Point guard Mercedes Morgan is on track to set the all-state record for three-pointers. She's even caught the attention of a big-time college recruiter. But her sister has fallen in with a gang from the old neighborhood, and a drive-by shooting lands her in a coma. Now their little brother might be headed down the same dangerous path. Can the star player help her family leave the past behind them while also saving her season, or will they always be on guard?

Life is looking up for Xavier. Things are good with Jennie, his baseball coach believes in him, he's earned the role of closer, and his dad's coming home after serving ten years.But making up for lost time with his dad doesn't go as Xavier had hoped. It seems his dad's always angry with him. Or drinking. Or out. Or lecturing Xavier on what it means to be a man. When the tension at home builds, Xavier's own hot temper flares, threatening to send him down the same path as his father. ...

Moving off the reservation and enrolling at Rondo Alternative High School is supposed to give Frankie a new start. But leaving gang life proves harder than Frankie ever imagined, as his cousins are set on bringing him into the family's dirty business. When Frankie's father is brutalized in prison by a rival gang, Frankie is faced with a decision. Will he take revenge and prove his loyalty to his people? Or can he keep his promise to his mother and find a way out?

The great thing about drifting, thinks Kekoa, is that it's more about skill than expensive parts. That's good for him. Since his mom left him on the island with his grandma, his Nissan Skyline 350 is all he has to his name. Life is the opposite for Billy Cain, who can buy his way into or out of anything. But when Billy's antics threaten the few things Kekoa cares about, they'll put it to the test: does skill or money win out when it comes to wheels, winding mountain roads, honor, and love?...

Everyone has secrets in high school. But no one has a secret quite like Camila Hernandez's.For as long as Camila can remember, her mother has been in prison. And Camila has tried to make sure no one finds out. She avoids all friendships. She keeps to herself. Because if people get too close to her, they might find out the truth. And once they know, they will see her only as a criminal's daughter.Sure, some of Camila's classmates also have parents doing time. But her mother is...

After serving time for assault, Jada lands in foster care and a new school to try to turn her life around. She knows she has to control her bursts of anger if she wants to go home to her mom. But the Markhams' house rules are unbearable. And what makes the staff at Rondo Alternative High School any different from the teachers who've written her off before? When tensions flare, Jada is put to the test. Can she find the strength to make the right decisions and regain her mom's trust—before i...

Cody's basketball team, The Rebels, has an almost perfect record, thanks to the skills of his best friend Jayson "Dominator" Davis. Jayson is new to the team and to the nearly all-white high school. Tension between the coach and Jayson has simmered since he transferred from the inner city. When Coach kicks Jayson off the team, more than the school's record is at stake. A school-wide dispute falls along racial lines, and Cody finds himself at the center. Can Cody step up his game where it r...

José can't keep up. As the only English speaker in a family of undocumented immigrants, he handles everything from taking family members to the doctor to bargaining with the landlord. Plus he works two jobs. With all this responsibility, he's missing a lot of school. When he does make it, he falls asleep in class. José knows he has to turn things around if he wants to graduate from Rondo Alternative High School. Can he raise his grades enough to have a shot at college and a better life? Or...

Every adult wants to give DeQuin advice. His father, who's serving a life sentence, thinks DeQuin needs to toughen up. His uncle wants DeQuin to work hard and keep his head down. Then there's his grandfather, lecturing DeQuin at every turn―when he's not rambling about his glory days in the 1960s civil rights movement.DeQuin is doing fine without their help―until a fun night with friends gets out of control. Now he has to deal with the fallout. Should he fight, as his dad suggests? S...

Latrell Baker's scientific approach to football—watching football—has finally paid off. Harmon Holt heard about the algorithm he developed for determining best defensive play, and now Latrell's landed himself an internship with the NFL's LA Stars. But he'll soon discover that working in pro football involves more politics and secrets than science.

For years, Leung has been learning Wing Chun. This fighting art demands balance. It makes Leung find his center. So when Leung sees the boxing matches at New York's Woodrat Club, he's shocked by the fighters' wild, sloppy styles. But he can't stop watching.Leung's Irish friend, Sean, thinks that Leung could conquer the bareknuckle boxing scene. But first, Leung's uncles, Tso and Nang, have to approve. Then Leung will have to learn to ignore jeers and hard stares—because he'll be fig...

Lucas has big dreams of getting a basketball scholarship and helping his mom out of poverty. When a growth spurt helps Lucas become a force on the court, his dreams finally seem within reach. But Lucas's brother tries to steer him toward a very different path: making easy money on the street. Can Lucas keep his focus and stay true to his dream?