Books published by publisher West 44 Books

With an incarcerated father and an estranged drug-addicted mother, Shanequa's dreams of higher education feel like a fantasy. When Shanequa gets the chance to attend a prestigious private prep school, she feels like her dreams might become reality. Shanequa finds it easier to lie to her new friends than tell them the truth about her family. When her lies are found out, and Shanequa strikes back in blind rage, her path changes forever.

A tiny piece of paper from the year 2019 might not sound very interesting to most people. But Max and Oscar, who are Bluggsville's sharpest sleuths, aren't most people! Max has a hunch that this ancient patch of paper might be valuable and extremely rare. Max is right. This isn't just any old piece of paper. It's a strange, sticky thing called a postage stamp, and it's more than 400 years old! It's an exciting discovery, but before long, it leads Max and Oscar into some very sticky situations...

Jasmine Jackson has a great imagination, but when her friend Matt tells their group of friends that he has a VR headset that can send him into the world of Minecraft, she finds it a little hard to believe. When Jaz tries the headset out for herself, she learns the truth, but then a creeper comes along and does what creepers do! She'll need to rebuild her shelter and maybe improve on it before she can find her way home. Young Minecraft fans will enjoy this tale of creepers and caves and creativity in a gaming-themed world.

Mila is sent to 4B after a bad first week of school. So far, she already made her teacher cry, and it's only Wednesday. Classroom 4B is full of angry, tough kids who are nothing like her. Mila used to be a happy-go-lucky, popular cheerleader, but that was before she was taken away from her mom and placed with her aunt. That was before moving to a whole new town and whole new school. That was before not being able to talk to her mom while she's in treatment. Mila doesn't want anything to do with the kids in 4B, until she realizes that maybe they all have problems, just like her. Mila may have just found her new friends.

The women in Skyler Wise's family have a weakness for bad boys, but not Skyler. She has one thing on her mind, leaving her run-down neighborhood and going to college. When Skyler's normally strict mom starts dating again, she feels abandoned. Skyler meets Cole, a boy who makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself and her future. Even though he has a dangerous reputation, Skyler believes she knows the real Cole, the sweet, caring boyfriend who makes her feel seen for once in her life. When Cole starts to change, Skyler realizes that she'll do anything to keep him around, even if it means giving up her dream and losing the people closest to her.

Jordan's father was sent to jail for a reason Jordan doesn't know. His mom won't talk about it and spends most of her time crying. Jordan tags school property, refuses to take tests, and picks on kids who look like easy targets. He's sent to detention almost every day, wondering if that's what it feels like to be in jail. But when Jordan discovers the truth about his dad's crime, he has to question the path he's on.

Josh Baker isn't sure why his brain tells him to do things that other people don't need to do: checking his locker again and again, counting cracks in ceilings, and always needing to finish a song, for starters. He is a talented drummer, a math genius, and he knows everything about rock and roll. Yet, he knows his problems have the power to hurt his family and make him fail at school. When Josh is diagnosed with OCD, it's a blessing and a curse. Can he overcome his thoughts, or will they break him?

Clare and Zari are best friends. They write music together, go everywhere together, and they know everything about the other. At least they did before Zari started dating Dion. The more Zari falls for Dion, the less she has time for anything else. At first, Clare chalks it up to a new and exciting relationship, and she tries to be happy for her friend despite her loneliness. When Zari starts to show up to school with half-hidden bruises, Clare knows there's something darker about this relationship that has to be stopped.

Landon currently has an F in life. He won't do his homework, won't take tests, won't even look at the chalkboard during class. His parents and teachers think it's because he's just not trying, but really, Landon is hiding a deep secret: nothing makes sense to him. He struggles to read, has trouble focusing, and can't wrap his mind around math. Maybe this a problem only the kids in 4B can solve.

Jack is at the top of his game. He's a senior running back on the football team, dominating every opponent in his way. To everyone else, Jack is totally in control. In reality, he struggles with an eating disorder that controls every aspect of his daily life. When Jack starts using steroids, he feels invincible, but will the steroids help him win the big game, or will he lose everything he's ever worked for?