La Porte County Public Library System

Monica is stuck watching her stepsister, but Angela is trying to ruin Monica's day.

By day, the Duncans are an upstanding family who run a thriving car dealership in Queens. By night, they live a dangerous secret life. L.C. Duncan, patriarch of the family, is at the age when he's starting to think about retirement in sunny Florida. But the recession is taking a bite out of the business and, worrying more, he has to decide which of his children should take over. When his workaholic son Orlando gets the nod, Orlando's siblings--including...

A collection of short stories captures powerful and poignant moments in everyday lives of African American families, friends, and neighbors in the years spanning from the beginning of the Clinton presidency to the eve of Barack Obama's election.

Nine-year-old Booker works with his father and brother at the saltworks but dreams of the day when he'll be able to read.

Teenager Darcy Wills must deal with painful secrets from her past in order to save her family and her friendships.

When his brother kicks him out of his house, Avery Beauregard Montgomery, who is unemployed and basically homeless, decides to stay at his sister's apartment where he discovers exactly what he wants--his sister's roommate, Belle.

Discovering her ability to see ghosts when a cruel act ends her father's life and forces her to move in with relatives in 1920s Pittsburgh, young Ophelia forges a helpful bond with a spirit whose own life ended suddenly and unjustly.

Four black children growing up in rural Mississippi during the Depression experience racial antagonisms and hard times, but learn from their parents the pride and self-respect they need.

A father reassures his young son that although they cannot always be together, he misses his baby boy and always thinks about him.

Things get complicated when Monica, torn between rooting for her school's football team and the team that her friend Rory plays for, is asked to be a substitute rider in the rival team's parade.