Alice Kuipers crafts compelling narratives that delve into the complexities of adolescence and the intricacies of relationships. Her writing style is lauded for its authenticity, offering readers intimate access to the thoughts and feelings of her characters. Kuipers often experiments with form, adeptly employing diverse structures to convey the emotional landscapes and experiences of her protagonists. Her work is celebrated for its profound understanding of young readers, delivering stories that are both engaging and thought-provoking.
In a gripping competition set on a deserted tropical island, Dex navigates the challenges of a high-stakes Internet reality show. To secure victory, he pushes boundaries in pursuit of likes and social media followers, highlighting the intense pressures of modern fame and the lengths one will go to achieve success. This thrilling narrative explores themes of ambition, isolation, and the impact of social media on human behavior.
Ava's life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits a challenging African gray parrot, leading to a series of humorous and chaotic events. As she navigates the complexities of caring for her new feathered friend, Ava learns valuable lessons about responsibility, friendship, and the importance of embracing life's surprises. This engaging story captures the ups and downs of middle school life through a unique lens, appealing to young readers with its relatable themes and lively characters.
Disappointed that the new class pet is just a hamster, Polly uses her magic book, Spell, to conjure up a more interesting pet--and than has to figure out how to resolve the resulting topsy turvy chaos.
Pia struggles to maintain her idea of perfection following her parents' divorce, but a series of mishaps threaten her plans. From a fight with her sister to an ankle injury and a wardrobe disaster, her day spirals out of control. With tensions rising between her and her best friend, Pia faces the ultimate challenge: a crucial race where she feels the pressure to win, despite her struggles. This story explores themes of resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of perfection amidst chaos.
A tribute to the life and legacy of extraordinary teen Carley Allison. Not long ago, seventeen-year-old Carley Allison had it all. She was on the edge of fame as a singer and composer. She was reaching for the highest levels as a competitive skater. She had a new boyfriend and a golden future waiting after graduation. Her world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer in her throat. Her case, doctors said, was one in 3.5 billion. Faced with an uncertain new future, Carley rose to the challenge. Cancer treatment tested her, but she remained fearless and strong. Carley died before her twenty-first birthday, but her memory lives on in the countless people she touched with her courage. Bestselling author Alice Kuipers weaves their stories with the blog Carley kept in the final months of her life. These many voices Ñ plus plenty of CarleyÕs texts and photos Ñ show her transformation from ordinary to extraordinary, and convey her personal rules for living well in the worst of times.
A mind-bending novel from Alice Kuipers, expert chronicler of the teenage heart. It’s a perfect day for Lark’s dream date with Alec from school. Blue skies, clear water, a canoe on the lake. Alec even brought flowers for Lark’s birthday. Everything is just right … until they hear screams from the edge of the water. Annabelle, a little girl Lark used to babysit, is struggling in the reeds. When Lark and Alec dive in to help her, Alec hits his head on a rock. Now Annabelle and Alec are both in trouble, and Lark can only save one of them. With that split-second decision, Lark’s world is torn in two, leaving her to cope with the consequences of both choices. She lives two lives, two selves. But which is the right life, and which is the real Lark? Me and Me is about how it feels to be torn in pieces, and how to make two halves whole again.
Polly loves words, writing, and telling stories, so when she finds a fancy book on her doorstep labeled "Special Delivery from the Writing and Spelling Department for Polly Diamond" she is thrilled; and when she finds that anything she writes in it actually happens she is really excited--but Polly soon realizes that she has to be very careful what she writes because that kind of power can be dangerous.
Told exclusively through notes exchanged by Claire and her mother Elizabeth, and left on the refrigerator door, during the course of one eventful year, this is an emotional story for young adults. Stunningly sad but ultimately uplifting, it's an original portrait of the relationship between mothers and daughters, and how we live our lives constantly rushing, with no time for those we love. It's simultaneously published with an adult edition.