Kissed by a Bubble is a lyrical story narrated by a crystal child waiting to be born. She has the magical ability to see what is happening on the outside of her world as she is being developed within her mother's belly. Charlotte, the unborn child, shares with you the joy of laugher that fills the sea breeze air while her brother and his dog-pal discover chasing bubbles in their grandmother's garden near the sea. She shares with you how translucent magical rainbows float freely in liquid presence called bubbles and how they inspire everyone to play. Zacky, his dog-pal Higbee and her mother run and chase the bubbles until they are dripping wet and exhausted. When they sit down to rest, they discover that you can be kissed by a bubble. The crystal child called Charlotte can feel this joy and happiness. She kicks with excitement and great anticipation of someday being able to chase magical, mystical fun. Another star child is lingering about throughout their playtime. It is a child yet to be, that is also watching over the playful events. He too is excited about magical, mystical fun and hopes with anticipation that someday he'll be able to play with this family. Kissed by a Bubble will inspire you to chase bubbles, because they are magical, mystical fun; catch them, chase them, run, run, run. And if a bubble should happen to pop on your nose, then you've been kissed by a bubble

Young adult novel about a girl facing pregnancy and abortion, and an unexpected new friendship.

'Bittersweet perfection' Guardian, Best Books of the Year 'An engulfing historical novel' The Times, Best Books of the Year 'A festive classic in the making' Observer, Best Books of the Year Nominated for the Carnegie Medal Three years ago, Margot's life was turned upside down when her fiance, Harry, went missing in action on the Western Front. Worse, she was left with a devastating secret which threatened to ruin her life and destroy the reputation of her family. As a respectable vicar's daughter, Margot has had to guard that secret with great care ever since, no matter how much pain it causes her. Now it's Christmas 1919, and Margot's family is gathering back home in the vicarage for the first time since the end of the Great War. And miraculously Harry has returned, hoping to see Margot and rekindle their romance. Can Margot ever reveal the shocking truth to the only man she has ever loved?

Teens are more aware of sexuality and identity than ever, and they're looking for answers and insights, as well as a community of others. In order to help create that community, YA authors David Levithan and Billy Merrell have collected original poems, essays, and stories by young adults in their teens and early 20s. "The Full Spectrum "includes a variety of writers--gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, transitioning, and questioning--on a variety of subjects: coming out, family, friendship, religion/faith, first kisses, break-ups, and many others.
This one of a kind collection will, perhaps, help all readers see themselves and the world around them in ways they might never have imagined. We have partnered with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and a portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to them.

Adolescence is a time of growth, change, and confusion for young women. During this transition from childhood to adulthood, sex and gender roles become more important. Meanwhile, depictions of females from the hyper-sexualized girls of music videos to the chaste repression of Purity Balls send mixed messages to young women about their bodies and their sexuality. Over the last several decades, authors of young adult novels have been challenged to reflect this concern in their work and have responded with varying degrees of success. In Learning Curves: Body Image and Female Sexuality in Young Adult Literature, Beth Younger examines how cultural assumptions and social constraints are reinforced and complicated through common representations of young women. Each chapter analyzes a recurrent theme in the history of young adult literature, including issues of body image, pregnancy, abortion, lesbianism, and romance. By examining selected novels for their sexual content, situating them within their social and historical context, and analyzing their discursive qualities, the author reveals the multitude of complex ways that society depicts teenagers and their sexualities and offers a critique of patriarchal culture that gives value to the female experience."

More than 900,000 teenage girls face pregnancies each year. Almost all of these pregnancies are unplanned, leaving teen moms and dads unprepared for the emotional, physical, and psychological journey ahead of them. What most parents find as a memorable and positive change in their lives, teens and their families often see as catastrophic and devastating. In Pregnancy and Parenting: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Jessica Akin guides teens through the unique issues and struggles of a life-changing event that can be overwhelming even for a fully mature adult. Once a teen decides what course to take-between parenting, adoption, or abortion-she must deal with the consequences of her decision, often alone, but sometimes with the father-to-be and other family members. Topics covered in this book include *breaking the news *choosing the next step *dealing with judgments and criticism *coping with loss *co-parenting *finishing school *life beyond the baby This book is filled with stories from teen mothers and fathers who faced their unplanned pregnancy head on. Written without bias or judgement, Pregnancy and Parenting: The Ultimate Teen Guide emphasizes and encourages teens to empower themselves with knowledge and make the best choices and decisions for their individual futures.

Discusses the emotions, stresses, and adjustments connected with an unplanned teenage pregnancy.