Skater Boy

In this YA pop punk debut about queer romance and destroying labels, a teen risks everything to write his own story. Perfect for fans of Sonora Reyes and Adib Khorram. Stonebridge High’s resident bad boy, Wesley “Big Mac” Mackenzie, is failing senior year—thanks to his unchecked anger, rowdy friends, and a tendency to ditch his homework for skateboarding and a secret photography obsession. So when his mom drags him to a production of The Nutcracker, Wes isn’t interested at all . . . until he sees Tristan Monroe. Mr. Nutcracker himself. Wes knows he shouldn’t like Tristan; after all, he’s a ballet dancer, and Wes is as closeted as they come. But when they start spending time together, Wes can’t seem to get Tristan out of his head. Driven by a new sense of purpose, Wes begins to think that—despite every authority figure telling him otherwise—maybe he can change for the better and graduate on time. As a falling out with his friends becomes inevitable, Wes realizes that being himself means taking a stand—and blowing up the bad-boy reputation he never wanted in the first place. From a debut author to watch, Skater Boy delivers a heart-wrenching, validating, and honest story about what it means to be gay in a world where you don’t fit in.

★★★★★ "Skater Boy combined so many of my favorite things beautifully into one unique novel. Strong and defiant, yet compassionate heroine. The down-to-the-bone, soul-crushing kind of love. Once Skater Boy was over, I couldn’t pick up anything for days. It was so beautifully unique. Read this book. Breathe this book. Obsess over this book. Flip will stalk your heart, and you’ll so desperately love every second of it." Rebels. Misfits. Bad boys who rule the streets. Everyone’s welcome at the worst kept secret in town, just as long as you don’t mind getting your reputation—and your heart—a little dirty. Welcome to Patchwork House… Patchwork House is a boy’s club—a mean boy’s club. They made an exception for Tweetie once, and they’re going to make another, because she’s coming home. After two years away and one too many broken hearts, Tweetie swore off skaters—but she never expected Flip. Flip was the most famous skater in the world until he traded his place at Patchwork with the little girl whose life he ruined. Now Tweetie’s all grown up, and one chance encounter brings them together. He knows the right thing to do is disappear before things get ugly, but he never was very good at being good. She’s back, and so is he—all bets are off. Nothing will stop this bad boy from finally getting his lost girl. They're written in the stars, and it's time she knows it. The first lesson Flip taught Tweetie was how to fall. It was also the last thing she remembered when they met again, because she didn’t just fall for him. She slammed.

In contemporary society, science constitutes a significant part of human life in that it impacts on how people experience and understand the world and themselves. The rapid advances in science and technology, newly established societal and cultural norms and values, and changes in the climate and environment, as well as, the depletion of natural resources all greatly impact the lives of children and youths, and hence their ways of learning, viewing the world, experiencing phenomena around them and interacting with others. These changes challenge science educators to rethink the epistemology and pedagogy in science classrooms today as the practice of science education needs to be proactive and relevant to students and prepare them for life in the present and in the future. Featuring contributions from highly experienced and celebrated science educators, as well as research perspectives from Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia, this book addresses theoretical and practical examples in science education that, on the one hand, plays a key role in our understanding of the world, and yet, paradoxically, now acknowledges a growing number of uncertainties of knowledge about the world. The material is in four sections that cover the learning and teaching of science from science literacy to multiple representations; science teacher education; the use of innovations and new technologies in science teaching and learning; and science learning in informal settings including outdoor environmental learning activities. Acknowledging the issues and challenges in science education, this book hopes to generate collaborative discussions among scholars, researchers, and educators to develop critical and creative ways of science teaching to improve and enrich the lives of our children and youths.

Skater Boy is a story about falling in love with your best friend. It contains discussions about baby poop, day drinking, girls' night out, and the purchase of a mini-van. When his most recent poor decision comes to a door-slamming end, former Olympic figure skater Alex Stanton is forced to move into the house of his best friend, Thunder starting goalie, Sergei Pergov. It's just temporary. Then Sergei kisses him and everything changes. Sergei doesn't care that Alex has no money, no career, no future. He makes more than enough for both of them. But Alex says he's done being a kept man. He'll find a way to make it on his own even if he has to move across the country to do it. But Sergei knows he needs Alex more than Alex needs him. Alex is the one who makes their house a home; his love makes them a family. How can Sergei make him see that there are things more precious than money?

CJ is a skateboarder who would rather spend his days boarding or customizing his deck and can't seem to hold onto a job now that he's officially "grown up" and graduated from high school. He lives with his lover, Richard, who wears a suit and tie to the office every day. Together they make an unlikely pair. This story is a snapshot look at their relationship, how they come together and how they stay together despite society's negative attitude towards CJ's skating. Sort of a "day in the life" type of story, it follows CJ from a good dream through to convincing Richard to stop working long enough to meet for lunch.

Camille Robbins is determined to stay on the partnership track at the prestigious San Francisco law firm of Walker and Jenkins—and that’s meant putting love on the back burner for the past seven years. But now Camille is back in her hometown of Washington, DC to care for her ailing father, and back at the DC branch of the law firm where she worked years ago. Returning to the office means returning to face her former boss and lover, the incomparable Mia Shannon. To complicate matters, Camille begins a wild journey with the daughter of the firm’s biggest client—the fiery redhead Hannah Richards—even though she knows that Hannah is strictly off-limits. With Mia determined to throw a wrench in the works, will the hurt feelings of a spurned lover ruin any chance they might have? Or will Hannah see beyond the chaos and lies to finally claim Camille’s heart…

When good girl Dawn Miller decides to try life as a bad girl, she gets involved with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Has she fallen in love or trouble?

Colorful introduction to skateboarding for girls.