If she hustled hard enough, she could stay ahead of the game—that was her life story, always trying to make a dollar outta fifteen cent... Street-smart Portia Lane traded in her church roots and college degree for sex-fueled stardom as Brooklyn’s hottest stripper. The hood respects her, men in suits open their wallets, her girlfriends—Laila, Simone, and Fatima—have got her back, and the money rolls in. Then Portia breaks her own rules and falls dangerously in love with one of her regulars, and everything about the way she lives her life comes into question. Jay is an ambitious music executive who’s a little bit thug, and all sexy—and Portia must genuinely change to win his trust and prove her love for him is not inspired by his wealth. But one way or another, Portia will pay the price for her tumultuous past.

Growing up on the rough streets of Newark, New Jersey, Rameck, George,and Sampson could easily have followed their childhood friends into drug dealing, gangs, and prison. But when a presentation at their school made the three boys aware of the opportunities available to them in the medical and dental professions, they made a pact among themselves that they would become doctors. It took a lot of determination—and a lot of support from one another—but despite all the hardships along the way, the three succeeded. Retold with the help of an award-winning author, this younger adaptation of the adult hit novel The Pact is a hard-hitting, powerful, and inspirational book that will speak to young readers everywhere.

In a prose that is so beautiful it is poetry, we see the world of growing up and going somewhere through the dust and heat of Fresno's industrial side and beyond: It is a boy's coming of age in the barrio, parochial school, attending church, public summer school, and trying to fall out of love so he can join in a Little League baseball team. His is a clarity that rings constantly through the warmth and wry reality of these sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, always human remembrances.

The death of high school basketball star Rob Washington in an automobile accident affects the lives of his close friend Andy, who was driving the car, and many others in the school.

Acclaimed author Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal-winning novel-in-verse explores the life of fourteen-year-old Billie Jo growing up in the dust bowls of Oklahoma. Out of the Dust joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!"Dust piles up like snow across the prairie. . . ."A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better -- playing the piano -- is impossible with her wounded hands.To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma -- and in the surprising landscape of her own heart.

Your favorite characters are back. The saga continues ... The love Casino and Laila overcame obstacles to share was pure and real. A Dollar Outta Fifteen Cent 4: Money Makes the World Go 'Round ended at their wedding reception. The couple tied the knot for Valentine's Day, and should've been merrily en route to their honeymoon in Rio, but fate had other plans. The euphoria of the opulent occasion was short-lived when Laila's ex-husband, Khalil, showed up and serenaded their wedding party with bullets. In the end, crimson blood stains adorned Laila's lovely dress, and Cas was left fighting for his life. He took a bullet in the name of love. Will he survive the shooting, or will Khalil's heinousness halt the newlyweds' plans for happily ever after? Portia and Jay had trials and tribulations throughout their entire marriage, but love prevailed each time. Portia stood by Jay and forgave him for the unforgivable - fathering an outside child. Jay swore he'd never jeopardize their happiness again, but a shocking discovery of skeletons quickly changes his mind. Wise was shot in a gun battle and declared dead. He literally came back from the grave, and he and Fatima were romantically reunited. Wise is an excellent father who loves his wife, but also has a soft spot for someone else special to him - the nurse who saved his life. Will his infidelity backfire and destroy the happy ending he and Fatima are destined for? Acclaimed authoress Caroline McGill is back with another heat-filled installment in the award winning A Dollar Outta Fifteen Cent series. Delve into the pages of this poignant and seductive read to see how well these characters handle their next chapter of adversity. Drama seems to be around every corner, but when you're Married to the Money, stakes are always high.

What do Gaby Lopez, Michael Robles, and Cynthia Rodriguez have in common? These three kids join other teens and tweens in Gary Soto's new short story collection, in which the hard-knock facts of growing up are captured with humor and poignance. Filled with annoying siblings, difficult parents, and first loves, these stories are a masterful reminder of why adolescence is one of the most frustrating and fascinating times of life.