A “mesmerizing, poetic exploration of family, friendship, love and loss” by the author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (The New York Times Book Review). Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it’s senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he? From the Printz Honor-winning author, this is “another stellar, gentle look into the emotional lives of teens on the cusp of adulthood” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). “The themes of love, social responsibility, death, and redemption are expertly intertwined with well-developed characters and a compelling story line. This complex, sensitive, and profoundly moving book is beautifully written and will stay with readers.” —School Library Journal (starred review “Sal is one of those characters you wonder about after the book is closed.” —Booklist “What the world needs now is a book like this one. . . . Read it.” —Bill Konigsberg, Stonewall Award–winning author of Openly Straight

A hilariously moving and inspirational memoir of a girl with two gay dads, navigating her way through life with joy, love, gratitude, and an excellent sense of humor. As the daughter of two gay fathers in the 90s, Chelsea has always had a different outlook than some people. And yet, her message is one of universal importance – love is the most important force in the world. Through her moving and at times hilarious memoir, Chelsea reflects on how we are all much more similar than we are different. Living “two doors down from normal,” Chelsea quickly learned that society loves to put people in boxes, but these boxes do not always reflect how we feel about ourselves. Through Inexplicably Me, Chelsea works to bring people together in love and acceptance and to illustrate that, while her story may seem worlds away from others, we all strive for happiness and love. From sharing the stage with President Obama when she was only eighteen years old, to her father spending her senior year of college in federal prison camp, to her biological mother dying of cancer when she was only 56, Chelsea explores her painful and joyful experiences with the hope that readers will find inspiration to face their own challenges and embrace their own joys. Inexplicably Me is a bridge for those who fear what they don’t understand, as well as a possibility for those who have lacked love in their lives to see how they can start to access their self-worth, begin achieving their dreams, and start loving themselves again. Most of all, it is a reminder that everyone will have an opinion about who you are supposed to be, but you, and only you, get to decide exactly who it is you want to be.

This is a collection of short stories digging in to contemporary real life scenarios, bordering on the absurd. The reader will find these pages rich in comedy and tragedy presented in the truth of cinematic clarity.

The poignant narrative unfolds through the eyes of a compassionate lesbian teacher who discovers an unexpected connection with a high school student. Navigating the delicate dance of emotions, they find that love's true essence transcends societal norms and expectations. As their paths diverge, the story unveils the profound moral that love, though not always reciprocated, can be a transformative force, revealing the depth of the human heart.

After the loss of his father at the age of four, Gary develops a full reliance on his mother. She is cunning and resilient, but hopelessly devoted to the same destructive family members responsible for the failure of her marriage. Husbandless and pregnant with her third child, Gary's mom manages to take her small stopgap family from living in a car in a beach parking lot to a boarding house where she meets the man who will be the father of her next two children. Evictions and cut utilities force move after move from neighboring towns to different states. As the growing family relocates, neglect and abuse from relatives and family friends shadow the children's lives. The chaotic existence, including the presence of an uncle and step-father in and out of prison and an alcoholic uncle who will not leave, awaken Gary to the realization that his family is not like other families. He begins to question his mother's decisions and disappointment transitions to anger, but a bond remains between Gary and his mom. Even during the worst times, she surprises with a fiercely protective love, like when Gary is forced to come out as gay at the age of fourteen. In spite of the unhinged way of living, the family is close. Gary and his younger brothers and sisters have no real friends but each other, and, in spite of her faults, they know their mother loves them deeply. Nothing prepares them for the moment she is taken away.

The next three of Miss Alice Lovelady's Inexplicable adventures! Contains Opener of the Ways, Vengeance in Venice, and Snow Beast.

Want to know what goes on behind closed law firm doors? Trust The Rodent, the unofficial mascot of legal professionals, to tell the ugly truth. In his latest expose, The Rodent covers topics such as Power Schmoozing, Berlitz Partnerese, and Law Fibs. Required reading for . . . anyone thinking of becoming a lawyer.--Lawrence Walsh, Pittsburgh POst-Gazette. Illustrations.