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. ...

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?

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?

Do the crime, do the time behind bars. But once you've been in, it can be tough to stay out.Tension between African Americans and Somalis at Rodney's high school erupts into a food fight that turns into a riot. In the midst of the violence, Rodney helps a Somali classmate to safety. Soon Rodney and Jawahir fall for each other. Against the pleas of their families and friends, they can't help but follow their hearts.As groups on both sides of the fight harbor lingering...

Randy prides himself on being all a team captain should be. He expects a lot from himself and from his teammates. But his high standards are challenged when he discovers some players are cheating in school. Although he takes his role as team captain seriously, Randy's worried that exposing the wrongdoing of teammates will put their tournament in jeopardy. Is he ready to take that risk?

Nong Vang dreams that one day he'll be an MMA superstar. He can trash-talk with as much force as his deadly kicks. But being a hero in his real life hinges on more than his first amateur MMA fight—it means struggling through school and protecting his family from his bully big brother. Can he find the courage and skill to succeed inside the cage and out?

Do the crime, do the time behind bars. But once you've been in, it can be tough to stay out.Alejandro has served six months for trumped-up charges after a brutal encounter with police. Now that he's out, he's determined to break ties with his gang and forge a new path. But it won't be simple. When Alejandro sees a video of a local girl suffering a similar police assault, he knows he has to meet her. The connection between Alejandro and Chrissie is electric. They just want t...

Jackson James wants three things: to succeed in MMA, to join the military like his father, and to protect his little brother from ending up in trouble like he did. But it's a challenge to stay in control of his life at school, at home, and at the dojo—especially with the distraction of Tyresha Harris, one of the new female fighters. When faced with tough choices, can Jackson learn to make the right ones inside the cage and out?

Meghan lived through the car crash that killed her mom, but it left her with injuries that ruined her school sports career. Now she's the dojo's toughest female fighter. She just has to avoid getting kicked out for her pain pill habit. As her first amateur fight approaches, Meghan will have to decide if she's ready to move on from the crash and the secrets. Can she find the courage to choose her moves wisely—inside the cage and out?

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.

Todd and Tina Morgan were both there the night their mother died. They both saw their father kill her. But they can't agree on what actually happened. To Tina, their father is a murderer. Their mother was trying to defend herself. To Todd, their father is a protector. He saved Todd and Tina when their mother turned a knife on them.Now their father is on the run. Todd and Tina are in separate foster placements. Todd knows there's only one way to clear his dad's name: get Tina to chan...

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?...