When Jailbirds Sing: A YA Contemporary Romance

When 16-year-olds Claire Conrad and Ricky Ortega meet in Juvenile Detention, they never imagine that music will transform their animosity into something entirely different.

Ricky, a reluctant gang leader, finds himself behind bars after killing his abusive and manipulative father, who forced him into a life of crime. Beneath his tough exterior, Ricky dreams of reviving '80s music and becoming the next pop sensation.

Claire is sentenced to detention for attempting to rob a store, driven by desperation to provide for her younger brothers in the absence of their parents. Despite her challenging circumstances, Claire is determined to gain admission to Juilliard and compose music.

When Ricky and Claire cross paths, an intense rivalry ignites. After weeks of mean pranks and loud arguments in the cafeteria, their shared passion for music might just bring them together-if aggressive cellmates, power-hungry guards, and their dark pasts don't tear them apart first.