Todd Strasser – författare

The Wave is based on a true incident that occured in a high school history class in Palo Alto, California, in 1967.The powerful forces of group pressure that pervaded many historic movements such as Nazism are recreated in the classroom when history teacher Burt Ross introduces a "new" system to his students. And before long "The Wave," with its rules of "strength through discipline, community, and action, " sweeps from the classroom through the entire school. And as most of the students join the movement, Laurie Saunders and David Collins recognize the frightening momentum of "The Wave" and realize they must stop it before it's too late.

A gripping, thought-provoking classic inspired by a true story that explores the dangers of groupthink and authoritarianism—perfect for readers of Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, and The Hunger Games.Inspired by a shocking real-life classroom experiment, The Wave follows a high school history teacher who challenges his students to understand how ordinary people could have embraced Nazi Germany. But when he launches a social experiment built on unquestioning loyalty, the movement takes on a life of its own.What begins as a lesson quickly transforms into a powerful force that sweeps through the school. As students embrace belonging over individuality and obedience over independent thought, they must confront a chilling question: How far would you go to fit in? The Wave is a compelling classic that sparks conversations about conformity, power, and the fragility of democracy.

In the Frederick Douglass Project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Dropping out of school and joining a gang is the norm and every kid knows someone who''s died. Gunshots ring out on a regular basis. DeShawn is smart enough to know he should stay in school and keep away from the gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy anything they want, DeShawn''s family can barely afford food for the month. How can he stick to his principles when his family is hungry? In this gritty novel about growing up in the inner-city projects, award-winning author Todd Strasser opens a window into the life of a teenager struggling with right and wrong under the ever-present shadow of gangs.

A powerful and uncompromising thriller – not for the faint-heartedSome girls are glamorous, beautiful … and deadly. Found kneeling by a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand can only mean Callie Carson is guilty of the brutal murder of Katherine Remington – can’t it? Joining the in-crowd is tough; leaving is a killer.

A powerful and uncompromising thriller – not for the faint-heartedSome girls are glamorous, beautiful … and deadly. Found kneeling by a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand can only mean Callie Carson is guilty of the brutal murder of Katherine Remington – can’t it? Joining the in-crowd is tough; leaving is a killer.

A glossy high-school crime thriller from a bestselling American author.A blogger is listing the kids who should die; a killer is picking them off one at a time. In the small American town of Soundview, someone is blogging about the local high school kids, and the comments aren’t kind. But are the posts cruel taunts or vicious threats? Then seventeen-year-old Lucy Cunningham goes missing after a night out, and the hunt is on to catch a killer.

Local model wanted: must be tall, gorgeous ... and not afraid to die. Third in the series of glossy crime thrillers from a bestselling American authorAre you dying to be famous...? It seems that every girl in Soundview wants to be a model, singer or actress. They all need super-glam photos for agents and scouts – which works out perfectly for Shelby's photographer dad. He makes a fortune taking pictures of these wannabes ... until the girls start to disappear and he is accused of murder. Shelby knows her dad is innocent and is determined to prove it, and that means finding the real killer.

An offer she can't refuse. Kate Blessing is not your typical high school junior. She's a good student who's into guys and the latest designer jeans...and she's also part of the mob. Her father, Bobby Blessing, is the head of the family, and her mom, Amanda, is the brains behind the operation. Kate may not partake in the "family business," but she knows what goes down. She's proud of her family -- and of course, there are plenty of perks: her indoor pool, Caribbean vacations, expensive haircuts... But when Amanda gets fed up with Bobby's cheating and moves out, someone needs to make decisions, give orders, and keep things running. Kate has no choice but to step into her mother's shoes and prop her dad up. Bobby may be the face of the mob, but it's not long before the princess is running the show.

It ain't easy being the boss.... Life's been tough for Kate Blessing. Her parents are still on the outs, the family's about to hit the mattresses, and one of their own is threatening to pull rank. Kate's also managing two guys: one whose parents don't approve of her, and one who's the son of her dad's rival. Kate may not know who to trust, but she's got to step up. If the family falls apart, it won't just be ugly...it'll be deadly.

Watch your back. Kate Blessing may have made it to senior year, but being the boss of her family has taken its toll. With the cracks in the Blessing front starting to show, their weaknesses are becoming apparent. As Kate tries to keep their enemies at bay, she's also pulled back into a love triangle that's about to come to a nasty end. The Blessings may be going down, but as long as Kate's the boss, they're not gonna go down easy.

Todd Strasser, author of the powerful and disturbing Give a Boy a Gun, again focuses on an important social issue as he tells a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching story of young lives lost to the streets—and of a society that has forgotten how to care.Her street name is Maybe. She lives with a tribe of homeless teens—runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned, and forgotten, they struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger. With the frigid winds of January comes a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother doesn’t believe her stepfather abuses her. As the other kids start to disappear—victims of violence, addiction, and exposure—Maybe tries to help Tears get off the streets…if it’s not already too late.

Todd Strasser’s acclaimed account of school violence that Kirkus Reviews calls “vivid, distressing, and all too real.”For as long as they can remember, Brendan and Gary have been mercilessly teased and harassed by the jocks who rule Middletown High. But not anymore. Stealing a small arsenal of guns from a neighbor, they take their classmates hostage at a school dance. In the panic of this desperate situation, it soon becomes clear that only one thing matters to Bendan and Gary: revenge.

IMAPCT ZONEThe most dangerous part of the waveYou gotta beat it...or you''ll eat it.The summer is hot, and so is action out on the line-up. There''s a big competition coming up, with some serious burrito money attached.All the brahs are in it for something. Lucas has his career and his reputation on the line. If Kai wins, he might be able to stay in Sun Haven and not have to hit the road again with his sketchy dad. For everyone it''s a chance to close out the summer as a champion.Stoked.

Impact Zone: The most dangerous part of the waveYou gotta beat it...or you''ll eat it.Ever since he went up against the locals and broke into the lineup, Kai has had his own crew. Spazzy is a summer kid with a lot of fancy gear. He looks like a total shubee. But on the board he''s good, really good -- despite everything going against him. The Spazz wants to be in the local competition, but he can''t do it without Kai. Kai knows there''s no way Spazzy can win against Lucas, the local hero. But Kai would never let a brah down....

A house at the beach. A bunch of hot strangers. A three-month party that''s Off The Hook. Seven randoms cram into a house down the shore, and they''ve all got agendas. Curt wants a gig. Polly wants a life. Owen''s jonesing for someone he can''t have. And everyone''s geared up for one wicked summer. Surfing all day, partying all night. Here''s the real question: If your boyfriend''s cheating but you''re too busy hooking up, does it really count? And if people aren''t who they say they are, does it really matter?

"WHEN YOU GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS, THERE WERE NO CHOICES. NO GOOD ONES, AT LEAST." In the Frederick Douglass Project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Many teenagers drop out of school and join gangs, and every kid knows someone who died. Gunshots ring out on a regular basis. DeShawn is smart enough to know he should stay in school and keep away from the gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy fancy sneakers and big-screen TVs, DeShawn''s family can barely afford food for the month. How can he stick to his principles when his family is hungry? In this gritty novel about growing up in the inner city, award-winning author Todd Strasser opens a window into the life of a teenager struggling with right and wrong under the ever-present shadow of gangs.

An offer she can''t refuse. Kate Blessing is not your typical high school junior. She''s a good student who''s into guys and the latest designer jeans...and she''s also part of the mob. Her father, Bobby Blessing, is the head of the family, and her mom, Amanda, is the brains behind the operation. Kate may not partake in the "family business," but she knows what goes down. She''s proud of her family -- and of course, there are plenty of perks: her indoor pool, Caribbean vacations, expensive haircuts... But when Amanda gets fed up with Bobby''s cheating and moves out, someone needs to make decisions, give orders, and keep things running. Kate has no choice but to step into her mother''s shoes and prop her dad up. Bobby may be the face of the mob, but it''s not long before the princess is running the show.

A teenage paparazzo makes a dangerous discovery in this timely look at celebrity “that is likely to be snapped up and make a lasting impression” (School Library Journal).All Jamie Gordon wants to do is to take pictures of celebrities...and maybe to become famous herself. She’s only fourteen, but already her work is sought after by fanzines and websites, and she’s invited to all the best parties. And now she has the chance of a lifetime: She has been invited to spend a week with Willow Twine, taking pictures of the teen superstar’s new chaste life. But when Jamie gets her hands on some sensational shots of Willow, she’s suddenly in over her head. The pictures could make her career—and destroy Willow’s. It seems like everyone’s eager to get their hands on the photos, and Jamie has to decide what she really wants...and what she’s willing to pay to get it.

In the middle of the night Garrett is taken from his home to Harmony Lake, a boot camp for troubled teens. Maybe some kids deserve to be sent there, but Garrett knows he doesn''t. Subjected to brutal physical and psychological abuse, he tries to fight back, but the battle is futile. He won''t be allowed to leave until he''s admitted his "mistakes" and conformed to Harmony Lake''s standards of behavior. And there''s no way to fake it. Beaten, humiliated, and stripped of his pride, Garrett''s spirit is slowly ebbing away. Then he hears whispers of an escape plot. It''s incredibly risky -- if he''s caught, the consequences will be unthinkable -- but it may be his only way out. In this tense, riveting novel, award-winning YA author Todd Strasser reveals what really goes on in highly secretive -- and notoriously dangerous -- boot camps, a stealth prison system where any teenager under the age of eighteen can be imprisoned at his parents'' whim.

One group on the Jersey Shore, another in Laguna Beach. Both have the same summer-tastic setup: total strangers sharing a house. No one sleeps, no one cleans, and everybody parties. And to pay their ways, each housemate slags through crappy summer jobs while recuperating from the night before. Ah, summer shares! In the Jersey house, cheating and misleading are the name of the game as roommates hook up and hash it out. And at Laguna Beach, surfing is just one of several popular, uh, pastimes. But some of the people in this share are keeping secrets—dangerous ones that could blow the roof off their massive house on the beach. How will these clashing personalities survive two months together? With plenty of drama to share!

Bolita (Bo for short) and Kyle are not exactly in the same clique: She’s the shy girl working backstage at the school play, and he’s front and center as Time Zone High’s star quarterback. But then Kyle blows out his knee, quits football, and joins the school play—and Bo decides it’s time for a change.After a DIY makeover, Bo realizes she and Kyle aren’t in such different cliques anymore. Now that she has his attention...can Bo turn Kyle into more than a friend?