Books with author Karen D. Graves

Callie is the last person to see her Uncle Roy before he disappears, but she has a very good reason for keeping this a secret. Besides, she's not sure what she saw anyway, so it's better not to say anything. But secrets can have unexpected effects. The mystery of Roy's disappearance strains the friendship between Callie and Ginny Lynn, her older cousin. When Ginny Lynn moves to another part of the Shore, Callie is forced to make new friends and finds herself surprisingly happy. But the secret has a very different impact on Ginny Lynn, whose life rapidly spins out of control. When Callie finally realizes that she knows what happened to Roy, will anyone believe her? And, even if they do, is it too late to make a difference for Ginny Lynn? Ages 9-12

Michael Jackson, considered by many to be the "King of Pop," burst onto the music scene as the lead singer of The Jackson Five when he was ten. Now, more than 30 years later, he holds many world records, including the largest selling album in history and the most Grammy awards in one year. As one of the most talented, one of the wealthiest and one of the most reclusive men in the world, Michael Jackson remains an enigmatic and fascinating figure.

"In one of the few young adult books about growing up Native American today, teenagers from the Mohawk, Anishnabe (Ojibway), Quinault, Shinnecock, Cherokee, and Pueblo peoples speak candidly about family, school, community, dating, religion, sports, work, etc. Many are honor students, and their voices are upbeat, although almost all tell of some family and friends with drug and alcohol problems. Teens everywhere will recognize the conflict in living between two cultures: the struggle to stay close to your roots but also to be part of the mainstream. We need more contemporary books like this."-Booklist, March 1996

Nearly 20 teenagers express themselves in the book, with the authors taking their cues from the interviewees. The language is informal and easy for readers to relate to. The authors discuss what happens when illness or an accident precedes death, the funeral, shock and post-shock, and the range of feelings, and include especially valuable sections on possible reactions people have on the anniversary of a death, how to rebuild a life following the death, and how friends might react to grieving teens. Throughout are quotes from the teenagers themselves.Publishers Weekly, June 9, 1989

1993 YALS/American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. Filled with disillusionment, fear, anger, and occasionally real joy, the words [of 13 teenage fathers] blend into a dramatic, eye-opening portrayal of what teen fathers face when their desires and expectations collide with reality. Sure to leave readers of both sexes thinking about the consequences of their actions.Booklist, October 1992 These compelling stories let us in on scenarios from the fathering and abandoning of nine babies by age 19 to supportively juggling two different households with children.Kirkus, August 1992