Racialidentity Stories

In RUNNING SECRETS, flight attendant Chris Stevens is bent on self-destruction until she meets Gemi Kemmal, an Ethiopian home healthcare provider. Gemi and Jake, a paramedic, help Chris heal from and confront her difficult past, and regain a passion for living. In the process, Chris and Gemi forge a friendship that bridges cultural, racial and age differences. Their friendship gives both women the support each needs. Gemi comes to question restrictive traditions dictating her immigrant life, such as the headscarf she’s worn since entering puberty and the celibacy she’s practiced since the brutal death of her husband and infant in the violence that destroyed her homeland and family. Chris uncovers family secrets that challenge everything she's ever known to be true. Together the women learn that racial identity is a choice, self expression is a right, and family is a personal construct. Running Secrets is the first book in the Alki Trilogy.

Xue Ge, delinquent transfer student, just wanted to score the most beautiful girl in class. Because, well, he's 16. Jennifer, said beauty, wanted to hurl Xue Ge into outer space. She had eyes for someone else. Matthias, said someone else, has autism. We're not sure what he was thinking. Sorry, Matt. Their emerging feelings for each other threatens to tear them apart. So now all Xue Ge wants is to keep his two best friends. But a green van rolling into school threatens to take even that away. This is a slightly different Malaysian love story. Being different in a land that demands conformity can be tough, but these three young lives are willing to give their all to stay together.