Foster Care Teen

In CinderGirl, Christina tells her piercing and poignant story of leaving behind homelessness to become Ms. California and the founder of a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy for foster-care children.

Abandoned but not helpless, Destiny is a fighter. With her oversized hoodie and unwashed body, Destiny puts up walls to keep people out. Her teacher becomes alarmed when she discovers Destiny begging for food at a restaurant. Social Services steps in and takes Destiny to live with grandparents she didn’t know she had. But Destiny discovers that blood isn’t always thicker than water. Destiny moves to a caring foster home where she begins to feel accepted. Her world is ripped apart again when she is suddenly removed from the home and people who love her.

Carl knows he's playing with fire every time he fixes up a stolen car stereo to resell. But he needs the money; how else is he going to get away from his boozing mom and her endless parade of classy guys? Then one night his mother's drinking gets out of control and Carl's plan to get himself a decent life takes a nosedive. Sent to live with distant relatives far away from the life he has always known, Carl is faced with a decision: run away and stick with The Plan, or come up with a new one...fast.

Hoping to ditch two months of chicken coops, kale, and her parents’ antiscreen rules, Mac MacLeod sets out to win a citywide food cart scavenger hunt and the money she needs for the summer coding camp of her dreams. But Mac discovers more than just clues during her cross-city sprint - like how her weird parents might not be the worst thing compared to the circumstances of those around her.