dazzling mixture of myth, historical, speculative, and contemporary fiction.

Sophie Gracewell’s only plans for the summer involve working at her family’s diner, hanging out with her best friend Millie, and generally keeping a low profile after the drama of her father’s arrest last year. But when five mysterious Italian brothers suddenly move into town, her life changes forever. Irresistibly drawn to bad boy Nic, Sophie finds herself falling into a dangerous criminal underworld governed by powerful families.

Chloe Gatti will do whatever it takes to win her elite boarding school’s annual competition, the Wilde Trials. In the two weeks leading up to graduation from Wilde Academy, a dozen seniors are chosen to compete in a series of seven ultimate physical and mental tests, and the winner will take home over half a million dollars—money that Chloe needs to help her sick sister. But the competition is fierce and includes her brooding ex-boyfriend, Hayes Stratford, whose brother was the only student to die during the trials a few years ago.

For fifty years, King Leander Eldana has ruled Ashland without naming an heir to the crown. After sending away his grandchildren to be raised out of the public eye, it’s finally time to secure his nation’s future by appointing one definitive heir. The best way to appraise his successor? In the halls of Almus Terra Academy, a boarding school infamous for breeding the world’s next generation of leaders—and liars.

Ramona fell for Sam the moment she met him. It was like she had known him forever. He's one of the few constants in her life, and their friendship is just too important to risk for a kiss. Though she really wants to kiss him. Sam loves Ramona, but he would never expect her to feel the same way—she's too quirky and cool for someone like him. Still, they complement each other perfectly, both as best friends and as a band.

Taiwanese American Catie Carlson has never fit in with her white family. As much as she loves her stepmom and stepsister, she yearns to understand more about her culture and find her biological mother. So Catie is shocked when an opportunity comes knocking on her door: Her summer spa coworker, Toby, says he’ll teach her Mandarin. In exchange, she needs to teach him how to date so he can finally work up the courage to ask out his crush. The only problem is that Catie doesn’t actually have any dating experience. But she can fake it.

Grace Williams has her future all mapped out. A high school senior in her beloved state of Texas, Grace plans to move to New York City after graduation to study at Barnard College, and maybe, someday, win a Nobel Prize in biology. When she's asked to tutor Jack Nelson, the star baseball player who's flunking bio, she thinks it'll be just another activity to list on her college application. Studying turns to flirting, flirting becomes secret hookups, and despite her expertise in bio, Grace gets pregnant.

Beneath the Willow is a deeply moving story that explores the raw, emotional journey of navigating grief and finding peace despite the lingering pain that often consumes us. Through the eyes of Liu, a young boy burdened by loss, the book captures the reality of heartbreak while offering a path toward healing and hope.

El encuentro entre Julia, Shui, Olivier y Elio parece cosa del destino, pero el futuro de la amistad y las relaciones que surgen entre los cuatro solo depende de ellos. En un tren con destino Venecia, los jóvenes Julia y Shui comparten vagón sin saber que ese encuentro cambiará sus vidas para siempre. Ella se muda a la ciudad de los canales para estudiar arte en la prestigiosa Academia. Él regresa a casa después de años viviendo en Shanghái. Olivier Salgari es el heredero de la familia más importante y rica de Venecia, pero se siente atrapado en una jaula de oro.

Lia and Beck. Beck and Lia. Despite army-brat life orbiting them in and out of each other's worlds, Lia knows they are destined to be together. It's more than their friendship and chemistry. When Lia's mom was a teen, a fortune teller said her daughter would fall in love with her best friend's son. Lia and Beck were always meant to be. Or so they thought.

"O Bunny, du bist sooo genial!" Margaret Atwood Sie flechten sich Zöpfe, sind nur als Gruppe unterwegs und nennen sich gegenseitig Bunny: An Samanthas College für Erzählende Künste ist die Clique der Bunnys, bestehend aus unerträglich reichen und hübschen jungen Frauen, sehr begehrt. Samantha hingegen ist eine Außenseiterin, ihre einzige Freundin Ava hat für die Bunnys nur Verachtung übrig. Doch eines Tages erhält sie eine Einladung zum sagenumwobenen Schundsalon, einer Mischung aus Party und künstlerischer Performance, bei der die Bunnys Erstaunliches hervorbringen.

For as long as she can remember, Carmela Tofana has desperately wanted one thing: to be a part of La Tofana’s, her mother’s apothecary in Campo Marzio, Rome. When she finally turns sixteen, she’s allowed into the inner sanctum: the workroom where her mother and two assistants craft renowned remedies for their customers. But for every sweet-smelling flower extract in the workroom, there’s another potion requiring darker ingredients.

Sometimes a special friend comes into our life to teach us things that we need to know. And what we learn ends up changing our life forever! What if that friend isn't human, but a bird? A young Magpie to be precise. What then? This is the true and passionate story of Jerry the Magpie, and how he helped a teenage boy overcome a gang of bullies, and to find secret treasure.

In a world of uncertainty and challenges, every young heart needs a spark—a moment of inspiration that lights the way forward. Spark: 20 Stories of Strength, Hope, and Change for Young Hearts is a collection of uplifting short stories designed to encourage and empower young adults to overcome obstacles, embrace their potential, and believe in themselves.