los angeles (calif.)

"In the summer of 1965, Sophie's family becomes the first African Americans to move into their upper middle-class neighborhood in Los Angeles. When riots erupt in nearby Watts, she learns that life and her own place in it are a lot more complicated than they had seemed"-- Provided by publisher.

"In the wake of the police shooting of a black teenager, Los Angeles is as tense as it's been since the unrest of the early 1990s. But Grace Park and Shawn Matthews have their own problems. Grace is sheltered and largely oblivious, living in the Valley with her Korean-immigrant parents, working long hours at the family pharmacy. She's distraught that her sister hasn't spoken to their mother in two years, for reasons beyond Grace's understanding. Shawn has already had enough of politics and protest after an act of violence shattered his family years ago. He just wants to be left alone to enjoy his quiet life in Palmdale. But when another shocking crime hits LA, both the Park and Matthews families are forced to face down their history while navigating the tumult of a city on the brink of more violence"--From the publisher's web site.

"Derek Fallon receives an exciting new gift--a laptop! But there's a catch: it has no Wi-Fi so he can't use it for gaming. If he wants to play computer games, he'll have to learn how to code them himself"--Amazon.

With the Rodney King riots closing in on high school senior Ashley and her family, the privileged bubble she has enjoyed, protecting her from the difficult realities most black people face, begins to crumble.

Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives lands an internship at her favorite boutique. She then falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez, and finds herself competing against Jordi to win the paid job at the end of the internship. As Abby begins to feel more confident, her new best friend Jax helps her find the best burger in Los Angeles, to prove to Abby's mother, the health nut, that Abby is her own woman. But when her self-esteem reaches its peak, Jordi publishes photographs that cause Abby to feel betrayed, and reconcile her private sense of self-worth and the image others have of her.

As Lily learns from the Paleys how to navigate her newfound fame, she finds herself ensnared in the unfolding storylines. Is Lily safe under Patrick's roof? Or will Lily be Patrick's downfall? If she isn't destroyed by Hailey first. When Lily catches the eye of Hailey's designated leading man Joel Strom it's war!.

During the summer before seventh grade, Kaia, who enjoys living in Southern California, visiting the beach with her family, and creating movie make-up effects, makes a film with her friends to win a contest and hopefullly prevent her beloved great-grandtather from moving back to the Philippines.

"Derek Fallon finally found something to get excited about at school--an extracurricular class on making videos! Together with his friends Carly, Matt, and Umberto, Derek can't wait to create his own YouTube web series. But he soon realizes YouTube stardom is a lot of work. On top of that, it's time for his foster monkey Frank to go to monkey college so Derek must scramble to find a reason for Frank to stay with his family--if only a little while longer. Can Derek solve both problems at once? What if Frank became a part of Derek's YouTube videos?"--Amazon.com.

"Miranda Brooks grew up in the stacks of her eccentric uncle Billy's bookstore, solving the scavenger hunts he created just for her. But on her twelfth birthday, Billy has a falling-out with her mother and disappears from Miranda's life. Sixteen years later, she receives unexpected news: Billy has died and left her Prospero Books, which is teetering on bankruptcy, and one final scavenger hunt. Returning to the bookstore as its owner, Miranda is drawn into a journey through Billy's past--and the terrible secret that tore her family apart"--Provided by publisher.

Seven teens who live on the streets of Los Angeles and who each have their own hard-luck story, form their own dysfunctional family, complete with love and belonging, abuse and betrayal.