The Reading Warehouse

Sixteen-year-old Zaine Wyatt's mother walked out of his life when he was twelve, and he was kicked out of his aunt's house. After living on the streets and getting badly beaten up, he is back at his aunt's, but is angry and uncertain that he has a permanent place to live. When his mother breaks another promise to take him back, he flees and trashes a storage shed, injuring the owner as he runs away.

To try to get the charges dropped, Zaine agrees to participate in a restorative justice program. He has to fix the damage, help out the owner and his disabled grandson, while avoiding being recruited to a gang.

Karen Spafford-Fitz is the author of five books for children and teens, including the Lorimer SideStreets novels Push Back and Saving Grad, both named Resource Links Magazine's Year's Best.