Lesson #1: You come for me, I come back even harder for you. Fair exchange. No robberies. Isis Carter got schooled early on in surviving the streets. When some girls put a beatdown on her, she took back what was hers. When her brother was killed and her mom, Queenie, bailed, Isis fought to stay strong. And when her dad abandoned her for his new family, sixteen-year-old Isis buried the hurt by looking out for herself--and hookin' up with bad boy Fresh...until a run-in with the law shatters Isis' world and threatens to destroy her future.Now the only person Isis can rely on is herself...until her secret crush K-Rock steps in. But when Isis lets her guard down, will she be given a second chance to get her life straight or will it cost her everything?

Check it: I'm Zsa-Zsa. Some call me arrogant, but I call it confidence. You decide when you find out what I'm working with.First things first--I'm seventeen, but I'm grown and have been for a long time. I have my own ride, my mama doesn't clock my time, and my boyfriend, Ameen, is getting money like you wouldn't believe. There's only one problem: when Ameen gets mad, sometimes he takes his anger out on me. And yeah, maybe I could leave him, but there's no way Ameen could imagine being without me. So now I'm all confused, especially since my first love, Malachi, is back in my life. Ameen is not giving up without a fight, and no matter how hard I try, the love I have for Malachi won't go away. And did I mention that Malachi has a girl? Needless to say, my days are filled with drama. So this is my story and you need to come and chill with me as I try and see what boy is for me, what love is all about, and if my first teenage love affair will forever rule or ruin my...

"Simone tells authentic stories of teen life in the 'hood better than any other author currently writing contemporary YA street lit." --Library Journal on Teenage Love Affair (starred review) True story: I'm Gem, G-E-M, like a precious jewel, and my life has been nothing like my name. I've been on my own since I was nine and now I'm sixteen. But so what. I'm good, and so is my little brother. So why the state won't let us do our own thing is beyond me. Instead, we've been forced to live with a foster family who wants to love us, but I'm not beat--I'm just trying to do me.To make matters worse, I've been checking for this guy, Ny'eem. But my new clique has an unbreakable rule--no boyz allowed to come between our friendship--which is forcing me to keep my relationship with Ny'eem a secret. Though not for long. . .because in high school secrets are always exposed, scandals always rewrite the rules, and friendships are never what they seem. . . ."Excitement, drama, and life lessons. . .. Upgrade U is sure to be a classic." --A.J. Byrd, author of Losing Romeo"A new series with a pair of drama-fueled stories about girls looking for love in all the wrong ways." --Publishers Weekly on The Break-Up Diaries

It's a showdown for the spotlight as Hollywood's elite Pampered Princesses scramble to outshine each other for the ultimate crown. But being on top is never what it seems... Heartbroken and humiliated, teen supermodel London Phillips is done with her pity party and ready to move on. But between the mean-spirited media, a shocking realization about her billionaire ex, and a vengeful obsession, London's discovering that while confessions are good for the soul, deception is so much sweeter... When it comes to juggling her cuties, Rich Montgomery is the queen. But now she's fallen for a bad boy who comes with more drama than she ever did—and her fairytale love affair soon turns into a nightmare. Will she find a way out, or will pride get the best of her? Spencer Ellington could teach an advanced class in revenge. So when she's shunned by her frenemy, Heather Cummings, again, backstabbed by her bestie, Rich, and sucked into her...

When the celebrity spotlight burns too hot to handle, Hollywood's elite Pampered Princesses battle for the ultimate crown. But once their secrets are exposed, who will be the last teen diva standing? She's finally free of her overbearing mother and too much heartbreak. Now supermodel London Phillips is going to get back her billionaire ex—on her own terms. But settling old scores and destroying her former bestie, Rich Montgomery, could wreck her best shot at happiness . . . After all the high-maintenance stunts she's pulled, Rich will do even worse to hang onto her thug in shining armor. But obsessive jealousy and an unexpected shocker will detonate mega-drama—and spiral her life way out of control . . . Dirty little secrets deployed for maximum damage are Spencer Ellington's specialty. But when she digs up her family's skeletons it could blow up in her pretty face—and destroy more than she imagined . . . ...

They have everything their parents' mega-celebrity can give—but when the Pampered Princesses of Hollywood High take aim at each other, the last girl standing will have everything to lose.London Phillips needs a time-out from her mother's rules, and from her crazy clandestine romance with hottie Justice Banks. To keep her cool, and keep her secrets, she turns to her parent-approved billionaire fake boyfriend. But unexpected romantic sparks ignite a firestorm of their own. . .Rich Montgomery wants to start fresh with her true love. But the web of lies she's created is pushing her past the edge, spinning her into battles she can't afford to lose...Teen TV star Heather Cummings never thought she'd land in rehab. Resuscitating her career means getting clean. Yet, she never thought she'd find a counselor who'd redefine what abstinence means. . .Spencer Ellington is so done losing besties and boyfriends. Good thing she's been keeping track of a stash of scandals. Now...

They're the daughters of celebrities—the kind all the teen mags gossip about! But the It Girls of Hollywood High are about to discover that fame has a price. And no friendship—or romance—is safe. . .London Phillips will diet as her mother demands. She'll even date the billionaire her mother has chosen for her. But she won't give up her secret hottie, Justice Banks. She and Justice plan to elope—right after he becomes a hip-hop superstar. All he has to do is seduce a media mogul's darling daughter, Rich Montgomery, and a record deal is his! But he better remember London is really his girl. . .Rich is so lucky to have a BFF like London. It was London who introduced her to dreamy Justice. Little does she know that her new heartthrob is about to cause a media explosion that will change this spoiled princess's life forever. . .Spencer Ellington hates to see a billionaire go to waste. That's why she's hooking up with London's boyfriend, Anderson Ford....

With a bootylicious body like Beyoncé and a face that would put any top model to shame, Toi McKnight has all the cuties coming her way. Who could blame them? She was always rocking the latest fashion trends and hanging at every bangin' party in the city. But all that came at a price, and now Toi McKnight is the seventeen-year-old mother of a baby boy. Between bills to pay and adult responsibilities to meet, she's got zero time for sizzling gossip, chilling with her friends or doing the things she used to. So when unexpected sparks start flying between her and six-foot-two, deliciously fine Harlem, Toi knows she's got to dead any chance of a relationship fast since he doesn't date teenage mothers--and she's vowed to never love again. But every time Toi tries to cut Harlem loose, she falls harder for him. And all the other drama in her life doesn't help the situation any, especially when her son's father comes back around. Toi tries to do the right thing, but doing...

What's a girl to do when love has her caught up?That's the plight of eighteen-year-old Seven McKnight. Her freshman year at Stiles University turned out to be a tug of war for her heart and her sophomore year promised more of the same. Just when she'd sworn off her ex-boyfriend, Josiah Whitaker, and thought she'd never love him again, he boldly stepped back into her life, with no regard that she'd moved on with Zaire St. James, her new boyfriend.Caught off guard and thrust into a whirlwind of emotion, Seven no longer knows if she should stay or go. . . All she knows is that old feelings won't die, her new love is being ruined by lies, and the fairy tale she once dreamed of may never become her true story.Praise for Ni-Ni Simone"Smart and cutting, full of clever comebacks." —Kirkus on No Boyz Allowed"This is creative, innovative, and important storytelling for today's urban teen readership." —Library Journal on...

All sixteen year old Yvette Simmons wanted was to disappear. Problem is: she has too many demons for that. Yvette's life changed forever after a street fight over a boy ended in a second degree murder charge. Forced to start all over again, she's sentenced to live in a group home far from anything or anyone she's ever known. She manages to keep her past hidden, until a local cutie, known as Brooklyn, steps in. Slowly, Yvette lets him into her heart and he gives her the summer of her dreams... But in Yvette's world things are never as they seem. Brooklyn has a few secrets of his own and Yvette's past comes back with a vengeance. Will she face life head-on? Will she return to her old ways? Or will an unexpected letter decide her fate?"Simone's story is reminiscent of Sistah Souljah's groundbreaking The Coldest Winter Ever...a hard hitting tale of the inner city's unforgiving streets." —Library Journal "Simone knows how...

Life is poppin' and seventeen-year-old Seven McKnight is rockin' Stiles University's hottest baller, Josiah Whitaker, on her arm when it all falls apart. With groupies threatening her basketball wife status and Josiah's dreams of the NBA blowing up his ego, Seven finds herself in a tailspin. . .should she stay or leave?In steps the unbelievably fine sophomore heartthrob, Zaire St. James, who's been watching Seven and waiting for his chance. With Josiah doing his own thing, Seven finds herself falling for Zaire. But just when she decides to give Zaire her everything, Josiah becomes determined to win Seven back by any means necessary. . .Praise for Ni-Ni Simone"Ni-Ni Simone's fast-paced writing keeps me coming back for more." —L. Divine, author of the Drama High series"Simone tells authentic stories of teen life in the 'hood better than any other author currently writing contemporary YA street lit. Spiced with plenty of Simone's trademark...

Pretty little lies gone viral have left Hollywood High's elite Pampered Princesses reeling. Now their secrets are in 24/7 overdrive—and only one diva can be victorious...Finally, London Phillips is defying her domineering mother and taking control of her life. But she's striking back with a weapon that could destroy her future—and her last chance at real love...Two too many cuties have left Rich Montgomery desperate for the perfect cover-up—but when her house of lies comes tumbling down, things get pretty twisted and her fate is left in the hands of her most vengeful frenemy...Heather Cummings is more successful than ever thanks to an amazing comeback—and the ultimate Hollywood betrayal. But old habits die hard and threaten to turn her glittering success to sparkling ash...There's no one better than Spencer Ellington when it comes to revenge. But stopping her inheritance-stealing mother and saving her crown turns into an all-access...

A YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult ReadersWhat happens when the girl everyone least expects gets the guy all the chicks want...?she can rock Apple Bottoms jeans and stilettos like nobody's business, but she's got her share of issues. It's not easy being the thickest one in her clique or hiding that her rebellious twin sister Toi is playing wifey to the neighborhood thug. And Seven is definitely not happy that she's feelin' the school's hottest baller, Josiah, especially since he's dating her high maintenance girlfriend, Deeyah. But when Deeyah decides to play Josiah and his worst enemy against each other, she'll have everyone facing off in the worst way. The question is can Seven try and set things right or does she end up trying to save herself from major heartbreak?

The only thing more intense than teen love is a break-up with the uncertainty of a make-up. This exciting new series serves up two tales of love that will shake-up your assumptions of relationships. So buckle up, it's time to get real, learn to deal, and move on with this first volume of The Break-Up Diaries.Hot Boyz Ni-Ni SimoneChance Kennedy always gets what she wants, even if she has to bend the truth to do it. She's set her sights on extremely fine and college-bound Ahmad King, and she will do anything to become his girl. There's only one problem: she didn't count on love entering the picture. Now she's scrabbling to make things right before the tiny white lie she's told to lock down her guy blows up in everyone's face. Now, the girl with everything may lose it all. . .The Boy Trap Kelli LondonPretty, popular, and with mad potential, Gabrielle Newton is, hands down, the girl to know. But Gabrielle only has time for Tyler Scott, Lakeview...

Explosive rumors and a mega-media frenzy almost ended the Pampered Princesses' reign as Hollywood High royalty. Now only one diva can win the ultimate fame of thrones. . .London Phillips is keeping her billionaire boyfriend close—and her secrets closer—by pretending to play her mother's game. But the rules dramatically change when her ex-boo, Justice Banks, ends up in the arms of her best friend . . .One lie too many cost spoiled Rich Montgomery her one true love. No problem—finding a new man is what she does best. But a certain bad boy's drama is more dangerous than she ever imagined . . .Fresh out of rehab, teen star Heather Cummings has Hollywood High's newest hottie dead in her party-girl sights. And unexpected news could fulfill all her dreams—or shatter them for good. . .Spencer Ellington wants revenge. And making alliances with her ex-frenemy and her biggest enemy is a small price to pay to expose everyone's dirty little...