Deenie

When Deenie sees the brace for the first time, she wants to scream, “Forget it… I’m never going to wear that thing. Everyone will know. Everyone!”

But the words won’t come out. And Deenie, beautiful Deenie, who everyone says should be a model, is stuck wearing a brace from her neck to her hips. For four years—or longer. She feels ugly and angry. But only she can figure out how to deal with it. And that’s going to take courage. 

Her mother wants to blame someone for ruining her plans for Deenie. 

Her friends want to be supportive, but don’t know how. 

And Buddy Brader—well, he’s never heard of scoliosis. 

Then Again, Maybe I Won’t 

“That’s an interesting way to solve the problem, Tony.” 

But Miss Tobin was talking about a math problem on the blackboard and Tony was thinking about a real problem. 

If his parents, his friend Joel, or Joel’s 16-year-old sister, Lisa, knew what Tony was thinking about most of the time, they’d be anything but cool with it. About snitching on Joel (who Tony knows is a shoplifter). About money and the changes money makes in people (especially his mother). About watching Lisa undress each night and liking what he sees. 

It’s all getting to be too much for Tony— especially that morning in math class, in front of Miss Tobin, for everyone to see… 

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Margaret Simon likes long hair, tuna, fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She’s just moved from New York City to the suburbs and is anxious to fit in with her new friends. They swear they’ll tell each other everything—first bras, first kisses, first periods—everything. But some things are just too private to talk about, even with your friends, and especially when you’re the new girl. Lucky for Margaret, she’s got someone else to confide in… someone who always listens.