Sliding on the edge by C.Lee McKenzie – Shawna Stone is 16 years-old.

Shawna’s mom, who’s rather flighty, abandons her in Las Vegas. She leaves the child, who’s become a pretty responsible person - money, a bus ticket to Sacramento, and the phone number of her mother in law, Shawna’s grandmother, Kay. Shawna has never met her grandmother and has heard only her mom's side of the story about her father, who's dead. Shawna has had self abuse and social acceptance issues throughout her life. Kay’s community comes through for the conflicted teen. Shawna, by story’s end, considers reaching out to others. Believable and well written, I was curious about Shawna and wondered if hope and optimism would prevail. The story too emphasized the role of the community in helping conflicted teens. I instantly became involved in the story.
This was a satisfying, good read.

Willow by Julia Hoban - From the fly leaf: Seven months ago on a rainy March night, Willow Randall’s parents drank
too much wine at dinner and asked her to drive them home. But they never made it – Willow lost control of the car,
and both of her parents were killed.
Now seventeen, Willow has left behind her old home, friends, and school – numbing the grim reality of her new life by
secretly cutting herself. But everything changes when one of Willow’s new classmates, a boy as sensitive and
thoughtful as she is, discovers Willow’s secret and refuses to let her destroy herself.
At first I didn't want to read about a girl who cuts herself. From the outset though, this story rang very true - I hated
to put the book down. The characters and their emotions seem genuine - Even though Willow's bouts with the razor
are cringe worthy - you really care about her and the special relationship she has with Guy. You want both of them to
succeed.