Dizenzo, Patricia,
Phoebe
, Bantam Books, New York, NY: 1970. This novel is based on a famous sex-education film by the National Film Board of Canada. Phoebe is sixteen and pregnant. She finds she can tell no one and must face adulthood alone.
Dizenzo, Patricia,
Why Me? The Story of Jenny
, Avon Books, New York, NY: 1976. This is an honest portrayal of a high school girl who is raped and finds her life shattered by unexpected stresses.
Holman, Felice,
Slake’s Limbo
, Dell Publishing Co., Inc., New York NY: 1974. Aremis Slake, at the age of thirteen is abused and misunderstood. He decides to go underground to make a life for himself in the subway tunnels of New York City.
Klein, Norma,
It’s OK If You Don’t Love Me,
Fawcett Crest Books, New York, NY: 1977. A touching and funny story that deals with the confusion between first love and sex.
Lipsyte, Robert,
The Contender
, Bantam Books, New York, NY: 1967. This novel is about a young black’s struggle to grow up in Harlem and become a fighter.
Mathis, Sharon Bell,
Teacup Full of Roses
, Avon Books, New York, NY: 1972. The story of three black brothers who find living hard in the ghetto. One of the brothers, Joe, tries to create a magical place for himself and his girl friend, Ellie. He works full time and spends two years in night school to get his high school diploma; but, the realities of ghetto life threaten to destroy his dream.
Samuels, Gertrude,
Run Shelley Run
, Signet Books, New York, NY: 1974. The story of Shelley Clark who has an uncaring alcoholic mother. Shelley is forced to run away many times because of her situation at home. She runs until she finds someone who cares.
Sleator, William,
Blackbriar
, Avon Books, New York, NY: 1972. Danny and his guardian, Phillippa, move from their city apartment in London to a mysterious stone cottage in the country. Danny is intrigued by the strange tales about the house being haunted by Bubonic Plague victims who have died in the cottage. Strange fires and other happenings prepare Danny for the most horrifying night of his life.
Taylor, Mildred D.,
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
, Bantam Books, New York, NY: 1976. This is the story of a Southern black family who is determined to maintain their pride and independence against hard times and racial injustices.
Thompson, Thomas,
Richie
, Bantam Books, New York, NY: 1973. This is a true story about the emotionally gripping drama of a family and the drug-related tragedy that shattered them.
Wersba, Barbara,
Tunes for a Small Harmonica
, Dell Publishing Co., New York, NY: 1978. J.F. McAllister, who dresses like a boy and could pass for Steve McQueen’s double, lives in a state of misery until she falls in love with her high school poetry teacher.