"Eleven-year-old Perry was born and raised by his mom at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident on Cell Block C, and so far Warden Daugherty has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth--and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home. When Perry moves to the "outside" world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited...

Tori grew up in the foster care system, a biracial child with a mentally ill mother in a volatile world. And yet, even after living in twelve different foster homes with a miniscule chance of graduating college and a great risk of being homeless, jobless, and on drugs, Tori overcame every negative stereotype and assumption that attacked her idenity.

Phoebe, an autistic nine-year-old girl, is taken into police protection after a chance comment to one of her teachers alerts the authorities that all might not be what it seems in her comfortable, middle-class home. Experienced foster carer Rosie Lewis accepts the youngster as an emergency placement knowing that her autism will represent a challenge - not only for her but also for the rest of the family. But after several shocking incidents of self-harming,...

Eleven-year-old December waits to sprout wings and fly away, until a new foster mother changes her perspective on home and family.--

Haunted by memories of the fire that killed her boyfriend, seventeen-year-old Alice Monroe is in a mental ward when, with support from fellow patient Chase, she begins to confront hidden truths in a journal, including that the only person she trusts may be telling her only half of the story.

In San Francisco, eleven-year-old Marin desperately searches for her birthmother knowing time is running out before she is adopted, and discovers for the first time in her life what it feels like to be truly wanted by someone.

Cassie Everson has a habit of escaping in the middle of notoriously bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is just about ready to retire her hopes for a husband, and children, altogether. Cassie finally decides to throw herself into her career as Director of Girls Haven, a demanding position that is already central to her life. But fate has other plans, and Cassie's online dating...

When Dr. Gibson arrives at the Petersons' house with an emergency foster dog, Lizzie immediately falls in love with the tiny Pomeranian puppy. But this little dog has a big bark and it's driving everyone crazy.