Jennifer Baker – författare

All it took was one night and one bad decision for fifteen-year-old Violetta Chen-Samuels’ life to go off the rails. After driving drunk and causing the accident that kills her little sister, Violetta is incarcerated. Under the juvenile justice system, her fate lies in the hands of those she’s wronged - her family. With their forgiveness, she could go home. But without it? Well . . .Denied their forgiveness, Violetta is now left with two options, neither good - remain in juvenile detention for an uncertain sentence or participate in the Trials. The Trials are no easy feat, but if she succeeds, she could regain both her freedom and what she wants most of all: her family’s love. In her quest to prove her remorse, Violetta is forced to confront not only her family’s grief, but her own - and the question of whether their forgiveness is more important than forgiving herself.

A LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST • In this searing indictment of the juvenile justice system, one fifteen-year-old girl in detention weighs what she is willing to endure for forgiveness in this poignant novel.“Riveting, heartbreaking . . . and a powerful reflection on who deserves second chances.”—Renée Watson, Newbery Medal winning author of All the Blues in the Sky“Eye-opening.”—School Library JournalVioletta was drunk behind the wheel of the car when a tragic crash claimed her sister’s life. In this near-future world, her punishment will be decided by the victim’s family: Violetta’s own parents. The Chen-Samuelses can decide one of three things: to forgive their daughter and allow her to come home; sentence her to years in prison; or send her to the Trials—where Violetta could earn her family’s forgiveness by participating in a series of tests of will intended to prove that she understands the gravity of her actions. The Trials, meant to rehabilitate and prevent recidivism, are tailored to each offender’s crime. They can be cruel and can go on forever. Violetta is crushed when her older brother, Vince, delivers the news—she will be sent to the Trials. But what Violetta wants more than her freedom is her family’s forgiveness. The decision weighs heavily on Vince, who feels he’s let his family down and could have somehow prevented the tragedy. Buckling under the weight of expectations, guilt, and loneliness, Vince quietly spirals into addiction as Violetta faces the Trials. Both Vince and Violetta must decide what it means to not only forgive one another, but themselves. Alternating between Violetta’s and Vince’s perspectives, Forgive Me Not is an intense, insightful exploration of punishment and forgiveness that shines a stark light on the dehumanizing treatment of Black and Brown children in the criminal justice system, making a powerful argument for the abolition of prisons.

The first book of the sizzling Class Secrets series brings readers into the halls of Hillcrest High—the school for the rich and perfect where love, lies, and scandal rule. Suzanne Willis is the new girl in town, and she doesn’t seem to be one of the in crowd… yet. Then she meets popular Nikki Stewart—and her sexy, sensitive boyfriend, Luke Martinson—and learns more about them than anyone ought to know. Suzanne immediately starts making plans to get what she wants, and she won’t let anything—or anyone—get in her way. Scheming Victoria Hill, Nikki’s longtime best friend, doesn’t trust anyone… especially not Suzanne. But if Nikki ignores Victoria’s warning about the new girl, she may lose everything she’s ever loved.

In the halls of Hillcrest High, Suzanne struggles for forgiveness from her best friend Nikki after she is caught kissing her boyfriend, but their classmate Victoria is ready to spill gossip that might take both Suzanne and Nikki down. No one can keep a secret at Hillcrest High, especially when it’s about Suzanne Willis… When Suzzane gets caught kissing heartthrob Luke Martinson, there is only one thing she can do: forget him and beg forgiveness from his girlfriend—and her best friend—school queen, Nikki Stewart. Nothing would make Victoria Hill happier than for Nikki to make Suzanne her number one enemy. Suzanne thinks she knows everything about her past, but Victoria’s got real dirt that just may ruin Suzanne’s—and Nikki’s—life.

When a tragic accident puts Hillcrest High student Katia Stein in a coma, Victoria Hill is determined to keep the truth of Katia’s accident to herself—because if she doesn’t, her life could be ruined for good. When the students of Hillcrest High learn that their classmate Katia Stein was in a horrible accident, there is nothing but talk about what happened. Victoria Hill knows the terrible truth that left Katia in a coma, but she swears she will never tell…. As long as Katia remains unconscious, Victoria knows her secret is safe. Then, desperate and alone, Victoria commits the ultimate sin. While Katia hangs on to her life by a thread, Victoria loses herself in the warm arms—and lips—of John Badillo… who happens to be Katia’s boyfriend! If Katia wakes up, not only will she reveal Victoria’s first secret, but she will discover her new one as well, leaving Victoria’s life shattered beyond repair.

“A delight and highly recommended.” —Booklist “Showcases the truth and fullness of people of color.” —Book Riot In the tradition of Best American Short Stories comes Everyday People: The Color of Life, a dazzling collection of contemporary short fiction.Everyday People is a thoughtfully curated anthology of short stories that presents new and renowned work by established and emerging writers of color. It illustrates the dynamics of character and culture that reflect familial strife, political conflict, and personal turmoil through an array of stories that reveal the depth of the human experience. Representing a wide range of styles, themes, and perspectives, these selected stories depict moments that linger—crossroads to be navigated, relationships, epiphanies, and times of doubt, loss, and discovery. A celebration of writing and expression, Everyday People brings to light the rich tapestry that binds us all. The contributors are an eclectic mix of award-winning and critically lauded writers, including Mia Alvar, Carleigh Baker, Nana Brew-Hammond, Glendaliz Camacho, Alexander Chee, Mitchell S. Jackson, Yiyun Li, Allison Mills, Courttia Newland, Denne Michele Norris, Jason Reynolds, Nelly Rosario, Hasanthika Sirisena, and Brandon Taylor. Some of the proceeds from the sale of Everyday People will benefit the Rhode Island Writers Colony, a nonprofit organization founded by the late Brook Stephenson that provides space for speculation, production, and experimentation by writers of color.