Sometimes all you really need is a place to call home. *** Claire is lost and scared and utterly alone. Her family is in shambles after the death of her older sister Ina, and she's left to pick up the broken pieces of herself as her life heads into a downwards spiral of loneliness. Her heart leads her to 5:48, a little cafe by 33rd street, where she finds her new home. With a broken heart and a speech disability, Jasper has his heart and mouth sewn shut by the winding threads of hurt and fear. Painting and serving coffee in cafe 5:48 are one of his last few saving graces, but the smile he's been painting on himself will soon fade away as everything he's ever held dear slips away from his grasp. Ezra is out-of-sync and oddly cold by the way life has treated his young self. Abandoned by his single mother at an early age, he has grown up thinking that he is a mistake. His constant shaking hands are a reflection of what he often thinks of himself, but the delightful pastries he bakes for 5:48's customers are a reflection of what others see of him. Drew is a quirky rarity. He is a dash of loud, a pinch of exuberant, and a cup of eccentric - just like the meals he serves in the cafe as the only chef there. Behind his playful grins and outlandish clothes, however, are his jutting ribs, hollowed cheeks, and too-thin arms. Sometimes he cannot stomach being in his own skin as much as he cannot stomach food. This family has gone a long way from finding each other, and they'll be going a long way together too as reality comes catching up to them, threatening the newfound happiness they've found with each other. Secrets are revealed, pasts become presents, and lives are changed. Slowly but surely, they find their way back home. *** NOTE AS OF 08/2026: This is the old version of the story from 2012, posted in FULL. Another story that will be considered a reprise of this old version is in the works, and will be posted under the name "Hiraya House."

Rosie Alder-Pembrook isn’t planning on letting her ultra-feminist club get shut down due to the senior class council’s budget cutbacks (and to be honest, it’s kind of killing her senior year buzz). But when it seems that the only way to revive it is to strike a deal with the semi-sexist/mostly ignorant Class Council president, Peter Bevan, to help him fix what he broke with ex-girlfriend/real life Barbie doll, Ella Hall, she’s made to wonder if it’s quite worth selling her soul over. And so, alongside her best friend, (who she’s sure wasn’t always this hot) a group of angry teenage feminists, and the outlandishly willing drama department, Rosie embarks on a mission to reclaim her beloved club – at whatever the cost.

A BUNCH OF STUFF ELIZABETH ("please for the love of god call me El") THROPP DOESN'T EXPECT: 1. Her mom signing her up to be a counselor at her old summer camp ("I don't care if it's for extra credit, mom!"). 2. That children are this annoying ("no, you can't have another stupid cookie"). 3. Sharing a cabin with Grace Upland ("who's like, a total bitch"). 4. (Sure as hell) that she really doesn't mind it ("like, at all"). 5. Something else, but that's for later. [6. this story to be riddled with typos. seriously. it's blinding. read at ur own risk]

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ALLISON REED: THE MUSICAL - release date, SEPT 2013. STARRING: Allison Reed, Lydia Huntington II, and the renowned Toby Martin. LOGLINE: A bitter, intelligent teenage girl (Reed) is paired with a musical aficionado (Martin) to complete an English assignment on musicals. With the help of her striking best friend (Huntington), she comes to terms with the fact that, in spite of his exasperating episodes of musical-induced mania, the aforementioned musical aficionado may be a lot more okay than originally presumed. Coming soon to a theatre near you.

#270 in General Fiction #weneedmorediversebooks Lena Winchester spent her whole life afraid of being too heavy, too lonely, too needy. She built a castle of glass and trapped herself in, all cobwebs and spider bones. When a clumsy accident pushes her and Melanie - the new girl in town - together it starts a tragic chain of events. Lena can't escape recovery, relapse and the rest. Sometimes dolls break and who's going to stop Lena when it's her that cracks. 'She's a shadow don't you know, all watered down stomach aches and crying into dusty pillows. It was written all along, scribed into her skin from the age of thirteen and up. The taste -never leaving her tongue- of too much, too many. It started small, unlike her at 142lbs too heavy...' [Editing in progress] Supporting the non-glorification of mental health in teen literature. ~Trigger Warning~ [Eating disorders; including anorexia, bulimia and EDNOS. Self-harm and suicide attempts]