The book is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows a Native American teenager who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school in a neighboring town. The protagonist grapples with his own identity, the perceptions and prejudices of his new classmates, and the harsh realities of life on the reservation. Throughout the story, he uses humor and his passion for drawing cartoons to navigate the challenges he encounters.

The novel follows the story of a teenage girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Living in a poor neighborhood but attending a predominantly white, wealthy private school, she must navigate the dichotomy of these two very different worlds while grappling with the trauma of her friend's death. As she becomes more involved in activism and advocacy, she must confront the reality of racism, police brutality, and societal injustice.

Chanda's Secrets is a poignant story set in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the protagonist, a sixteen-year-old girl, grapples with the harsh reality of AIDS in her community. The novel explores the stigma and fear associated with the disease, as well as the courage and resilience of its characters. The protagonist's unwavering determination to keep her family together, despite societal pressures and personal tragedy, forms the crux of the narrative.

The novel follows a young Nepalese girl who lives in a poor, rural village. When her stepfather sells her into slavery in a brothel in India, she must navigate the horrors of her new life. The narrative explores her struggle for survival, her attempts to escape, and the friendships she forms with other girls in the brothel. Ultimately, the novel is a harrowing exploration of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The book follows the story of a fifteen-year-old boy living in a Bronx homeless shelter with his family after losing their apartment. Struggling with the pressures of poverty, an absent father, and a mother who is not providing the support he needs, the protagonist is determined to find a way out of their desperate situation. He sees DJing as his ticket to a better life, but as he becomes entangled in a web of challenging relationships and risky decisions, he must navigate the complexities of adolescence, loyalty, and survival on the unforgiving streets of New York City.