Deborah Ellis writes candidly about teenagers whose lives have been affected by drugs in this singular collection of short stories. The ten stories cover a range of territory, both geographically and emotionally. From working on an opium farm in Afghanistan to selling crystal meth in the Philippines, and from observing glue sniffers in a Mexican town to purchasing medical marijuana illegally, the teens in these stories may not be drug dealers or drug users but they are still dealing with the profound impact drugs have on their lives or their immediate world. Ellis writes without judgment—rather she invites readers to examine how drugs and alcohol affect individuals, relationships, communities, and society from a variety of vantages. (Age 13 and older)

On Resource Link's Best of 2008 List

On the Cooperative Children's Book Center Best-of-the-Year list for 2009

Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice, 2009 Starred Choice

Ontario Library Association's Golden Oak Award nominee

OLA's Red Maple nominee 2010

Deborah Ellis's first collection of short stories explores the lives of children who have been affected directly, or indirectly, by drugs. Sometimes touching and often surprising, the stories are set against backdrops as diverse as the remote north and small town America to Moscow's Red Square and an opium farm in Afghanistan.

This is an unforgettable collection of stories that will elicit discussions about the toll drugs take on the lives of teenagers and their families.