Self Image

When Reed and Olive left home, they never imagined they’d find themselves questioned, searched, and thrown to the ground by police looking for suspects in recent crimes. As their worst fears become reality, they must find a way to prove their innocence and make it home safe once again.

Hope is a decision, but it is a hard one to recognize in the face of oppression, belittlement, alienation, and defeat. To help embolden hope, here is a powerhouse collection of essays and personal stories that speak directly to teens and all YA readers. Featuring Angie Thomas, Marie Lu, Nicola Yoon, David Levithan, Libba Bray, Jason Reynolds, Renée Ahdieh, and many more!

In the high-pressure world of sports, female athletes often face a unique set of challenges. The expectations to be tough, competitive & to win, can conflict with the expectations to be feminine, flexible, and to conform to idealized body standards can be overwhelming. These pressures can impact performance, self-esteem, and well-being.

Henry "Biggie" Abbott is the son of one of Finch, Iowa's most famous athletes. His father was a baseball legend and his step-dad is a close second. At an obese 300+ pounds though, Biggie himself prefers classroom success to sports. As a perfectionist, he doesn't understand why someone would be happy getting two hits in five trips to the plate. "Forty percent, that's an F in any class", he would say. As Biggie's junior year begins, the girl of his dreams, Annabelle Rivers, starts to flirt with him and suggests he should play baseball.

A classic coming-of-age story. Carl Matt - even his name mocks him. The people of Wattle Beach do their best to grind him under foot. Why are the Matts such pariahs? The answer lies in Wiseman's Cove, a short ride across the strait, where Carl finds refuge in the most unlikely place. Wiseman's Cove has been waiting for Carl - waiting a long time.

The (Other) F Word combines the voices of Renée Watson, Jes Baker, and more in a relatable and gift-worthy guide about body image and fat acceptance. This dazzling collection of poetry, essays, and fashion tips is meant for people of all sizes who desire to be seen and heard in a culture consumed by a narrow definition of beauty. By combining the talents of renowned fat YA and middle-grade authors, as well as fat influencers and creators, The (Other) F Word offers teen listeners and activists of all ages a tool for navigating our world with confidence and courage.

Secure friendships, social confidence, stress-free lunch times... It all awaits you! You’re in school for around 180 days a year, which means 180 lunchtimes. How does that make you feel? Are you someone whose heart races when the bell rings for lunch? Sure, you’re ready to eat and not think about math, but the lunch hour can be more stressful than math. Maybe you have conflicting friendship groups, and every choice seems wrong, or perhaps you’re used to standing on the sidelines, trying to start a conversation, terrified of rejection.

Jeff Lyons can’t stand Ellen de Luca, the fat girl in his ceramics class. She’s huge, clumsy, can’t throw a pot to save her life, and stares at Jeff all the time. But he’s a "nice guy" and feels terrible when Ellen overhears his hurtful remarks about her. The "crumbs of kindness" he tosses her way soon turn into advice on weight loss, college, clothes, hair...and, to everyone’s surprise, good-looking Jeff actually dumps his pretty girlfriend to be with the fat girl. But as her pounds melt away, Jeff resents the happy, independent young woman he has unleashed.

Harley Milano has dreamed of becoming a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her heart and soul that she would be up there herself one day. After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family, and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère.

When TJ Powar—a pretty, popular debater—and her cousin Simran become the subject of a meme: with TJ being the “expectation” of dating an Indian girl and her Sikh cousin who does not remove her body hair being the “reality”—TJ decides to take a stand.

In this authentic, humorous debut novel about privacy, waking up, and speaking up, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter's vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered 15-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutes-style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her father's political positions.

Weeping Under This Same Moon is based on a true story of two teenage girls from different cultures, whose paths intertwine, dramatically altering the course of their lives. In this testament to the power of love and the spirit of volunteerism, Mei and Hannah come together in celebration of culture and language, food and friendship, and the ultimate rescue of both young women from their own despair.

It's not so easy being Rosemary Goode and tipping the scales at almost 200 pounds - especially when your mother runs the most successful (and gossipiest!) beauty shop in town. After a spectacularly disastrous Christmas break when the scale reaches an all-time high, Rosemary realizes that things need to change. (A certain basketball player, Kyle Cox, might have something to do with it.)

With his shaved head and begging bowl the new kid is an automatic target for the bully boys of Edward Rucher High, an easy mark for their casual cruelty.

Want to raise your self-esteem and build confidence? Want the strength to stand up for yourself and your ideas? Are you struggling with bullying or know someone who does? If you often fear rocking the boat or can’t speak up, it could have a bad domino effect on your life progress. Like always doing what your friends want or missing big chances with your ideas stuck while others get credit instead. It feels so suffocating, yet so hard to break. Discover how you can change it! Build your confidence and let it grow strong roots. You keep your own pace to avoid burnout.

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.

After nine years of servitude to the enemy, Toran Binn is eager to come home - only for poverty to pummel him in the gut. Before he can recall why he escaped home in the first place, royalty is murdered. Toran must find the true killer by the end of summer or watch his best friend’s execution.

There is nothing more normal than feeling fear, and there is nothing wrong with fear. Too often, we let it drive us away from our greatness instead of viewing it as an indicator that what we are doing is important. Fear can make us run away from challenges instead of meeting them head on. Fear can stop us from pursuing our dreams. But here's the thing: Fear and progress can co-exist. We can be scared and be great anyway!

Andy Rivera specializes in doing the bare minimum. That is, unless, it involves making his all-star, older brother, Xavier, look bad. But, after Xavier suffers a crippling injury during the homecoming football game, Andy is so shaken with regret that he escapes into the world of middle school wrestling. And, when old habits threaten to sabotage these new challenges, Andy comes face-to-face with a Major Decision.

Reach your peak performance in just 40 minutes a day, even if the challenges of post-COVID life feel overwhelming! Do you find yourself struggling with your fitness and mental stamina after the disruption of COVID? Are you battling to regain the confidence and resilience you once had on the field or the court? Do you desperately want to feel strong and focused again but aren’t sure how to get there? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re not alone. Many teen athletes are feeling the intense pressure of getting back on track after the pandemic.