Self Image Fiction

Sometimes Fitz would look at himself in the mirror, an expression of pathetic eagerness on his face. He was a dog in the pound, wanting to be adopted. He'd smile. What father wouldn't want this boy? Fifteen-year-old Fitzgerald - Fitz, to his friends - has just learned that his father, whom he's never met, who supports him but is not a part of his life, is living nearby. Fitz begins to follow him, watch him, study him, and on an otherwise ordinary May morning, he executes a plan to force his father, at gunpoint, to be with him. Over the course of one spring day, Fitz and his father become real to one another.

I’m a real ace at arguing with myself. Take a subject like Tanner Cobb. On the one hand, he stole. On the other, he helped his little brother read and count. Then again, he stole shoes in front of his little brother. But, he brought the shoes back and offered to make up for what he’d done. My mind said, don’t trust him. My instincts said, he might not be all bad. Inconsistencies are a royal pain; the older you get, the more they multiply. After a life-altering summer on the road, Jenna Boller is dripping with newfound maturity.

Mike Welles had everything under control. He was a good student, an outfielder on the baseball team, a good son, a loyal friend. But that was before. There's a voice in his head. A friend, trying to help him regain control. More than that: The voice can guide him to become better and stronger than he was before, to rid his life of everything holding him back. To figure out who he is again. If only Mike will listen.

To get away from his chaotic, often violent parents, 17-year-old Jesse has moved into an apartment with his brother. They are both taking community college courses in Fresno. But to pay for them, they must take whatever jobs they can find, even backbreaking field work. The path to a good education isn't going to be an easy one for these two young Mexican-Americans. As Jesse absorbs information in his classes, he learns harsher lessons from the people around him.

In an attempt to lose weight, Izzie tries everything: one diet after another, a punishing exercise program and every bit of conflicting advice everyone can give her. Her constant worrying about her weight causes her to lose her confidence, and she stops appreciating the things in her life that are special - her supportive friends, the fact that she has been selected for a TV teen panel and a cute boy at the TV studio who seems to appreciate her just the way she is.

Margaret "Cuckoo" Clarke recently had a brief stay in a mental institution following an emotional breakdown, but she's turning over a new leaf with her "Operation Happiness". She's determined to beat down the bad vibes of the Haters, the Terror Teachers, and all of the trials and tribulations of high school by writing and drawing in her diary. And when life gets really tough, she works through her own moments of uncertainty through imaginary conversations with her favorite literary characters.

You’re a teenage girl, and this is the time you’re coming into your own. Girl empowerment is more accessible than you think. In The Book of Awesome Girls, celebrate famous girls who have shaped, and continue to shape, our future. Now is the time for girl power!

Dorf is all about skateboarding and so far that's worked out fine. But now that he's in a new city, the terrain has changed. He's no longer free to skateboard where he wishes, school is more difficult, and his passion for skateboarding garners him the nickname and reputation of a freak. With daring stunts he gains the grudging respect of local troublemakers, but he needs to tap into another kind of courage to effect real change.

"Jeg er tyk. På den der mine-forældre-og-læge-sender-mig-på-fedecamp-måde." For 14-årige Sarah er sundhedstilbuddet for tykke børn og unge lig med social død. Men hvad hvis campen rent faktisk kan gøre det, den lover? Så vil Lucas måske endelig få øjnene op for hende. Faktisk vil ALLE hendes problemer løse sig, hvis hun bare bliver tynd... Og det med campen er der vel ingen, der behøver at vide.

Los adolescentes de hoy se enfrentan a muchas presiones. También, desafíos y obstáculos que parecen imposibles de superar. Puede ser difícil mantener una actitud positiva y estar motivado cuando las cosas se ponen difíciles: acabas sintiéndote atrapado en un ciclo interminable de estrés, ansiedad y depresión.

"Folk som os... vi er nødt til at være de bedste. Vi starter i minus, når andre starter i nul." Maria elsker at danse. Men da hun opdager, at andre er mere optaget af hendes krop end hendes danseevner, begynder hendes selvtillid at smuldre. Heldigvis bliver hun udvalgt til en eksklusiv danse-camp i sommerferien. Nu har hun chancen for at vise, hvad hun duer til... hvis bare hun vinder. "DANS, DIBS & DRAMA" er andet bind i "DET FEDE LIV" – en serie om at føle, at verden ikke har plads til én, men også om håb, selvkærlighed og om at lære at lytte til sin egen stemme.

Als disset anys, el Genís Gràcia creu que la seva vida és un fracàs: els pares s'han separat, no se'n surt amb els estudis, s'avorreix... Quan creu que ha arribat a un carreró sense sortida coneix l'Alícia, que ha fundat una societat secreta on es discuteix sobre la felicitat, els diners o el sentit de la vida . La fascinació per la misteriosa Alícia, amant dels haikus, coincideix amb la singular feina que acaba de trobar en una editorial.

Third Sister in the Tao family, Ailin has watched her two older sisters go through the painful process of having their feet bound. In China in 1911, all the women of good families follow this ancient tradition. Ailin rebels and refuses to follow this torturous tradition. But as she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family is no longer willing to support her. With a bold conviction and an indomitable spirit, Ailin is determined to forge her own destiny. Her story is a tribute to all those women whose courage created new options for the generations who came after them.

Lily turns 16 with two very different sides to her life: school, where she is badly bullied and home with her mum and dad, warm and comforting, but with its own difficulties. After a particularly terrible bullying incident, Lily's dad decides to give his daughter the tools to fight back. Introducing her to boxing, he encourages Lily to find her own worth. It is both difficult and challenging, but in confronting her own fears, she finds a way through, that illuminates her life and friendships.

Depression and mental illness don't discriminate. Even in the most picture-perfect life, confusion and turmoil are often lurking beneath the surface. For a teenager in a world where anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are commonplace, life can sometimes feel impossible. Whether or not you or someone you love is suffering from any of these issues, it's important to be able to recognize the warning signs of mental illness and know where to turn for help.

Seventh grade was supposed to be Alli's breakout year, only her big debut ends up being a big disaster. Then queen bee Rachel Delaney takes Alli under her wing, and Alli finds herself in the inner circle of seventh-grade cool. But the inner circle is nothing like Alli expected, and ugliness lurks behind the prettiest faces. Can Alli figure out where she fits in, or will she get caught up in the glamour of running with the in-crowd?

Here are 35 stories of life’s ups and downs, and family, mentors and doing what’s right for younger teens. Topics include "Tough Times", "That's My Family", "The People Who Are There for Us" and "Doing What's Right".

When Dora, Elena’s older sister, is diagnosed with depression and has to be admitted to the hospital, Elena can’t seem to make sense of their lives anymore. At school, the only people who acknowledge Elena are Dora’s friends and Jimmy Zenk - who failed at least one grade and wears black every day of the week. And at home, Elena’s parents keep arguing with each other. Elena will do anything to help her sister get better and get their lives back to normal - even when the responsibility becomes too much to bear.

Do you like coming of age stories? Stories that have romance, fear, and hope? Say hello to Heroine. Heroine and the other stories in this collection showcase hardships that are prevalant into todays world such as drugs, bullying, and self-doubt. Follow Cody, Lillie, and Hannah in their journeys of self discovery and acceptance.

On the outside, Libby Brin is the most popular girl in school. But on the inside, Libby is dying - of boredom. In a moment of desperation, Libby signs up for an internship at the Los Angeles Zoo, much to the dismay of her friends, who'd prefer she spend her time with them, shopping, partying, and making fun of everyone else. Oddly, Libby realizes that she actually enjoys her new job and that she may even like the two nerds she works with. Will the Queen of Cool be forced to give up her crown?