Books in The Alternative series

José can't keep up. As the only English speaker in a family of undocumented immigrants, he handles everything from taking family members to the doctor to bargaining with the landlord. Plus he works two jobs. With all this responsibility, he's missing a lot of school. When he does make it, he falls asleep in class. José knows he has to turn things around if he wants to graduate from Rondo Alternative High School. Can he raise his grades enough to have a shot at college and a better life? Or will he be forced to drop out of school for good?

When Jessica is diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, she finally understands why her best friend is her dog and why she breaks out in a sweat whenever she interacts with others. She hopes a fresh start at Rondo Alternative High School will help. Joining the manga club seems like a good move―especially since quirky, quiet Dylan is a member. Can a kindred spirit help her work through her anxiety? Can she overcome her fear and make some real friends?

The Alternative is a reality where, to reduce violence, drug use, truancy, and other “unsavory” behaviors, the government requires everyone to wear Virtual Reality gear any time they leave their residence. The VR unit navigates them to school and work to minimize interaction with anyone outside of their immediate family. For entertainment, they can study, read blogs, listen to instrumental music, play one-player games online, journal, or exercise. School subjects are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) heavy and History is censored to support a “Pro-Alternative” lifestyle. Megan, 17, our main character, finds herself confronted with a stranger from the “outside,” who is asking for her help. When her parents go missing, she and her twin brothers find themselves living among a group of self-supporting, special-needs, castoffs. Using their training and resources from the community, Megan and seven others embark on a mission to find her parents.

After serving time for assault, Jada lands in foster care and a new school to try to turn her life around. She knows she has to control her bursts of anger if she wants to go home to her mom. But the Markhams' house rules are unbearable. And what makes the staff at Rondo Alternative High School any different from the teachers who've written her off before? When tensions flare, Jada is put to the test. Can she find the strength to make the right decisions and regain her mom's trust―before it's too late?

Moving off the reservation and enrolling at Rondo Alternative High School is supposed to give Frankie a new start. But leaving gang life proves harder than Frankie ever imagined, as his cousins are set on bringing him into the family's dirty business. When Frankie's father is brutalized in prison by a rival gang, Frankie is faced with a decision. Will he take revenge and prove his loyalty to his people? Or can he keep his promise to his mother and find a way out?

José can't keep up. As the only English speaker in a family of undocumented immigrants, he handles everything from taking family members to the doctor to bargaining with the landlord. Plus he works two jobs. With all this responsibility, he's missing a lot of school. When he does make it, he falls asleep in class. José knows he has to turn things around if he wants to graduate from Rondo Alternative High School. Can he raise his grades enough to have a shot at college and a better life? Or will he be forced to drop out of school for good?

Rachel's junior year is going to be perfect―she's taking AP classes, is first-chair viola, and is busy planning her college visits. Then Misty, Rachel's wild and unpredictable cousin, lands on her parents' doorstep and turns Rachel's orderly world upside-down. Rachel's family hopes enrolling Misty in Rondo Alternative High School will help with her behavior issues, but her rough past and reckless choices make her a force to be reckoned with. As Rachel gets pulled deeper into Misty's dark secrets, she’ll have to figure out if can she transform the uncontrollable Misty―or will it be Misty who transforms her?

When Jessica is diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, she finally understands why her best friend is her dog and why she breaks out in a sweat whenever she interacts with others. She hopes a fresh start at Rondo Alternative High School will help. Joining the manga club seems like a good move―especially since quirky, quiet Dylan is a member. Can a kindred spirit help her work through her anxiety? Can she overcome her fear and make some real friends?

Rachel's junior year is going to be perfect―she's taking AP classes, is first-chair viola, and is busy planning her college visits. Then Misty, Rachel's wild and unpredictable cousin, lands on her parents' doorstep and turns Rachel's orderly world upside-down. Rachel's family hopes enrolling Misty in Rondo Alternative High School will help with her behavior issues, but her rough past and reckless choices make her a force to be reckoned with. As Rachel gets pulled deeper into Misty's dark secrets, she’ll have to figure out if can she transform the uncontrollable Misty―or will it be Misty who transforms her?

Moving off the reservation and enrolling at Rondo Alternative High School is supposed to give Frankie a new start. But leaving gang life proves harder than Frankie ever imagined, as his cousins are set on bringing him into the family's dirty business. When Frankie's father is brutalized in prison by a rival gang, Frankie is faced with a decision. Will he take revenge and prove his loyalty to his people? Or can he keep his promise to his mother and find a way out?

After serving time for assault, Jada lands in foster care and a new school to try to turn her life around. She knows she has to control her bursts of anger if she wants to go home to her mom. But the Markhams' house rules are unbearable. And what makes the staff at Rondo Alternative High School any different from the teachers who've written her off before? When tensions flare, Jada is put to the test. Can she find the strength to make the right decisions and regain her mom's trust―before it's too late?