They were known as the Firefly Lane girls--a single, inseparable unit. On the surface, they were as opposite as two people could be. Kate, doomed to be uncool, had a loving family. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, had a secret home life that was destroying her. The best friends promise to be there for each other forever--and for thirty years, that promise holds strong. Then events and choices make that promise impossible.

"If she could-if her parents would let her-eighth-grader Windy would change everything about herself. She'd get highlights in her hair, a new wardrobe; she'd wear makeup. But nothing ever changes. The mean girls at school are still mean, and Windy's best friend, Elena, is still more interested in playing dress-up with Windy's cats than talking about boys. Then Nina shows up. The new girl is effortlessly cool and confident-and she starts hanging out...

"Middle school is all about labels. Izzy is the dreamer. There?s nothing Izzy loves more than acting in skits and making up funny stories. The downside? She can never quite focus enough to get her schoolwork done. Bri is the brain. But she wants people to see there?s more to her than just a report card full of As. At the same time, she wishes her mom would accept her the way she is and stop bugging her to "break out of her shell" and join drama club....

"The Swimmer. The Rebel. The Nerd. All Ryan, Harley, and Miles had in common was Isaac. They lived different lives, had different interests, and kept different secrets. But they shared the same best friend. They were his sidekicks. And now that Isaac's gone, what does that make them?"--Provided by publisher of previous printing.

Resolved to leave her home for good, young runaway Beverly is determined not to depend on anyone else, but as she settles in her new home and job, she forms connections with the people around her that alter her perspectives about life and herself.

"The smartest girls at school--Adri, Bry, and Cam--think McKeyla is definitely I.A.W.A.T.S.T. (Interesting And Weird At The Same Time). They discover she is an agent for NOV8 (that's Innovate), a top secret organization of super-smart women, and her assignment is to keep the prince safe"--Amazon.com.

"When thirteen-year-olds T.E. and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole"--

"Best friends Rasheeda and Monique navigate the ups and downs of a teenager's summer, Mo at home in the Cove; Sheeda at a sleepaway ballet intensive"--

Seventh-grader Sara wants to be normal but her panic attacks and other episodes cause her to isolate herself until, in group therapy, she meets talkative and outgoing Erin, her first friend.

Garvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading--anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also obese, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey's life changes.