Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant, her grandfather begins faltering, and her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant.

Love That Dog shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course . . . a dog.

Cesar Garcia’s life is crashing. His father, Papi Cesar, has left the migrant circuit in California for his other wife and children in Denver. Sweet Mama Lucy tries to provide for her son with dichos and tales of her own misspent youth. But at Rambling West High School in Fowlerville, CA the sides are drawn: Hmongs vs. Chicanos vs. everybody vs. Cesar, the new kid on the block.

You’ll breeze right through this hilarious book filled with girl talk about falling in love. Sophie falls first for the handsome Dylan, then chats with her “cybersoul” Chaz and finally ends up obsessed with a mystery man.