Rodeo Princess

“Stay out of my life. Or I’ll tell.” That was over three years ago. The last time I talked to Amy McNair. One of the prettiest girls in school. She’s horse crazy. And an amazing barrel racer. But I’m going to win at the annual rodeo. Beat her. It’s all I’ve got. Even my boyfriend’s parents don’t accept me. Mainly because of my brothers. They aren’t exactly upstanding citizens. People think I’m the same as them. If only they knew.

From the Great Plains to the borderlands to the Mississippi Delta, rural America is struggling. The population is shrinking. And the economy is shifting away from agriculture. Without a safety net, rural families struggle with depression, drug abuse, alcoholism, and other problems. Gravel Road Rural addresses the contemporary issues affecting rural America in an unflinching way.

Hard-hitting, contemporary young adult fiction is not trendy—it’s not dystopia. There are no vampires, no werewolves, no castles. It’s real life. It’s unflinching. Gravel Road highlights the talent of YA authors committed to creating realistic fiction with emotional authenticity. No topic is off-limits: suicide, homosexuality drugs, rape, gangs, bullying. Teens live with this reality each day. And they find a way to survive.